ROTARY IN THE PHILIPPINES:

A Historical Sketch

(Compiled by: PDG Plutarco “Cocoy” velez)

Fourteen (14) years after Rotary Club was organized in Chicago, Illinois, USA in 23 February 1905, a leading businessman of Manila and president of the Lambert Sales Co., inspired by what he heard about Rotary, started to correspond with Pre. John Poole of the International Association of Rotary Clubs, know as Rotary International.As a result, Rtn. Roger D. Pinno of the Rotary Club of Seattle, Washington, Club No. 4, was sent to Manila to assist in the organization of the Rotary clubs in the Far East.

At the luncheon meeting given by Lambert, E,E. Elser, James Geary, A.W. Bram and F.M. Berry prominent besinessmen in Manila who were present, constituted themselves as a committee to organize a Rotary Club with Lamber as chairman and Berry as secretary.

After three(3) meeting in January, the club was completed with 38 members. On June 1, 1919, the Rotary Club of Manila was admitted to mwmbership in the International Association of the Rotary Club- the first Rotary club in the Philippines and in the Orient. RC Manila was granted Chapter 478. Towards the end of 1929 efforts were made to organize Hongkong which was granted Chapter 3413. Club organize before WW II were:

Manila -June 1, 1919

Cebu -November 28,1932

Iloilo -April 22, 1933

Bacolod -June 16, 1937

Baguio -February 21, 1937

Davao -October 28, 1938

Dagupan -December 29, 1938

Dumaguete -February 27, 1939

At the outbreak of war, all of the 8 clubs were disbanded.In 1945 (after the war) the first RC that was re-establish was Dagupan. RC Manila. During RY 1945-46, only of 5 of the pre-war Rotary clubs were re-establish, namely: Cebu, Bacolod, Baguio, Dumaguete anf Davao. The following year, RC Iloilo was re-establish. Subsequently, other Rotary Clubs were considered as Non-District clubs and were under the supervision of the President and the Board of Director of RI until the 1936-1937.

In 1935, while Manila was still a Non-District club, it hosted the 5^TH Pacific Regional Conference which was attended by no less thwn Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary.

In as much as there were already 11 clubs in mainland China, plus the Hongkong clubs, District 81 was established to include the 3 clubs in the Philippines. At the end of RY 1937-38, THER WER 5 Philippined Rotary clubs including Baguio which was re-established 21, 1938. In the wame twer, District 81 was changed to District 96 as the long RI District for the Commonwealth of the Philippines.

In RY 1949-50, District 96 was re-named to District 348. During RY 1957-58, District 348 was changed to District 385. Thud, District 385 the mother of all tha 10 rotary district organizes in the Philippines.

The following are the 10 Rotary District in the Philippines in the order of its organization:

District 385 -1957 (from D – 96) District 3790 - 1984

District 3800 - 1964 District 3810 - 1985

District 3860 - 1974 District 3780 - 1987

District 3820 - 1977 District 3770 - 1987

District 3870 - 1984 District 3830 - 1999

Philippines Rotary never run short of achieverd as it had produced outstanding Rotary of intrenational stature, like:

1. Former Ambassador Carlos P. Romulo- the Filipino to derve on the RI Board of Directos as 3^rd Vice President in RY 1935-1936.

2. Former Senate President Gil J. Puyat- Appointed to the RI of Director as 1^st Vice President in RY 1940-1941

3. Former Ambassador Francisco C. Delgado- served as RI Vice President in RY 1957-1958

4. M.T.A Caparas- served as RI President for RY 1986-1987

5. Sabino “Benny” Santos”-served as RI Director during RY 1989-1991.

6. Rafael “Paeng” Hechanova- served as RI Director during RY 2004-2006

7. Jocelyn “Joc-Joc”- will served as RI Director during RY 2004-2006

As of June 30, 2001, the Philippines has 10 Rotaary Districts, 678 clubs and 19,280 rotarians.

THE PHILIPPINES ROTARY TREE