It was another Rotary Day, but this time, the RC Makati team led by Pres. Bing Matoto with PE Keith Harrison, Dir. Rodrigo Segura, Dir. Winston Uy, incoming Dir. Andy Mañalac, and PP Louie Aseoche, had a special destination: Isabela, for a series of impactful Rotary activities. The day started with a chartered plane ride from Pasay, courtesy of Dir. Winston, taking them on an hour-long journey over the picturesque fields of northern Luzon before arriving at Cauayan airport. Their first stop was a visit to a tobacco field in Reina Mercedes, managed by Universal Leaf, as part of a vocational tour. Here, they witnessed a demonstration of the process of curing or drying tobacco in barns after harvest. Next, the team visited Mallalantang Elementary School, where over 100 eager schoolchildren belonging to families of farmers in Cauayan were waiting in the shade to greet them. The school is the beneficiary of books from the club’s “Books Across the Seas” program, which dovetails with Universal Leaf’s “Let’s Play After School Program.” This joint initiative also included the donation of educational toys and equipment for physical activities like basketball, volleyball, and badminton. A short program followed, with messages of support from Pres. Bing, Dir. Winston and Michee dela Cruz-San Pascual, Director for Corporate Affairs & Compliance of ULPI, highlighting the importance of education and community involvement. The team then enjoyed a quick lunch, graced by the presence of Mayor Malou Saguban of Reina Mercedes, the team launched the “Functional Literacy Program” at San Fermin Elementary School in partnership with Teach for the Philippines (TFP). Pres. Bing, Dir. Rodrigo, and Ma. Victoria Ungco, CEO of TFP, highlighted the importance of partnerships in improving education. Supported by RC Makati with a donation of P400K, the program aims to benefit 300 public school students by developing basic literacy and numeracy skills, with a focus on involving guardians in home learning. A tour revealed classrooms in need of repair, prompting a request for a school library. Next, the group paid a visit to the Philippine Red Cross branch where they were met by the Red Cross staff and members of our brother club, RC Cauayan led by Pres. Czarah Dy to show the refrigerant for storage of blood that RC Cauayan was able to secure a Global Grant for with RC Singapore. They also discussed with Pres Bing a possible co-funding for another cold storage for collected blood in the facility. The day was capped by a fellowship dinner at the ULPI guest house where partners and participants from ULPI, Teach the Philippines, and RC Cauayan merged to celebrate a full day of service with a sumptuous dinner buffet and overflowing drinks hosted by Dir Winston. The Rotary Day in Isabela was a true reflection of Rotary’s ideals of Service and Fellowship, showcasing the impact that can be made when individuals from different regions come together with a common goal of making a difference in their community.

Rotary Homes Foundation organized the “Run Ride Rebuild” event at the Pacific Rim area in Filinvest Loop, aiming to support their ongoing project of providing and constructing houses for individuals in need of relocation from residences along waterways. Despite the challenges posed by the scorching summer heat exacerbated by El Niño, the event witnessed an impressive turnout of over 600+ participants, including runners and cyclists, all rallying behind the noble cause. The event, held on Sunday, April 14, 2024, saw the enthusiastic participation of Pres. Bing Matoto, PP Louie Aseoche and his daughter Katja, PP Junjun Dayrit, PP Bimbo Mills, PE Keith Harrison along with his son Julyan, Sec. Regi and Cey Ponferrada with their son, Dir. Rodrigo and Marie Segura, Chief of Staff Ron Dotaro and his daughter Karylle, as well as Jeremy, the son of PDG Robert Kuan, accompanied by his wife while only PP Junjun took on the biking challenge. Additionally, rotaractors, IPDRR Berna Lebrias, CP Kevin Enomerables, Pres. Adrian Manuel, PP Elena Gana, PP Nico Dela Cruz, and Sec. Hira Hermoso added their energy to the event. Amidst the early morning hustle and bustle, with participants rising before dawn to commence the race at 4:30 a.m. Gratitude was extended to the event’s sponsors and organizers, “Rule & Rich Events” for their instrumental role in ensuring the event’s success. Special acknowledgment was given to PP Louie Aseoche, the fundraising chair for this fun run, and Trinity Insurance of PDG Sid Garcia, recognized as a major sponsor. Moreover, the morning was further enhanced by a hearty breakfast hosted by Dir. Rodrigo and Marie Segura at the Palms Country Club, providing participants with the energy needed for the day’s activities. RC Makati’s steadfast support and significant contributions for Rotary Homes, includes the donation of houses and adoption of a community in Paranaque, a generous donation of PHP 1 million for the Siargao site, and serving as the sole sponsor of 40 homes in Muntinlupa. As participants crossed the finish line, exhausted but fulfilled, they left with the knowledge that their contributions would play a vital role in rebuilding homes and restoring hope for families facing displacement.

It was another Rotary Day, but this time, the team led by President Bing Matoto had a special destination: Isabela, for a series of impactful Rotary activities. The day started with a chartered plane ride from Pasay, courtesy of Director Winston Uy, taking them on an hour-long journey over the picturesque fields of northern Luzon before arriving at Cauayan airport. Their first stop was a visit to a tobacco field in Reina Mercedes, managed by Universal Leaf, as part of a vocational tour. Here, they witnessed a demonstration of the process of curing or drying tobacco in barns after harvest. Next, the team visited Mallalantang Elementary School, where over 100 eager schoolchildren belonging to families of farmers in Cauayan were waiting in the shade to greet them. The school is the beneficiary of books from the club’s “Books Across the Seas” program, which dovetails with Universal Leaf's “Let's Play After School Program.” This joint initiative also included the donation of educational toys and equipment for physical activities like basketball, volleyball, and badminton. A short program followed, with messages of support from President Bing Matoto and Director Winston Uy, highlighting the importance of education and community involvement. The team then enjoyed a quick lunch, graced by the presence of Mayor Malou of Reina Mercedes, before proceeding to the main purpose of their trip ─ the launch of the “Functional Literacy Program,” in partnership with Teach for the Philippines, at the San Fermin Elementary School. This program, supported by RC Makati with a donation of P400K, aims to benefit 300 public school students by developing their basic literacy and numeracy skills, with a focus on involving guardians to facilitate learning at home. A tour of classrooms that needed repairs ensued right after the program, where a request for a school library was made by the school principal to Pres. Bing. Next, the group paid a visit to the Philippine Red Cross branch where they were met by the Red Cross staff and members of our brother club, RC Cauayan to show the refrigerant for storage of blood that RC Cauayan was able to secure a Global Grant for with RC Singapore. They also discussed with Pres Bing a possible co-funding for another cold storage for collected blood in the facility. The day was capped by a fellowship dinner at the ULPI guest house where partners and participants from ULPI, Teach the Philippines, and RC Cauayan merged to celebrate a full day of service with a sumptuous dinner buffet and overflowing drinks hosted by Director Winston Uy, The Rotary Day in Isabela was a true reflection of Rotary's ideals of Service and Fellowship, showcasing the impact that can be made when individuals from different regions come together with a common goal of making a difference in their community.