PE William Emmanuel Yu
People join Rotary for many reasons. Some join for fellowship. Some join for fulfillment. Some join for reputation. But, the most important driver of all is service. At the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Manila Bay, our flagship projects are a key venue for engagement through service.
As July 1 marks the new Rotary year, we could think of no better way to welcome the new year than the turnover of our Seniors Home No. 2 at the Luwalhati ng Maynila. This is the second of our planned five home facility expansion which is a flagship project of the RC Manila Bay in partnership with the RC Siheung of South Korea, and the Office of the City Mayor of Manila. Luwalhati is the home for the abandoned elderly of the City of Manila. RC Manila Bay and its sister clubs have made Luwalhati a key venue for providing service from celebrating anniversaries and birthdays with the elderly, performing sanitation and fumigation drives, engagement in facility improvement projects, providing additional support via caregivers, and supporting their livelihood development projects. “Events like these are constant reminders of why I joined Rotary”, remarks new member Arnel Andal.
At the event, Manila Mayor Isko “Yorme” Moreno thanked us for the continuous partnership and emphasized the importance of taking care of our elderly and providing them with safe and decent living arrangements in the twilight years of their lives. “Kahit papaano meron chicha sila Lolo and Lola, meron tumitingin na healthcare worker sa kanila, at meron silang natutuluyan, natutulugan dito sa Luwalhati Home for the Elderly”, he describes some of the many opportunities for engaged service. The event was also graced by Rotary District 3810 dignitaries, COS Vilma Vinluan of RC Sampaloc and AG Breechard Uykee of RC Downtown Manila.
To continue the legacy of service, both Rotaract and Rotary Clubs of Manila Bay held their respective handover ceremonies as well. For RAC Manila Bay TP Marivic Therese Villoso handed over the club to LCP Johnmarie “JM” Castillo. For RC Manila Bay TP Arch. Frederick “Fred” Sibug handed the reins to LCP Atty. Jose “Joel” Ferrer Jr. “I am fortunate to be part of a well-oiled organization. Rest assured, dear members, that we will increase the tempo and efforts to successfully execute our club endeavors. For we have been blessed as a club, we shall continue to share these blessings and provide more venues like this for service. Happy New Year!”, our new president LCP Joel shares.
The leadership of RC and RAC Manila Bay find it fitting that the theme of this new Rotary Year is “Serve to Change Lives”. With the turnover of Luwalhati Senior Home No. 2, we pray these new, clean and decent living facilities for our dear seniors will continue to provide a venue for service members both new and old.
