The Rotary Balita no. 752 (August 26, 1954)

Doubtless many Davao Rotarians, specially the new members, are quite unfamiliar with the his- tory of their club. In an effort to acquaint all members and other Rotarians with the beginnings and struggles as well as with the growth and accomplishments of our club, this brief resumé is being presented in the hope that with a proper perspective of their club's history and background, they will be prouder of their membership in the Rotary Club of Davao. A great portion of this account covering the pre-war period, however, has to be reconstructed from memory without the benefit of records which, like those of most organizations, could not survive the wanton destruction wrought by the last Pacific War. The Rotary Club of Davao is the first Rotary and the pioneer service club to be established in Mindanao and until April, 1948, was the only Rotary Club in the second largest island of the Archipelago. It was founded under the sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Cebu in September, 1938, by 24 professional and business men of Davao in a get-together held at the Davao Club, then located on Hospital Avenue of this City. The group was truly cosmopolitan, composed as it was of Ameri- cans, British, Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese and Spanish. Realizing the value of fellowship and imbued with the ideal of service, they organized the Rotary Club of Davao, which was chartered on October 24, 1938, as Club No. 4860. The Charter Presentation took place in Decem- ber, 1938, at the former Awad Building, now the present site of the imposing edifice of the Rehabili- tation Finance Corporation. The occasion was a gala and memorable affair which was attended by Rotarians from the other clubs. in the Philip- pines and prominent members of the community. The charter members of our club were S. Artia- ga, V. C. Bartolome, F. F. Caburian, G. B. Cam, P. S. Carriedo, R. S. Castillo, A. F. Cortes, M. G. Fernandez, S. Fraser, S. Frank, W. H. Gohn, R. Hidalgo, K. Itakura, H. Iwanaga, U. Kojima, N. E. Ramsey, F. L. Reed, L. Rotaeche, R. Sato, E. P. Schlinger, Tan Sin An, Y. Yoshikawa, Peter Tan Peh and R. M. Bownass. Its first president was Fritz Reed, while the vice-president and secretary were Arti Artiaga and Ning Fernandez, respectively. Despite diligent inquiries, your chronicler was unable to obtain the names of the treasurer, the other members of the Board of Directors and the sergeant-at-arms. An able leader and a good judge of men, it was Fritz who practically laid the foundations of the new club. He organized the various committees composed of and headed by capable members, each of whom was an expert in his own line. Death, how- ever, claimed the life of this useful man during the dark days of the enemy occupation, a loss we deeply mourn. The club has always been blessed with the happy and unerring faculty in the choice of right leaders. After Sareo's notable administration, the baton of leadership for the Rotary year 1952-1953, was placed in the capable hands of Fermin Abella. Fer- min, a studious lawyer, whose avocation is short- story writing, forsook active law practice and turned successful realtor- he masterminded the development of the aristocratic Juna Subdivision at Matina. Fermin is also a divot addict who has yet to duck a challenge from whoever dares to test his prowess on the fairways. With Fermin on the Board were Bab Babista, vice-president, Pascualito Garcia, secretary, Nihal Mahtani, treasurer, and Sareo de Asis, Carling Gempesaw, Don Mead, Pete Quitain and Pepe Tuazon, directors, and Bien Escoto, sergeant-at-Arms. It was, however, the challenge of community service that found effective acceptance and response from Fermin. The first Inter-College Oratorical Contest was successfully sponsored by the club. And when the City was visited by the most disastrous fire in its history, the club through his initiative made a cash donation of P500.00 to the Sta. Ana fire victims. Mindful of the potentialities of bright young men of small and meager financial means, the club likewise granted scholarships to four students of the Davao City High School - one from each year, and one scholar each from the Mindanao Colleges, Harvardian Colleges, Immaculate Conception College and Ateneo de Davao. The club. also donated an electric clock and an electric water fountain for drinking purposes to the Davao City High School. It is also remarkable to note that the club's finances were in a very satisfactory state and club at- tendance was maintained on a good level during Fermin's tenure as president. Fellowship in the club left nothing to be desired and for the first time in the club's deliberations, a finemaster was appointed at each weekly meeting. This in- novation not only guaranteed more fun to enliven meetings, but also assured the swelling of the chari- ty fund of the club. Even good things must end, so the good and efficient stewardship of the club's affairs by Presi- dent Fermin had to bow itself out with the election of Pascualito Garcia to the presidency for the 1953- 1954 Rotary year. The present officers, aside from President Pascualito are Max Stuessi, vice-presi- dent, Bien Escoto, secretary, Nihal Mahtani, trea- surer, and Fermin Abella, Sarco De Asis, Pete Qui- tain, S. T. Mih and Mon Zoza, directors, and Ed Canova, sergeant-at-arms. Pascualito's administration has shown a commendable awareness to pro- blems affecting community welfare and judging from present indications, his term bids fair to break the record of accomplishments of his worthy predecessors. Well it might be for the edification and glory of Davao Rotary. As we close this brief account of our club, we wish to make grateful acknowledgement, first to Tony Habana whose predigious memory has resurrected the missing and salient facts of the pre- war history of Davao Rotary, second, to Ning Fernandez whose recollection has supplied some missing links so necessary to the structure of this historical account indispensable and valuable data which were given up for lost with the destruction. and loss of club records. While some of the material things the club accomplished were destroyed in the last war, its spirit still remains. It is with this deathless spirit that we propose to build new a more virile club in Davao that will be worthy of the great traditions of Rotary.