Rotaract Club of Manila

The Rotaract Club of Manila is a club formed under the Rotaract Program of Rotary International. It is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Manila, the first Rotary Club in Asia and one of the largest. Although the Rotary Club of Manila has been in existence since 1919, the Rotaract Club of Manila was chartered only on February 6, 2001. The Rotaract Club of Manila is under Rotary International District 3810 and is one of 450 Rotaract Clubs in the Philippines. The club is open to students and young professionals aged 18-30 years old.

The Rotaract Program

Rotaract is an international organization of service clubs for men and women aged 18-30 that fosters leadership and responsible citizenship, encourages high ethical standards in business and promotes international understanding and peace. It is one of Rotary’s most significant and fastest-growing service programs, with more than 7,000 clubs in about 163 countries and geographical areas. Rotaract members, or Rotaractors, stand by the motto of "Fellowship Through Service" and practice Rotary's Four Way Test:
* Is it the truth?
* Is it fair to all concerned?
* Will it build goodwill and better friendship?
* Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Rotaract Clubs work under the guidance of their local Rotary Club, and take their name from a combination of the words Rotary and action. The first officially chartered Rotaract Club was in North Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1968, but clubs of young people associated in service with local Rotary Clubs had existed for several years in India and Europe.

Today, clubs draw members from the community or are organized as an extracurricular activity for college students.

Rotaract Clubs conduct formal meetings, usually every two weeks, which feature speakers, tours of local businesses, cultural activities, discussions, and visits to other clubs. Rotaractors utilize weekends for service project work, social events, and professional and leadership development workshops.

Every Rotaract Club is part of a district Rotaract organization, run by elected representatives with support from sponsoring Rotarians. The district organization plans regional conferences, develops regional projects, holds club leadership training programs, and sponsors special events to strengthen the bond among clubs.

The goals of Rotaract are:

• To develop professional and leadership skills;

• To emphasize respect for the rights of others, and to promote ethical standards and the dignity of all useful occupations;

• To provide opportunities for young people to address the needs and concerns of the community and our world;

• To provide opportunities for working in cooperation with sponsoring Rotary clubs; and,

• To motivate young people for eventual membership in Rotary.

Club History and Profile

It started with an idea, the idea of being able to help the community as Rotaractors even after their University years. An idea that the triumvirate of Rotaract Club of De La Salle university Past President Ruby Anne D. Abastillas, Immediate Past District Secretary Giselle R. Javier, and District Secretary Noel B. Gonzales made into reality. This idea is now the ROTARACT CLUB OF MANILA (RAC-Manila).

Organized on November 7, 2000, RAC-Manila consists of young professionals and students from De La Salle University-Manila, Central Colleges of the Philippines, and the Bureau of Fire Prevention. It was officially chartered on February 6, 2001 under the sponsorship and guidance of Asia’s First Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Manila, under the Presidency of Sebastian “BUSTER” Arrastia. PP Abby was elected as Charter President, Giselle was Charter Vice President, Hazel Piadoche was Charter Secretary, and Anne Arias was Charter Treasurer. Also elected were four Charter Directors, Jonah Canuday (Club Service), Ernesto Domingo (Vocational Service), Oliver Alvarez (International Service), and Eva Alzona (Community Service). The list of Charter Members includes Annie Rose Ambong, Arnie Arzaga, Abegail Rose Lazo, Angelito Rivera, Ryan Dioniso, Simmonnette Saguinsin, Ferlyn Tambanillo, Marvin Jun Tolosa, and Noel Gonzales.

On its first few months of operations, RAC-Manila already made waves in District 3810 by being awarded as the District's ROOKIE CLUB OF THE YEAR 2000 during the Rotaract District 3810 Annual Awards.

The club continues to reap numerous awards, adjudged as the MOST OUTSTANDING ROTARACT CLUB OF THE YEAR by both the Rotary and Rotaract District Awards for 4 times!. It has also produced 3 Most Outstanding Rotaract Club Presidents, PP Oliver Alvarez (R.Y. 2001-2002), PP Noel Gonzales (R.Y. 2002-2003), and PP Charlie Chua (R.Y. 2006-2007). It has also produced 5 Group Study Exchange Team Members, (PP Oliver Alvarez to Alberta, Canada, PD Caroline Lontoc, PD Izel Guatno to Hawaii, USA, Treasurer Ritz Asirot to France, and Rotaractor Sol Racelis to Connecticut, USA). It has also produced two District Rotaract Representatives (Also known as DRR, Rotaracts’ very own Junior Governor) Past President Oliver Alvarez (DRR in RY 2002-2003) and Past President Charlie Chua (DRR RY 2008-2009).

The Club’s excellent leadership record was further reinforced when it sponsored different District activities such as the RYLA, District Assembly and District Conference during Rotary Year 2002-2003.

