The Rotary Balita no. 616 (March 10, 1948)

Complete success marked the 6th Annual Conference of the 81st District, Rotary International, held in the Fiesta Pavilion of the Manila Hotel on March 3 & 4, 1949. The two-day affair was highly lauded by the majority of the Rotarians. The first day of the meeting opened with the registration of members from all Rotary clubs, a flag ceremony and, finally, the wall to order by Conference Chairman Balmy Balmaceda. Then followed welcome speeches by President Emy Javier and Mayor Manuel de la Fuente, which drew a response from the provincial rotarians through President Tingting Faelnar of Cebu Rotary, Highlight of the morning session was the presentation of Governor George A. Malcolm, Representative of Rotary International, who delivered a very impressive speech. The Fellowship luncheon was well attended and helped much to activate the committee meetings that followed in the afternoon. In the evening, cocktails and buffet preceded an entertaining show presented by Lou Rifkin, starring Rosalia Merino who turned in a superb ballet performance inspired by a native folk dance. Tacloban Rotarians headed by Past President Ticoy Laraga with their musical and dance numbers contributed much in enlivening the affair. Lively discussions were brought up on the following day during the open forum which lasted all morning. In the ensuing Fellowship luncheon, Governor Ben Gaston lambasted the Manila Rotarians on account of the poor attendance in the morning conference (out of 185 members only 15 were present). The Governor’s dinner dance brought the affair to a successful end. President Quiyino’s speech, which followed a short but inspiring speech by Governor George Maleolm, was a bit too long but interesting enough to draw a wide applause from the audience. A lively part of the entertainment for the night was the Rigodon de Honor organized by Hilary Silayan.