April 28, 2010 is another special day for Rotary organization in Quezon City. Fifty years ago on that day, the Rotary movement started in the City with the chartering of the first Rotary Club, the mother and grandmother of the Rotary clubs in the City and district 3780. As the first club in the City it had to be and was indeed appropriately named Rotary Club of Quezon City (RCQC).
Actually, the first Rotary Club in the country and in Asia for that matter is the Rotary Club of Manila (RCM) which was chartered in 1921. Initially before the creation of what is now known as Metro Manila, RCM operated only within the City until the chartering of RCQC on April 28, 1960 along with RC Pasay City and RC Caloocan. RCQC was the first club “released” by the RCM in what is now known as Metro Manila.
From the time it was chartered, RC Quezon City subsequently chartered several other clubs in Q.C. particularly the Rotary Clubs of Cubao, San Francisco del Monte, Diliman, Kamuning, New Manila, Sta. Mesa, Fairview, Tandang Sora, Mid Town QC and West Triangle. RCQC also chartered several other clubs in the territories originally comprising the district assigned to it by Manila such as the Rotary Clubs of Marikina, Mandaluyong, Antipolo and San Juan while it released Pasig to RC Mandaluyong. Undoubtedly, RCQC has given birth to quite a number of Rotary Clubs which has in turn chartered or given births to other numerous clubs. It is indeed the mother club of District 3780 covering the entire Quezon City where there are now a total of ninety two clubs.
When RCQC was chartered, there were 41 charter members with Past District Governor (PDG) Ceferino “Fering” Picache as Charter President. Today, the only surviving charter member is PDG Jose Agaton “Tony” Sibal. Hence PDG Tony Sibal will also be celebrating his momentous 50 years of dedicated and continuous service “above self” to his community in QC.
Throughout all these 50 years, the officers and members of RCQC have, in their own way, made an impact in the lives of people in their community because of their firm commitment to the task at hand without expecting anything in return except the satisfaction of having served others and making their lives a little more bearable. To be sure, during its golden anniversary the Club has undertaken and continues to undertake projects in several parts of the city like: (1) the Childhood Blindness Prevention project at T. Alonzo Elementary School; (2) the Renovation of the Day Care Center and Feeding Program for children at Barangay Krus na Ligas; (3) providing school allowances for Batasan Hills Elementary School students and scholarship funds for graduating high school students who will pursue vocational courses.
Fifty years of Rotary service is undoubtedly a golden milestone. It is a clear and sure sign that the Club has weathered all problems in its efforts to achieve the noble goals of Rotary’s service to humanity. It is the best proof that RCQC is not only a strong club but that it is also definitely destined for a longer, more durable and fruitful existence. Hence there is every reason for the Club to celebrate and have a grand ball which will be held at Marriott Hotel, Newport City Complex, Pasay City on April 28, 2010 starting at 7:00 P.M. Cheers!
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E-mail at: jcson@pldtdsl.net