The Rotary Balita no. 688 [January 17, 1952]

"As long as there is freedom and understanding, there is hope for the world." declared Dr. Edgar Chandler, director of field operation of the International Refugee Organization, who took the place of Dr. James H. Robinson, the scheduled speaker but who, due to illness was not able to come. Chandler who is in the Philippines to look after the refugees from Shanghai, talked on the problems of giving back homes and jobs to those that were displaced by the last war. In the United States this help can be given so that these persons would not end being public wards. In addition, the locality where they are to be sent will have to be prepared so that proper welcome could be given the refugees. He praised the Philippines for its contribution of admitting on a temporary basis some 5,880 people driven by Communists from Shanghai. Of these, 5,600 had been given visa and transported to United States, Australia and Canada where they are given a new lease in life. Only 126 are left in Leyte, waiting for their turn to be shipped abroad. This will be possible if funds are available for their passage. He said that at the end of the war there were some 8 million displaced persons in Europe. Seven million have already been resettled or repatriated to other areas. The Lutheran Church in Norway took in all the blind persons and the sanatoria in France and Switzerland took in all the tubercular refugees. The problem of the IRO today is becoming more complicated, Dr. Chandler pointed out, by the fact that over 100,000 refugees have fled to Western Germany or to nearby areas to escape the Communists. He cited a case where a Russian couple, the husband, an engineer, went to Trieste from Yugoslavia crossing the border at night. Asked why he did it, he said that if he had not left Yugoslavia, he would have been forced to join the Communist party, which he cannot do because he is a Christian. A new Rotary song was introduced, entitled "Lead, Manila Rotary." This song. composed by Emy Javier, was heartily dedicated to the Manila Rotary Club. Election for governorship was held. Remaining candidates were Vince Bunuan, Manila; Arturo Ilagan, Tarlac; Manuel Lim, Manila: Benito Legarda. Manila: and Ramon Ponce de Leon, Dumaguete. So far no results yet. Dave Gunnell talked on "Rotary Classifi cation." Woody Wood was the finemaster. Joe Bautista was fined P1.89 for being a member for 18 months, and John Gotauco P20.00 for not knowing Joe Bautista: for throwing coins in the lobby of the new Dalisay Theater during the blessing. Luis de Leon was fined P20.00; Pablo Lorenzo, for his election to the directorate of the Binalbagan-Isabela Sugar Company was fined P50.00; for his new position as dean of the College of Business Administration of the University of Manila, Rex Reyes was fined P20.00; for the rehabilitation of Fookien Times, Go Puan Seng was fined P10.00 for the building; P32.00 for the acquisition of a 32-page Rotary press, which was remitted later and P2.00 for coming late; a fine of P10.00 was imposed on Yang Sepeng; for the new make-up of the Evening News, Ralph Hawkins was fined P20.00; Jonby Carlos, as finemaster at the previous meeting, fined Woody Wood P20.00. Woody took this opportunity as finemaster and fined Jonby P20.00 also. Others fined were Dalup Dalupan, P5.00; Dan Aguinaldo, P20.00 and Vic Buencamino P14.00.