To dignify the human being : Rotary Balita /
Past R.I. VP Paco Delgado.
- laminated wood plaque ; 26 x 2 x 29 cm
A tribute to PDG Marianito Lichauco by Past R.I. VP Paco Delgado.
(Speech delivered before "District Assembly '75* of District 380 at the University of Baguio Gym, Baguio City, last June 27.). -- Past District Governor Mariano F. Lichauco, after 19 years as Fiscal Agent for Rotary International; the master parliamentarian of Philippine Rotary. -- To the world outside Rotary, we are known as a service organization, and that designation is true because service to the community at large is the hallmark of Rotary. But Rotary could scarcely achieve the distiction that it has in serving the community, nor could it long sustain its reputation and its purpose, were there not within Rotary itself, at the very cog of the Rotary wheel, so to speak, men whose dedication to service took the form of dedication to Rotary itself and to its inner life and organization. -- The person whom we are here in Baguio to honor today has been just such a man, Marianito F. Lichauco, a Rotarian par excellence. -- There is hardly need for me to recount his achievements for were I to list them all, | would go far beyond the time alloted to speakers during regular meetings and Marianito would not stand for that I He has filled the posts of President of his former Rotally Club of Dagupan and as a past District Governor when it was a sole District 385, but he has done much more than that. It is for a far more intensive dedication to Rotary that he has gained the reputation of being the "walking encyclopedia of Rotary. Consistently over the past years he has written a column for the Rotary Balita of the Rotary Club of Manila every week and is the author of the world wide famous *1001 Questions and Answers About Rotary." This alone is a testimony to his knowledge of Rotary, his capacities and above all his perseverance in his dedication to the goals of Rotary. His strong adherence to every prescription of Rotary rule has at times brought him into controversy with less precise minds than his own; but he never yielded in his adherence to what he knew to be the correct Rotary way. In truth, we who have known him over the years can say that not only has he become a "walking encyclopedia" of Rotary knowledge but he has been the 'cons-cience of Philippine Rotary. In his lofty sense of dedication he has not hesitated to remind us of the true Rotary way. And for this we owe a deep and abiding sense of gratitude. Many outstanding Rotarians are among us today. because of the initiative and steadfastness of this master technician in Rotary practices. He has become an almost indispensable source of Rotary knowledge and been an unabashed apologist.for its concept of service. -- For the past 19 years he has been the Fiscal Agent of our former sole Rotary District 385 and now Districts 380, 385 and 386. He has performed this service with integrity, industry and good humor. Now that illness has forced him to retire from this position we want him to know how keenly we realize the gap he leaves in our lives. At the same time we urge you, Marianito, not to give up totally your love and interest in our present tasks. There is still much that you can do within the limits that your health may allow. And so, for the many years of service and dedication, we thank you and we salute you today. Our good repute in the world of Rotary International would not have been attained without your dedicated service to the inner life of Rotary in the Philippines. You will ever stand out in our memories as the living conscience of Philippine Rotary.