Report of meetings :    February 23, 1955 

 - page 11-18.  
<br/><br/> The Rotary Balita no. 766 (March 10, 1955) 
<br/><br/> The President of the Philippines was the guest speaker for the evening. The Manila Rotarians had requested him and Mr. Magsaysay graciously consented to address the club on the occasion of the Golden Anniversary. The President spoke on the occasion celebrating the half century mark of Rotary and took the opportunity to discuss the Filipino-American relationship. We are pleased to quote in full the speech of the President which was as follows:<br/><br/>I am sometimes asked by foreign visitors to define the relationship that exists between this country and the United States. Being unfamiliar with the history and circumstances of that relationship, they find it difficult to understand the warm and active friendship between an Asian people and a blend of Western races some eight thousand miles distant—between a small republic of scattered islands, and a nation occupying half a continent and judged the greatest economic power in the world today.<br/><br/>This occasion, celebrating the half century mark of Rotary, an international organization dedicated to world friendship and cooperation, offers an opportunity to discuss the Philippine-American relationship.<br/><br/>If I had to state it briefly, I would say that ours is a partnership in the building of democracy—democracy in its broadest sense and on a world scale. By this I mean a society in which the interests and welfare of the individual are the first and major concern of government, and a world community in which each nation, however small and lacking in material strength, has a voice and acknowledged rights.<br/><br/>The world struggle today is between this way of life and a philosophy of government by force and terror which already has enslaved millions, and which states as its goal the domination of all peoples of the earth. An active part in this struggle is a feature of our partnership, but its actual beginnings go back to a much earlier day.<br/><br/>Because America is made up of those who fled from Old World oppression and tyranny, the ideals of freedom and independence are deeply rooted in her national spirit. But we cannot credit America with bringing those ideals to us. We already had them. Freedom and independence had long been cherished in Filipino hearts, and when we first came to know America we had just succeeded in liberating ourselves from foreign masters. But it probably was our common devotion to these ideals that brought about the warm friendship which continues to this day.<br/><br/>As a western power in Asia, America held a unique position in those early days. True, it was that of a master, but more in the sense of a teacher than a ruler. And there was a firm and forthright pledge that the pupils would graduate into independent sovereignty when qualified. The fifty years that followed reflect credit on both our peoples. America gave us every opportunity and generous assistance in preparing for enduring nationhood. We, on the other hand, controlled our impatience, banked the fires of our aspirations without letting them die, and took full advantage of our training.<br/><br/>The second World War dealt a heavy blow to ear plans. Our material preparation for independence was destroyed and is not yet fully restored. But we were determined to realize our dream, and America accepted our decision and fulfilled the pledge.<br/><br/>Today we are working hard to realize the full benefits of the free, democratic society we had planned. We know that we must reduce the rap between our technical history and that of the western world. We know that we must overcome the war time setbacks of destruction and corruption. And we know that we must accomplish this under the threat and physical pressure of a new imperialism. the aggressive Communist effort to colonize those free nations which are too small or weak to resist them. Internally, our work is sabotaged by their agents. Externally, their threats and their aggressions tie up in defensive expenditure a tremendous amount of wealth which the free world could otherwise use to the benefit of its peoples, the benefit of mankind.<br/><br/>This is the hard central fact of our problem today—the problem not only of the Philippines, but of all free Asia. We must bring into action the foll strength of our material and our human resources. We must put them to work to support our people in comfort and decency. We must put them to support social and political institutions which realize the democratic promise of maximum freedom for the individual, together with maximon responsibility to the community.<br/><br/>Even under the most favorable circumstances, or job would be difficult, Democracy, to operate at its best, requires that its people be informed and alert. that its political institutions be stable and responsive to the popular will and welfare. It requires economy at least adequate to produce the nation' needs, flexible enough to expand with those needs and progressive enough to assure a constantly rising standard of living. Even under favorable circumstances, I repeat, this job would require our fullest concentration and energies.