Rotary Club of San Juanico

ROTARY CLUB OF SAN JUANICO

May 06, 1975 Club # 17129
A Brief History
AG Salvador “Buddy” G. Estudillo

Some 26 years back, a question arose, “Is the City of Tacloban ready for another Rotary Club? Somehow that question ran deep into the already Rotary ideals loaded veins of five Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Tacloban, and collectively they decided to answer the question in the affirmative and went ahead to organized one.

These fie placed their organizational acumen to the fore and came out with an answer, without much trying, that indeed TACLOBAN City needed another Rotary Club. These five intrepid Rotarians were Graciano “Naning” Militante, Antonio “Nits” Montilla, Jose “Nene” Solis”, Gil “Litong” Diaz and Antonio “Tony” Molabola.

They combed the professional circles of Tacloban and came out with 25 new recruits. The group was diverse, but they blended well and the enthusiasm and exuberance of resources yet untapped throbbed every time they met.

Sometime in November of 1974, the provisional Rotary Club of San Juanico first met and elected its first set of officers. Elected as provisional secretary. The list of this provisional set of officers and other documents attesting the birth of the club were sent to the Rotary International for approval.

Six months after, On May 06, 1975, Rotary International officially chartered the Rotary Club of San Juanico and officially recognized its provisional set of officers as the Charter Officers of the Club.

Charter President Tony Molabola then focused all its efforts to seeing to the first major activity of the club – its Charter Presentation. Finally on July 12, 1975, two months after its official charter, District Governor Bading Angala, IPDG Marianing Ilano and DGN Luing Fran, came to Tacloban City, came to Tacloban City and presented to the new club its Certificate of Charter.

Immediately, a hive of new ideas on how to male the club respond to the ideals of Rotary came out from its members. Among the most notable, that eventually became the cornerstone of the club’s community involvement, was the project “Operasyon Paglaum”’ a medical-dental civic action started by the club in 1976.

As subsequent testimonies from al its beneficiaries attest, this project gave the club greater enthusiasm to pursue the project. From an initial launching in a barangay in Tacloban City where free medicines, dental care, primary medical care and some minor surgeries where performed, the project took off and reached out to areas outside the City. Eventually, the project would reach barangays in Southern Leyte, the island of Biliran, Samar and Leyte benefiting thousands of indigent families.

It was a much anticipated activity that the Anns, the members of the Rotaract Club of San Juanico (organized by the Club at the then Divine Word University University of Tacloban) and even whole families of member Rotarians would not have been second thoughts of giving the project wherever it was held n their time. In the project, they found sense a fulfillment and thought that the Rotary Club of San Juanico could make a difference in the communities.

Eventually the efforts of the club did not go unnoticed. In 1977, the Rotary International cited this project and awarded the club the “Most Significant Achievement Award in 1977”. Giving more meaning to the citation was the fact that the Rotary Club of San Juanico was the only club in the country on the year to be given such award by Rotary International.

Not resting on this distinguished recognition, the club looked greater opportunities for service and eventually helped organized the Rotary Club of Calbayog in 1998 during the incumbency of Pres. Noel Siozon and Rotary Club of Limasawa Maasin in 1989 during the time of Pres. Pabs Quianzon.

As this young club grew, so did its collective efforts become known in the district. This recognition saw the second president of the Club and one of the original five, Graciano “Naning” Militante, arising to become the first “waray-waray” District Governor ofRI District 3860 in 1980 to 1981. Five years later, 1982-1983 Club Presidetn Roque Tiu followed suit and was elected District Governor in Rotary Year 1986-1987. The 3rd San Juanico Rotarian who occupied the highest position in District 3860 as District Governor for Rotary Year 2002-2003 is PP Pablo “Pabs” P. Quianzon.

Over the years, the Rotary Club of San Juanico has grown and found meaning in the various opened to some families and Rotary Village Corps established.

The Rotary Club of San Juanico from being just a challenge and an answer to a question a quarter of a century ago has carved a niche in Rotary history. It will continue to create history, as its memberships continue to answer to call for services and earn for themselves the distinction of being called “Rotarians”.