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On 29 November, RC Makati carried out two meaningful initiatives in one venue at San Agustin Parish, Intramuros. In partnership with Caritas Manila, the Club launched the Damayan Supplementary Nutrition Program, introducing its mission to help address child malnutrition in vulnerable communities. At the same time, RC Makati began the annual Last Angel gift-giving, distributing Christmas gifts to children and families. Present during the twin activities were DS/PP Louie and Tess Aseoche, Community Service B Dir. Michael Hsu, IPP Keith and Rachel Harrison, Rtns. Boy Arteche, Ken and Yam Vergaño, and First Ann Trina Galvez. The Damayan Supplementary Nutrition Program provides one nutritious meal a day, five days a week, for six months—equivalent to 120 feeding days. The beneficiaries are 100 children aged 6 months to 12 years, all permanent residents of Intramuros and identified by Caritas Manila as showing clear signs of malnutrition. To support this initiative, RC Makati allocated ₱330,000, covering the meal cost of ₱25 per day per child, along with an additional ₱200 per beneficiary for dining materials and vitamins. The program which was formalized on October 7 with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between RC Makati and Caritas Manila and the turnover of a check to Fr. Anton Pascual, Executive Director of Caritas Manila. RC Makati’s engagement with Caritas traces back to RY 2017–2018 during the term of PP JunJun Dayrit through support for the Sanlakbay rehabilitation program. The Club’s focus on child nutrition began in June 2022 under DS/PP Louie Aseoche with a feeding initiative in Tondo. During the simple launching ceremony, RCM delegates shared messages encouraging children to eat nutritious meals and reminding parents to prioritize preparing healthy yet affordable dishes. They emphasized that proper nutrition from infancy is vital for children to grow smart, strong, and healthy. For their first official meal under the program, the children enjoyed adobo with rice, bananas, and Inipit cake sandwiches generously donated by the daughter of DS/PP Louie Aseoche from Lemon Square. The day also marked the beginning of the Last Angel 2025 Gift Giving for the Intramuros beneficiaries. Chaired by Immediate Past First Ann Rachel Harrison, the initiative brought early Christmas joy to 120 children who each received age-appropriate toys. The smiles and excitement of the young recipients filled the venue with warmth, motivating Rotarians and Anns even more as they witnessed the happiness their service brought. As the calendar turned to December, RC Makati continued its commitment to child nutrition by visiting the ongoing Complementary Feeding Program at Hulo Elementary School in Pililia, Rizal. This initiative serves 75 undernourished learners in partnership with Kabisig ng Kalahi. Leading the Club delegation was Pres. Eddie Galvez, joined by PP Freddie and Jojo Borromeo, IPP Keith and Rachel Harrison, Dir. Michael Hsu, Dir. Patrick Parungao, and Kabisig ng Kalahi President Vicky Wieneke. The visit opened with a prayer, national anthem, and introductions, followed by messages from the guests and the signing of the Kasunduan between RC Makati and its project partners. PP Freddie Borromeo provided an overview of Rotary and highlighted the Club’s commitment to helping children become healthy and capable future leaders. Pres. Eddie Galvez encouraged parents and teachers to support the holistic development of their students. Dir. Michael Hsu expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and reminded the children of the importance of eating vegetables, while Dir. Patrick Parungao shared a heartfelt message on the true spirit of Christmas—giving, loving, and caring for one another. As part of the Last Angel tradition of bringing Christmas cheer to all beneficiaries of RC Makati’s humanitarian projects, the 75 children of Hulo Elementary School received their early Christmas gifts. Chair Rachel Harrison delivered a brief message and personally led the distribution, spreading joy and hope among the young learners of Pililia.

RC Makati successfully concluded its second major art exhibition, “Visions: Art with a Mission,” captivating art enthusiasts and supporters alike.This month-long showcase, held from November 3-30, 2025, at Chef Jessie Restaurant Rockwell Club, doubled as a significant fundraising event in celebration of the club’s 60th Charter Anniversary. The exhibition successfully united the art community with RC Makati’s mission-driven initiatives, generating funds to support their various service projects. The show highlighted pieces by internationally renowned artist Dominic Rubio, emerging artist and Rotarian Aaron Virata Mempin, and featured creative contributions from members of the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS). The official ribbon-cutting and artists’ reception took place on November 18. The event was led by RCM President Eduardo H. Galvez, Exhibit Chair and President-Elect Atty. Howie Calleja, Incoming First Ann Marla Calleja and Yvonne Kuan, PDS featured artists and representatives. Guests enjoyed cocktails while viewing the impactful collection displayed throughout the venue. RC Makati expressed gratitude to all participating artists, sponsors, and visitors whose contributions helped make the exhibition a resounding success. Through “Visions: Art with a Mission,” the club reaffirmed its commitment to combining culture, philanthropy, and community service in a celebration of art that truly makes a difference.