Truly, the idea that turned into a reality will surely inspire more people to join in the Rotaract Cause of Service Above Self.

Presidents and Achievements

Charter President Ruby Anne D. Abastillas (RY 2000-2001)Rotaract District Committee Awards:
* Rookie Club of the Year
* Bronze, Best Fundraising Activity
* DRR Special Citation for CP Abby Abastillas and PP Noel Gonzales

Eagle President Oliver L. Alvarez (RY 2001-2002)Rotary District Awards:
* Most Outstanding Rotaract Club of the Year
* Rotaract District Committee Awards:
* Silver, Most Outstanding Rotaract Club of the Year
* Gold, Most Outstanding Club President for President Oliver Alvarez
* Gold, Most Outstanding Club in International Service
* Silver, Most Outstanding Club in Community Service
* Silver, Most Outstanding Club in Club Service
* Gold, Most Outstanding Joint Project
* DRR Special Citation for President Oliver Alvarez and District Secretary Noel Gonzales

Loving President Noel B. Gonzales (RY 2002-2003)Rotaract District Committee Awards
* One of the Ten Most Outstanding Rotaract Clubs
* Gold, Most Outstanding Rotaract Club President, President Noel Gonzales
* DRR Special Citation for DS Fritzie Arreola and President Noel Gonzales
* Special Citation for Hosting District RYLA and District Conference 2003
* District Leadership Award for DRR Oliver Alvarez

Star President Fritzie B. Arreola (RY 2003-2004)RYLA-Asia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: One of the Ten Most Outstanding Rotary Youth Leaders of Asia, IPDRR Oliver Alvarez

Officer-in-Charge PDRR Oliver Alvarez (RY 2004-2005)Phil. Centennial Group Study Exchange Team Members of RID 3810, Philippines to RID5000, Hawaii, USA'PD Izel Guatno and PD Caroline Lontoc'Phil. Centennial Group Study Exchange Team Members of RID 3830, Philippines to RID5360, Alberta, Canada"PDRR Oliver Alvarez"

President 101 Angelito Maria Rivera (RY 2005-2006)Rotaract District Committee Awards
* First - Outstanding Rotaract Club in R.I. District 3810 (Over-All)
* Third - Outstanding Rotaract Club President for President Ari Rivera
* First - Outstanding Rotaract Club in the Avenue of Club Service (Community Based)
* First - Outstanding Rotaract Club in the Avenue of Professional/Vocational Service (Community Based)
* First - Outstanding Rotaract Club in the Avenue of International Service (Community Based)
* Second - Outstanding Rotaract Club in the Avenue of Community Service (Community Based)

Leader President Charlemagne P. Chua (RY 2006-2007)Rotaract District Committee Awards
* Most Outstanding Rotaract Club of the Year
* Most Outstanding Rotaract Club President of the Year: IPP Charlie Chua
* Most Outstanding Club in the Area of Club Service
* Most Outstanding Club in the Area of Community Service
* Most Outstanding Club in the Area of International Service
* Most Outstanding Club in the Area of Professional Development/ Vocational Service
* Outstanding Rotaractors of the Year:VP Goldilyn Uy and Secretary Tiffany Go
* Leadership Excellence Awards
* IPP Charlie Chua for serving as Club President for RY 2006-2007
* IPP Charlie Chua for serving as District Auditor for RY 2006-2007
* PDRR Oliver Alvarez for serving as District Director for International Service for RY 2006-2007
* CP/Rtr. Kenneth Punongbayan for serving as District Public Relations Officer
* District Rotaract Representative' s Special Citation For Celebrating World Rotaract Week: PP Noel Gonzales

Sharing President Izel Marie Bolado Guatno (RY 2007-2008)

"Rotary International 2007-2008"
*Asia-Pacific Region Winner, Most Outstanding Rotaract Project for the Gift of Learning Program"Rotaract District Committee Awards 2008"
*Most Outstanding Rotaract Club (Community-based, tie with Rotaract Manila Metro)
*Most Outstanding Club President (Community-based): Izel Marie Bolado Guatno
*Most Outstanding Club in Club Service
*Most Outstanding Club in International Service
*Most Outstanding Club in Finance
*Outstanding Club in Community Service
*Outstanding Club in Professional Service
*Outstanding Club in Public Relations
*Leadership Excellence Award: Izel Marie B. Guatno
*Special Citation for District Secretary Charlie Chua, Dir. Kenneth Punongbayan, Dir. Tiffany Go, and PP Noel Gonzales"Rotary Foundation's Group Study Exchange (GSE) Program"
*Treasurer Rechelle Asirot, M.D. - Member, GSE Team to Lyons, France
*Rtr. Ma. Soledad Racelis - Member, GSE Team to Connecticut, USA

References

* http://www.rotaractmanila.org/
* http://www.rotaractdistrict3810.org.ph/
* http://www.rotaract.org/
* http://www.rotary.org/