The Rotary Balita no. 626 (August 4, 1949).

"Emy" Javier, governor of the 48th Rotary District, and past president of the Manila Rotary Club, reported on his fresh impressions of the recent Rotary International Convention in New York City where he led the Philippine Rotary delegation. “Emy” talked on the implementation of Rotary ideals which, according to him were being given practical emphasis during the Rotary international convention in New York. He emphatically asserted that we have much to learn from the Rotarians abroad! He said that he was very much impressed by the sincerity and earnestness of the Rotarians abroad and recommended that Manila Rotarians should study more of Rotary, so that all our Rotarians in the Philippines would become more Rotary-minded. Digressing from this main topic, he dwelt at length on the present problems, confronting our country. He urged Rotarians to take a more active part in the solution of the major problems of peace and order, hygiene and sanitation, and food production, and recommended that these be made part of the club’s activities for this year. Speaking on hygiene and sanitation, he urged a major campaign to rid the city of Manila of flies and mosquitoes ; curtail the unhygienic practice of spitting in public places, contribute to the cleanliness of city streets and in general to help beautify Philippine cities so as to make the country more deserving of its pre-war fame being the “Pearl of the Orient.” Touching on the economic problems of the country, he emphasized the need of increasing our food production to meet the needs of the population. He pointed out that as long as the Philippines depends on outside sources for its primary food requirements, the country would remain as poor as ever and dependent on foreign countries. Before closing the meeting for today, President “Balmy” Balmaceda requested the members of the club to rise in one-minute silence in memory of the late Justice Frank Murphy, last governor-general and first U. S. High Commissioner to the Philippines, who died at Detroit on July 19, 1949.