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RC Makati in partnership with RC Grace Park, successfully conducted the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Mission, the first of its kind for the RY 2025–26. The mission was held at Zapa Health Center in Barangay Maypajo, Caloocan City, providing much-needed health services to the community. A total of 86 women aged 18 and above benefited from this initiative, which provided free breast and cervical cancer screening services. Many of the participants were teachers from nearby colleges and barangay health volunteers, all grateful for the opportunity to access quality preventive healthcare. Representing the RC Makati were IPP Keith Harrison, and Rtns. Nicky Ramos and Yaron Hahami, who also turned over a P20,000 sponsorship to support the use of the mobile medical van. Joining from the RC Grace Park were PP Arnold Naval, PP Melvin Chua, PE Jason Chua, Rtn. Mark Punzalan, and Rtn. Julius Lomotos, who all contributed their time and effort to the mission’s success. The mobile medical van used during the screening is a Global Grant Project of the RC Makati Premier District, in which the RC Makati is also a participating partner. The van has since been turned over to the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) to further expand the reach of cancer awareness and early detection programs. Since RC Makati began supporting this cancer screening initiative under DS/PP Louie Aseoche, a total of 3,900 women have already benefited from the project—an inspiring milestone that highlights the club’s unwavering dedication to women’s health and community service. To ensure safety and the accuracy of results, the following guidelines were observed during the screenings: • Breast cancer screening was open to women 18 years old and above. • Cervical cancer screening catered to women 25–65 years old who were not pregnant and not menstruating (preferably one week after their period). • Virgins and pregnant women could undergo only breast examinations. • Patients who received cryotherapy treatment were advised to refrain from sexual contact for at least three weeks to ensure proper healing. By the end of the day, 86 have been screened for breast cancer with zero detected breast masses and 63 women received VIA screening for cervical cancer, also with zero positive results. Through this collaborative effort, the RC Makati and RC Grace Park continue to strengthen Rotary’s mission to Save Lives and Serve Communities—making early detection and accessible healthcare possible for women across the country.

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The RC Makati Disaster Response mobilized its Hope Mission in response to the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Uwan, which brought massive flooding and left thousands of families in Catanduanes struggling to rebuild their lives. As part of the Club’s commitment to rapid disaster response, RC Makati deployed a team to deliver essential aid to the hardest-hit communities. On Sunday, the gutsyteam led by Pre. Eddie Galvez, together with PN/Dir. Chris Ferareza, Disaster Relief Chair Nicky Ramos, and CoS Ron, flew to Virac for a full day of humanitarian work on the ground. Upon arrival at the airport, the RCM team immediately hit the ground running as they were welcomed by a delegation from RC Virac headed by Pres. Ednalyn San Ramon. The group was then transported to Lucky Hotel for a quick early lunch while awaiting the District 3820 contingent, who traveled by ship along with the relief goods. After a nearly two-hour ride from Virac navigating one landslide after another, the team reached St. Isidore Parish in Gigmoto, where Bishop Luisito Audal Occiano celebrated a special Mass and acknowledged the presence and partnership of the Rotary teams. The atmosphere was solemn yet hopeful, as the community gathered in gratitude and relief. The moment the Mass concluded, the team immediately went to work. Pres. Eddie climbed onto the truck and began rearranging the relief goods to streamline the distribution — a task that proved to be physically exhausting but essential. PN Chris took charge of the distribution line, ensuring that every beneficiary received the correct package. Meanwhile, Nicky supervised the registration area, carefully checking the tickets of those who lined up to guarantee an orderly and fair process. The relief mission in Gigmoto successfully served 1,000 families, each receiving a food pack from District 3820, facilitated through DGN Japps Callos, as well as beddings donated by St. Giles Hotel through Dir. Derrick Tan. After the grueling but heart-warming tasks of distributing to 1,000 families, the team then travelled almost an hour and by around 6PM we reached the town of Baras, where there is still no electricity and where 800 families are waiting for them for the much needed assistance. During the brief