The Rotary Balita no. 746 (May 27, 1954)

As of 1953, the Rotary Club of Bacolod can point with pride to thirteen active years of fellowship and service. A dozen years of Rotary have not dampened the enthusiasm to keep moving in the direction towards which the Rotary wheel should always roll, which is forward. The Rotary club of Bacolod came into existence through the sponsorship of Rotarians from the neighboring City of Iloilo. On March 1, 1937, the first formal meeting was held at the University. Clab, with seventeen local boys and representatives of Manila and Iloilo Rotary in attendance. The formal presentation of the Charter came on June 16, 1937, with the former Vice-President of Rotary International, Ex-Ambassador Carlos "Romy" Romale, making the presentation to the first President of the local club, Atty. Ricardo "Candoy" Nolan. Since then, Bacolod Rotarians have been meeting regularly every week, excluding almost three years of enforced idleness during the Japanese occupation. From the very start, the club, though small in composition, strove to be bigger in deeds. In its initial years, the Rotary Club of Bacolod initiated the improvements of the police and worked for at better traffic-control system; it aroused the authorities to do something about the sadly inadequate fire department, postal and telegraph service, water system, among others. As a measure to aid youth, it supported deserving students. and athletes. The first club-sponsored "Boys Day" was held, In the ensuing years, the list of achievements steadily lengthened. The efforts of the Rotary Club of Bacolod to enhance the one-world concept antedated the United Nations. It sought to promote international friendship and understanding through closer contact among the various communities. It sought to eliminate distinctions based on race, color, creed or class. Furthermore, there has been much work done in the way of enforcement of traffic safety rules and anti-noise ordinances; public sanitation; establishment of weather signals; construction of children's park and playground: establishment of a local branch of the National Library: registration of bicycles; cleaning of house yards and public places; drafting of a city zonification plan; sponsorship of a Boy Scout Troop: helping defray the salaries of teachers employed This is the second of the club histories that we are publishing in connection with the project of next year's celebration of the Golden Anniversary of Rotary. The first club history published in our issue of April 29 was that of the Rotary Club of Dumaguete. in connection with adult education; assisting the families of Filipino veterans of the Korean conflict; donating to the blood bank; improving garbage collection; eliminating slot-machines; and. numberless charitable activities. The club is especially proud of its endeavors in connection with the elimination of vagrancy. P10,000.00 was raised with the assistance of civic-spirited citizens to construct an indigents' home a few kilometers south of the city. On April 14, 1947, the club effected. the official transfer of the same to the City of Bacolod, which assumed further responsibility for its administration and maintenance. But everything has not been work, without play. Mention may be made of social affairs, which include ladies' night, international night, anniversary night, and sons and daughters night. The local club has had thirteen Presidents since its organization: Atty. Ricardo "Candoy" Nolan, Atty. Rodolfo "Dolpong" Medel (deceased), Mr. Manuel "Manoling" Garcia, Mr. Agustin "Tuting" Coscolluela, Congressman Carlos "Carlitos" Hilado, Atty. Julian "Julianing" Hernaez, Mr. Benjamin "Ben" Gaston. Mr. Jose "Tura" Buenaventura, Dr. Ruperto "Perte" Angudong, Atty. Vicente "Remy" Remigio, Mr. Tranquilino "Tranque" Valderrama. Dr. Alexander "Gordie" Gordon, and Dr. Eduardo "Ed" Garcia, the incumbent President. Past President "Ben" Guston later became Governor of Rotary International District 48 (Philippines), the first such Governor to come from the southern islands. The Rotary Club of Bacolod looks back, confident that it has not fallen below par; and views the future, equally confident that it will not fail the motto of "Service Above Self." LIST OF CHARTER MEMBERS (June 17, 1937) 1. Ricardo Nolan 2. Antonino Calma 3. Agustin Cosculluela 4. Manuel Garcia 5. Manuel Araneta 6. Heisi Ishiwata 7. William D'Artagnan 8. Fidel Henares 9. Ernesto Salas 10. Alfredo Montelibano 11. Julian T. Hernaez 12. Carlos Hilado 13. Eduardo Arboleda 14. James Redfern 15. Sixto Orosa 16. Gabriel Espino 17. Tomas Garrucho 18. Rafael Gray 19. Mariano Yogore 20. William Wylie 21. Mariano Concepcion