<br/><br/>It is obvious, however, that conditions today are far from favorable. its attention and energies on domestic problems be Free Asia cannot concentrate cause it must fight off a new threat to its freedom and right to self-determination. imperialism is determined to take over the seals of power which the older imperialisms have left or are leaving. Communist imperialism, to achieve its Communist goal of a world of Red colonies, cannot afford to let democracy succeed. They are fighting us twenty-four hours a day, using highly perfected techniques of sabotage and subversion, of coercion and seduction and finally aggression. This undeclared war is a new kind of war which already has conquered greater areas and more millions of people than some of the great wars of history.<br/><br/>These factors, these special problems of our times. have determined the pattern of our current relations with the United States. the Philippine Republic was born in 1946 that there would always be strong bonds of mutual esteem and friendship between Filipinos and Americans Almost half a century of harmonious association climaxed by the voluntary and peaceful lowering of the American flag over our islands, had brought about an unusual degree of sympathy and understanding between Asian and Western peoples. But I think it was expected originally that the ties between the widely separated nations would be more sentimental and practical.<br/><br/>Yet, it is quite logical and consistent that we find ourselves today in this active partnership with the United States. I have called it a partnership for democracy, and both nations have a heavy stake in democracy. Filipinos have dreamed of it and fought for it over the centuries. The United States fostered it here, and helped us put it into practice. Elsewhere in Asia the United States has given support to the aspirations of former subject peoples to freedom and self-determination. Our mutual investment in human dignity and progress must be protected at all costs.<br/><br/>Therefore, the economic development which we could have handled ourselves in a more secure time must now be speeded. American technical and financial assistance is being extended to us for that purpose. As for security against the enemy attack, even meeting the internal challenge is a heavy burden on our limited resources; against external attack by a modern major power we would be completely helpless. Here again, we have invited, and the United States has extended, the costly military arm of defense needed to discourage the aggressor.<br/><br/>The Philippines' contribution to this partnership may be less tangible, but it is no less significant. As we succeed in developing a free and vigorous society without forfeiting our independence as individuals and as a nation, some of our neighbors may find in our example the encouragement they need to solve their own problems. As we demonstrate that true security lies in a system of collective defense, rather than the uneasy precarious gamble of appeasement, others may add their weight to the common defense line, making peace even more likely. As we, a small nation, show the moral courage to express ourselves firmly against the forces working to destroy freedom and enslave the world, others will be heartened and reinforced in the effort to bring about a world in which justice and morality will stand above brute force.<br/><br/>In describing this partnership, I have emphasized our relations with the United States. But actually it is a partnership with the free world. It is an obligation of our endorsement of the principles of the United Nations, and a contribution by example to their success. Are we contributing more than we can afford? I say that we cannot afford to contribute less. No cost is too high for our survival as a free people. No cost is too high for the maintenance of our national honor. Rizal did not let fear temper his condemnation of tyranny and oppression. The people who revere his memory today are products of the same glorious heritage.<br/><br/>The Palm Court of the Manila Hotel offered the most appropriate setting for the anniversary dinner, the regular meeting of the club in which the Manila Rotarians celebrated the birthday of Rotary. The guest speaker on the occasion was the President of the Philippines, Mr. Ramon Magsaysay who presided over the meeting flanked by Gene Puyat, President of the Rotary Club of Manila, and Pompin Anton, President of the Inner Wheel Club.<br/><br/>For the occasion, the entire diplomatic corps had been invited and so were the secretaries of Mr. Magsaysay's cabinet, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the presidents of the Senate and House of Representatives. On their part, Manila Rotarians brought with them numerous guests and in general, the meeting can be qualified as one of the most outstanding ever held by the Rotary Club of Manila.<br/><br/>The National Anthem was played by the Presidential Guards Band. The Secretary of the club. Basky Bascara, made a wonderful master of ceremonies and the Golden Anniversary Committee took care of the special features prepared for the occasion.<br/><br/>Medals were awarded to ten Rotarians who reached their 50th year during the present Rotary year. Those were: Basky Bascara, Ralph Hawkins.<br/><br/><br/>Willie Dy Buncio, Rashid Baig, Dan Gomez. Go Puan Seng, Peter Lim, Bob Monical, Ed Var land and Villa Villacorta. A special medal was awarded to Rotarian Yoyong Rodriguez who happened to have his birthday on the same day, February 23rd. Three plaques were awarded to Rotarians whose firms celebrated their half century during this year. Those were: Dave Gunnell for the Philippine Education Co., Paul Wood for the International Harvester Co., and Conrado Benitez for the Manila Building and Loan Association. The pinning of the medals and awarding of plaques was done by Pomping Anton.