program, Pres. Eddie addressed the families with messages of solidarity and encouragement. PN Chris shared his own experience of surviving a major typhoon in his home province, offering empathy, hope, and strength to those facing the long road to recovery. The team then turned over 800 sets of mats, blankets, and pairs of slippers generously provided by Taba Samson. The relief mission in Baras was coordinated through Mayor Paolo Teves, with the assistance of DS Louie Aseoche. The long day concluded with a fellowship dinner hosted by RC Makati at Sea Food Restaurant—an opportunity for partners to regroup, reflect, and strengthen bonds after a full day of service. The following day, Nicky and CoS Ron continued the mission, extending assistance to additional communities. RC Makati provided food packs to around 300 families in Barangay Pagsangahan, San Miguel, Catanduanes, in partnership with St. Therese Parish through Fr. Raymund Teodones. This mission was made possible through strong collaboration with RC Virac, District 3820 led by DGN Japps Callos, and RC Makati’s daughter club, RC AIM. Beyond Catanduanes, RC Makati also supported parallel relief missions in Cebu, where the Club partnered with Sun Savings Bank through Paquito Dizon to distribute mats and blankets to displaced families in Talisay and Liloan. Our heartfelt thanks go to George Barcelon for supporting this mission. In Palawan, RC Makati joined forces with RC Roxas and RC Makati San Antonio to deliver relief goods to affected residents in Roxas and Araceli. The relief mission did far more than deliver goods; it delivered hope. In every community we visited, we sought to remind families that they are not alone — that Rotary stands with them, ready to lend a hand as they rise and rebuild.

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It was another Mission Impossible kind of moment for the Rotary Club of Makati—the mission: to deliver much-needed medical services to families in Ilocos Sur before a looming super typhoon could unleash its force. On November 7, the RC Makati team led by Pres. Eddie Galvez, together with PN/Dir. Chris Ferareza, Community Service B Dir. Michael Hsu, and Anns Mitzi Parungao and Meg Rivilla, flew to Laoag and made their way to Vigan for a medical mission scheduled the following day. That evening, members of RC Vigan warmly welcomed the delegation with a fellowship dinner at their clubhouse—a night filled with camaraderie, stories of shared history and projects, and of course, lots of singing. The next day, the medical mission took place at the covered court of Sitio Namnama, Barangay Tamorong, Sta. Catalina, where nearly 180 patients, mostly senior citizens, availed of free consultations and medical services. The WOW Clinic+ team conducted blood tests, ECGs, and urine dipstick tests, while medicines—some generously donated by Unilab—were distributed to those in need. The use of the WOW Clinic+, including all medical tests and medicines, was fully sponsored by RC Makati. The program began with welcome remarks from RC Vigan Pres. Benjie Buen, followed by acknowledgments for the RC Makati delegation, the WOW Clinic+ staff, and the Ilocos Sur Medical Society. Pres. Eddie delivered a message on this year’s Rotary theme, “Uniting for Good,” emphasizing how this mission exemplified collaboration among many organizations to bring much-needed healthcare to Ilocos. Dir. Michael and PN/Dir. Chris also gave words of encouragement, with Chris endearing the audience by speaking a few lines in Ilocano. While the medical services were ongoing, RC Makati representatives and some RC Vigan members visited Laoingen, Ilocos Sur to explore potential collaboration on RC Vigan’s ongoing water project. They also stopped by Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur, to check on RC Makati’s Global Grant water project. Upon completion of the mission, reports showed that 162 patients availed of ECG tests, 120 underwent blood tests, and 114 received urine dipstick testing. In addition to medical services, RC Vigan also conducted an optical mission using an eye refractor machine donated by RC Makati during the presidency of PP Bing Matoto, under the project “EYE AYATENKA” (meaning “I Love You” in Ilocano). Through this initiative, many residents received free eyeglasses—bringing clearer vision and brighter smiles. In the evening, the team gathered at Grandpa’s Inn Restaurant to meet with RC Narvacan, where both clubs renewed their Matched Club Agreement, reinforcing their bond of brotherhood and shared service. The agreement was signed by RC Narvacan Pres. Richard Gomez and PP Gigi Ramos-Tesoro, alongside Pres. Eddie Galvez and PN/Dir. Chris Ferareza. Bannerettes and tokens were exchanged to commemorate the partnership. It was during this meeting that the group learned all activities in Ilocos Sur had been suspended by the LGU upon the recommendation of the