12 - Rotary Club of Makati

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RCM & MRCFI join hands to reinstall theAnti-Polio symbolic markerAs the new Rotary yearturns another page on 1July, Rotary Club of Makatiand the Makati Rotary ClubFoundation, Inc. revisitedhistory with the reinstallationof the symbolic Anti-Poliomarker.This ver y symbolicmarker was unveiled onSeptember 29, 1979, almost34 years ago with no less thanthen President James Bomarwith her Ann Kathy, signingthe cooperation agreementwith Dr. Enrique Garcia ofPhilippine Health Ministry.The first oral vaccinationwas given at the site of ourRotary Makati Clubhouseand which was beamed allover the world.PP Rene Limjoco,Chairman of the MRCFI,welcomed the guest andvisiting dignitaries andacted as the moderator ofthe program. PRID PaingHechanova took themback in time as he narratedthe perspective and thebackground of the event thathappened on September 29(see page 5 for full history).DG Robert Kuan addressedthem with his future visionregarding polio eradication.PDG Sonny Coloma,Secretary of the PresidentialCommunication OperationsOffice gave a brief messageon behalf of the PhilippineGovernment.As soon as the speechesare over, guest and dignitariesproceeded to the groundfloor to formally reinstall thehistoric marker in the Philippine Rotary. Theevent ended with a mini-fellowship.RC Makati members who were thereto personally witness the event were: DGNPepito Bengzon, PDG Tony Quila, PPFelix Amparo, PP Roland Young, PP CesarCampos, PE Reggie Nolido, Jun Arceo andAnn Yvonne Kuan.Dignitaries present were: DG PichoyRamirez, IPDG Sue Sta Maria, PDG EdAlvarez, PDG Boyet Limon, PDG TonyRufino, PDG Ernie Salas, PDG Rudy SanFelipe, PDG Josie Ang, PDG Oskie deVenecia, PDG Ato Magadia, PDG JunTambunting, and PCRG Chair PDG CorinaBautista.5Kaunlaran No. 02 • 12 July 2013
History of the Symbolic Marker on the Launching ofAnti-Polio ProgrammeDelivered by PRID Paing HechanovaJuly 1, 2013 • Rotary Club of Makati ClubhouseWe thank you for your presence in thisredo of a historic event that happened inSeptember 29, 1979, more than 33 years ago.I would like to acknowledge the tenacityand dedication of IPP Rene Limjoco whois responsible for this Rotary event. Whenthis new building was constructed, the oldbuilding was destroyed and the markerwas nowhere to be found. I mentioned itto him last year and it was through duediligence that he found it in a warehousein Novaliches where all the records of theRotary Club were stored.May I recount what led to this historicevent that gave impetus to Rotary’s Serviceto Humanity.In 1977-78, as President-elect, ClemRenouf of Australia had a dream – a dreamto transform Rotary’s service from localto global. He met with opposition fromother leaders of Rotary but eventually hisenthusiasm and dedication won then over.So, by 1978-79, as President, they werelooking for a venue of the first project ofhis 3H (Health, Hunger and Humanity)program. The RI Board was reminded thatjust a few months before that, ConnaughtLaboratories and RI had a project ofPres. James Bomarusing tetanus vaccine whichwas due to expire. PDG BennySantos of Malolos was asked byPresident Clem Renouf if thePhilippines could use the tetanusvaccines. It was PDG Dr. SabinoSantos who assembled a groupof Past Secretaries of Healthwhich included Paulino Garcia,the father of PDG Sid Garcia andDr. Elpi Valencia. They agreedthat the Philippines could usethe tetanus vaccines. That set cooperationbetween RI and the Philippine Government.The RI Board then decided that the first 3Hproject of mass immunization of childrenwill be held here in Manila in the next Rotaryyear 1979-80.It was my responsibility as DG ofD-3820, to get the Philippine Government’sapproval. I went to see Secretary of HealthEnrique Garcia and he said, I have noauthority – go and see Marcos. I said okI’ll see President Marcos. He said No, seelmelda Marcos, who was then Metro ManilaChairman of Human Settlements. Anyway,accompanied by my spouse Mely, we wentto see Mrs. Marcos and after 2 questions sheagreed to the project. Sheasked why Polio whenthe biggest contributorto child mortality herewas Tuberculosis. I toldher that the WHO saidthat we were producingthe TB vaccines alreadyat a low price and atsufficient quantity. Hersecond question wasin finances. I told herthat RI had approved$760,000 and the initialvaccines here have beendonated by the MilanItaly Rotarians.And so, in Augustof 1979, RI sent a PRman called John Giles tocoordinate with me, asthe DG of D-3820 for theformal launching of the3H program.We started discussing the details of RIPresident James Bomar’s visit scheduledfor September 28, 1979. I recommendedthat the formal signing be held in thepremises of the RC of Makati in GuadalupeViejo District. John Giles went to the siteand I arranged for him to meet with theCommunity worker which the RC of Makatihas with the adjoining community. He thenapproved it and I asked the RC of DowntownManila headed by President Sonny Venturaand VP Johnny Aruego to take care of thephysical arrangements.President James Bomar and spouseKathy arrived as scheduled on Friday,September 28 and was accompanied by hisAide Chuck Keller and spouse Marilou.The signing ceremony was heldhere just outside on September 29, 1979with Secretary of Health Enrique Garcia,witnessed by PRID Mat Caparas, ChuckKeller, PDG Sabino Santos, Former Secretaryof Health, Dr. Elpi Valencia, DG RomeoGalang of D-3800 and myself as DG ofD-3820.Other witnesses were hundreds ofresidents from the adjoining communitywhere the first oral vaccine immunizationwas given by President Bomar to a child,the picture of which was beamed all overthe world.As you know, since then, over 3 billionchildren have been immunized and from136 endemic countries, we are now soclose with only 3 countries – Afghanistan,Pakistan and Nigeria for the total eradicationof Polio.Kaunlaran No. 02 • 12 July 20135
Page 1 and 2: PRESIDENT’SCORNERCarlo RufinoGree
Page 3: Friday, 12 July 2013Rigodon Ballroo
Page 7 and 8: RC Makati renews ties with RC KotaK

12 - Rotary Club of Makati

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