<br/><br/>During this part of the program, the trophies won by Rotarians who participated in the Golden Anniversary Golf Tournament were also awarded. <br/><br/>Vic Rufino ran away with the first prize, Ben Ayesa with two prizes, one as runner-up and the other, a special prize for the most birdies, Peter Lim also had a special prize for most pars and Joe Olbes got a consolation prize for the lowest number of points.<br/><br/>The prizes awarded to the artists who won in the Rotary Art Contest were also given on this occasion. The first prize for the painting “Bayanihan” was awarded to Galo B. Ocampo; the second prize “Liberty Wells” was awarded to Manuel Rodriguez and the third prize “ Best served, Well Gained” was awarded to Vicente Manansala. <br/><br/>A very interesting feature of the evening was the lighting of the huge birthday cake and the singing of the birthday song. The 50 year-old Rotarians were ordered to carry the cake to the center of the Court and past governors of the district were called to light the candles. On hand were past governors George Malcolm, Ben Legarda, Marianito Lichauco, Emy Javier and Art Ilagan. A most happy atmosphere on the somehow touching ceremony spread among all present. It was certainly a very impressive moment when the large crowd wished Rotary happiness in the birthday song.<br/><br/>Community singing was provided for by Joe Bar redo who led skillfully in several songs and baritone Aurelio Estanislao offered an extraordinarily fine performance in the musical interlude. The significance of the day was pointed out by the President of the Club, Gene Puyat, who spoke briefly on the subject and said the following lines: <br/><br/>Mr. President, Your Excellencies, Distinguished guests, fellow Rotarians, ladies and gentlemen: Fifty years, when viewed, from the perspective of the ordinary man's life is a very long time. And yet when they are united by a single chord of unbroken resolution, a concentrated dedication to an ideal that is shared by men—separated not only by time and space but by culture, religion, social position, color and race as well—they can be astoundingly short.<br/><br/>We are met today to commemorate the foundation of such a magnificent passion: the passion for service. We are gathered to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of an organization dedicated not with honeyed words but with shining action to a fellowship that has made the world no much smaller and the human heart ever so much larger. When in 1905 Paul Harris together with a group of other men found themselves to form the nucleus of Rotary International little did they know that fifty years after their memorable decision Rotary clubs all over the world would meet in 89 countries to give thanks that there once lived men of foresight and goodwill such as they.<br/><br/>For these men were the seeds, the beginning, the mother roots. They were the seeds from which sprang a universal need for genuine oneness with one's fellows. The fellowship highlighted by numerous sunshine committees and weekly meetings yet truly fulfilled in immeasurably important projects of community service. They were the mother roots from which the growing bud of high professional ethics was encouraged into ultimate flowering. They were the beginning of the revitalization of a new business concept, a concept that redeemed at last the "lowly merchants and traders" from the ill repute of sniveling profiteers into the accepted circle of men of public service and of civic responsibility. Perhaps one of the greatest contributions achieved by Rotary during its fifty years of existence lies in the final rejection of the "caveat emptor" business policy, the policy that would have the Buyer beware. Today thanks to a great measure to the high standards exacted by the Rotary creed the businessman who must aim at profits must aim at public service just as well. No longer alone are the lawyers, the doctors and the priests who take vows of professional dedication. In refocusing the mind to that memorable event of fifty years back it is equally important however that we view in glowing retrospection the fruitful fifty years that followed. For to a great extent these years are equally important, they it was that gave body and meaning to the birth of the organization. That followed and kept faith to the initial ideal. They have been fifty years of courage, of progressive energy, of youthful es enthusiasm and matured reflection. They have been fifty years of constant unyielding and unrelenting Rotary spirit.<br/><br/>Like a pebble dropped into a lake the eddies of Rotary ideals have grown and are growing still It is but fitting that we who have been lucky with the opportunity of forming a part of this vast international circle of brotherhood and service should pause amidst our numerous activities of work and play to contemplate the half a century gone behind us and the many more centuries that—God willing—lie ahead of us. Let us hope that just as we look back and are inspired by our Rotary past we in turn may likewise inspire pride and guidance for those who come after us. <br/><br/>I thank you.