NDRRMC, resulting in the cancellation of the scheduled medical mission in Narvacan the next day. RC Makati left the medicines and testing kits with RC Narvacan to allow them to carry out the project at a later date, in coordination with Sta. Maria RHU and the Southern Ilocos Sur Medical Society. Another activity that had to be postponed was the planned collaboration with RC Baguio Summer Capital on November 10, which will be rescheduled alongside the medical caravan with RC Dau and RC Dagupan in March 2026. RC Makati would like to express its heartfelt thanks to RC Makati Premier District, the proponent of the WOW Clinic+ under a Global Grant project. RCMPD played a vital role in ensuring the program’s success, with PP Leah Quesada actively participating in the weekly coordination meetings and contributing significantly to the smooth implementation of the mission. While the mission ended as “mission incomplete,” RC Makati still accomplished what mattered most—delivering essential healthcare to over 180 patients, and rekindling strong ties with its brother clubs, RC Vigan and RC Narvacan—a true testament to Rotary’s enduring spirit of service and fellowship.

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RC Makati continues to make a meaningful impact in the lives of Filipino families through its partnership with the International School of Sustainable Tourism, Inc. (ISST) and the Hilot Philippines Development Center (HPDC). This collaboration aims to preserve the country’s traditional healing practices while creating new opportunities for personal growth and livelihood. The Hilot Training Program, consisting of Hilot 101 and Hilot 102, provided practical and theoretical training to 12 participants, mostly mothers from Pasay, Taguig, and Parañaque. Through the program, they gained valuable skills in traditional massage and wellness therapy—skills that not only promote community health but also open doors to economic empowerment. The project formally began with a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signing and turnover of donations on September 23, during the club’s luncheon meeting at The Peninsula Manila. The Club allocated P371,000 to cover costs related to training materials, facilitators, venues, and other program expenses. Hilot 101 ran from October 13–17, culminating in a Graduation Day held in Pasay City. The ceremony was attended by Pres. Eddie Galvez, PP Bing Matoto with Ida Joseph, and Nicky Ramos, alongside Dr. Mina Gabor, President of ISST; Cora Alma de Leon, ISST Director; and Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, Chairman of the Hilot Philippines Development Center. During the ceremony, Pres. Eddie delivered an inspirational message highlighting the deeper meaning of touch and healing. He said that when people “know how to hold each other,” they become instruments of the Lord’s compassion, expressing love not just through words but through the act of healing. He emphasized that the practice of Hilot is both an expression of love and a way of preserving Filipino heritage, thanking PP Bing Matoto and Ida Joseph for their leadership in making the program possible. “The most important thing,” he reminded the graduates, “is that you are happy and that you love what you are doing.” PP Bing, who endorsed the project to the Club and from whose unallocated savings the budget was drawn, addressed the graduates with an uplifting message about the purpose of Rotary’s involvement in such initiatives. He shared that projects like this reflect Rotary’s true mission—to help people, especially those who need it most, by giving them the skills and opportunities to uplift their lives. He expressed pride in seeing the graduates’ progress and reaffirmed that the Club is committed to continuing programs that empower communities through education, livelihood, and compassion. Adding a deeply personal touch to the event, one of the graduates, Maria Teresa Mendoza, shared her heartfelt testimony. “Hilot 101 is a blessing for us because it increased our knowledge,” she said. She shared how the training helped her and expanded her skills in wellness and traditional healing. “Because of this program, my knowledge grew—and so did my income. Before, I earned P500; now it’s P700. Thank you very much to the Rotary Club of Makati for this blessing.” The program continued with Hilot 102, held from October 29–31, culminating in another graduation ceremony attended by IPP Keith & Rachel Harrison, together with Boy Arteche and Nicky Ramos. Each participant received a certificate of participation recognizing their completion of the program. Through this initiative, RC Makati reaffirms its commitment to sustainable livelihood, cultural preservation, and community wellness—empowering individuals not just to heal others, but to create better futures for themselves and their families.

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