Editor’s Note

We all know that it is through Rotary that people from different backgrounds and cultures come together and, in friendship and solidarity, serve side by side to improve and rebuild lives and communities. The amazing thing about interacting with like-minded individuals (who believe in the service-above-self mantra) and of meeting fellow Rotarians anywhere in the world is the instant connection and recognition that you both have something special in common. All of a sudden, you see the Rotarian thread that underlies the fabric. In an instant, you are inspired by what a newfound friend and fellow Rotarian has done and continues to do for the service of Rotary. Suddenly, you recognize the other person as among the 1.4 million in the world who has contributed and continues to contribute in making the Rotary wheel moving.

Last week, Manila Rotarians led by President Hermie Esguerra attended the anniversary ball of RCM’s sister club, the Rotary Club of Kowloon East (RCKE). Twin clubs, or sister clubs, are two clubs from different countries that form a long-term relationship to promote international understanding and goodwill and carry out service projects in their communities. RCM and RCKE have been sister clubs since 1975.

From the warm welcome at the HKIA on Day 1, to the welcome dinner and karaoke session later that evening, and also during the anniversary ball the following day, all the way to the farewell lunch on Day 3, Manila Rotarians gleefully experienced the hospitality and warm friendship of RCKE officers and members. Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Bangkok, as well as the Rotary Club of Taipei were also there, as they too attended the RCKE Anniversary. The laughter, banter, singing, and formal discussions about partnerships for service animated the memorable trip.

Worth mentioning is the RCKE Anniversary Ball, which was clearly well organized. One cannot help but be impressed with the amount of preparation that went into it. The program was well structured, the speeches were kept short, and the cultural presentations interspersed during the night certainly added color and excitement. The Grand Ballroom filled with Rotarians was a sight to behold, something that can only be imagined or hoped for during the height of the pandemic.

Parenthetically, we do know that the Rotary Club of Manila, First in Asia, is the mother of all clubs in this part of the world. It is, therefore, interesting and inspiring to note that today, the most number of Rotarians in the world is in Asia, which is 387,663 (N.B.- there are 337,842 Rotarians in the US, Canada and the Carribean; 295,099 in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East; and more or less 170,000 spread in Central/South America, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand).

BALITA always features photos of Manila Rotarians interacting with fellow Rotarians from other Clubs from other parts of the globe, and there have been a lot of them lately (after travelling overseas took a hiatus because of the lockdowns). As members of the oldest Rotary Club in Asia, we must indeed take the lead in establishing and maintaining strong ties with our fellow Rotarians, not only in Asia, but around the world.