No. 600 22 July 1948
The 600th Balita, with a look back at the newsletter's history to its first editor in 1919, and Gil J. Puyat on "No Trade with Japan".
22 articles
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list[Masthead, club officers and Publication Committee]Masthead listing the Rotary Club of Manila's officers, directors, club office and the Balita's Publication Committee.p. 2
ROTARY BALITA PUBLISHED BIWEEKLY BY ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA
ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA President and Director . . Dr. Emilio M. Javier "Emy" Vice-Pres. and Director . Cornelio Balmaceda "Balmy" Secretary and Director . . Enrique A. Lolarga "Lorry" Treasurer—Ex-officio . . Fay Bailey "Fay" Sergeant-at-Arms . . . . . . Timoteo Certeza "Tim"
DIRECTORS Conrado Benitez "Conrado" Vicente Bunuan "Vince" Dr. E. L. Hall "Ned" Justice Manuel Lim "Manoling" (Immediate Past Pres.)
CLUB OFFICE Philippine Chamber of Commerce Building, Raf. S. Dedal, Asst. Secretary-Treasurer . . Telephone 2-85-06
PUBLICATION COMMITTEE KARL KREUTZ - Chairman RAMON ORDOVEZA, VICE CHAIRMAN - Features FRANK BAKER - Editorials PEG GREEN - Activities ALVA J. HILL - Poetry and Humor GO PUAN SENG - Advertising
noticeJust Among OurselvesIntroduces the new Publication Committee and each member's duties on the Balita, and jokingly invites more volunteers.p. 2
The Publications Committee is one committee that has a job for every member. The task is to get out the Balita once a fortnight. There are no honorary positions, no feather-bedding, no one going along just for the ride.
Ramon Ordoveza, vice-chairman, is Feature Editor. Watch for his cartoons.
Frank Baker is in charge of editorials. You may not always agree, but the editorials will have something to say, and will not hesitate to say it.
Peg Green reports on each meeting. These reports will tell other clubs and our own absentees what Manila Rotary is doing, and, as recommended by Rotary International, will be for the record.
Alva J. Hill will continue supplying the choice poetry and jokes for which he is famous.
Go Puan Seng has made a newspaper of his own pay dividends, and as advertising editor will steer the business end of the Balita.
There are one or two more positions open. Pleasant working conditions; good pay*; applicants afraid of work need not apply.
*Non-negotiable, but with regular increase each fortnight.
articleNumber 600Marks the Balita's 600th issue with a short history drawn from old numbers (35, 250, 300 and 500), recalling early officers, membership applicants, projects, speakers and advertisers from 1920 to 1940.p. 3, 4
This is Balita (Tagalog for "News") No. 600. The prospect of observing this very respectable, mature anniversary set us to nosing about for details of Balita's biography.
Roy C. Bennett was the first editor. The infant must have been born in 1919, when Rotary first came to Manila, for Fred Stevens has shown us a copy of
NUMBER 35, "ABSOLUTELY FREE"
Excerpts:
"Manila Club is represented at the Rotary Convention in Atlantic City by Art Fischer and Charley Cady."
"Due to a shortage of hotel waiters last Thursday everybody became waiter, spent considerable time at it."
Attendance June 15th, 1920, was 29, when the following officers were installed: Fred Stevens, President Bob Spofford, Vice President Roy Bennett, Secretary Eddie Elser, Treasurer Cook Harrison, Sergeant-at-arms, who was absent
Membership applications: Robert E. Murphy, Newspaper, Cablenews-American K. Funatsu, Coal merchant, Mitsui Bussan Kaisha J. Fred Dow, Fire Insurance, E. E. Elser Roy S. Springer, Wholesale Drugs, Philippine-American Drug Co. Wm. R. Applegate, Lighterage, Marine Trading Victorien M. Meyer, Embroidery, American Undergarment Corp. Geo. Wm. Wright, Minister, Ellinwood Dormitory
NUMBER 250
On August 22, 1929, Manila Rotary was hepped on the idea of tourism. A tourist campaign was being planned. Governor-General Davis talked about it. Club President C.W. Franks announced it as a prime club project. The articles of incorporation of the Tourist Association were approved by the Bureau of Commerce and Industry in the record-breaking time of less than a half day.
Our cable address was ROCLOB.
The Rotary office was at 507 Chaco Building.
Three program chairmen, each responsible for the meetings of four months, were Art Fischer, Harry Cranston, and Candy Cresap.
NUMBER 300
EA Perkin's file of old Balitas is the finest we have seen. He loaned us No. 204, January 8, 1931, to No. 338, June 22, 1933.
Number 300 is dated November 12, 1931. Judge Ingersoll was club President, but the editorial staff were more modest than today's incumbents and did not permit their names to appear in print.
Irrepressible Arsenic was the speaker on October 29th, 1931. He spoke of the Rotary International convention at Vienna, but refused to tell what he had done in Paris.
Ten members had failed to pay their 1931-32 dues.
We had a song table where five members were assigned to sit.
NUMBER 500
With Vince Bunuan as editor and Ned Hall the club president, No. 500, issued February 29, 1940, was a gala edition.
This, we learn, was "the first year Balita pulled itself out of the red."
The number carried pictures of six past presidents still in active membership: EA Perkins, Sam Gaches, Ted Hall, Arsenic Luz, Art Fischer, Rommy Romulo, George Dankwerth, and Vic Buencamino.
Doc Adamson entertained the club at luncheon at his new school.
Membership was 143, attendance 128, and Bert Parsons was "writing to every absentee member a personal letter following each meeting."
Ted Hall advertised the new telephone extensi cord.
Ernie Mora was doing motor repairs, and Arsenic Luz was selling life insurance.
Rommie Romulo advertised the Far Eastern Broadcasting Company.
The Manila Railroad advertised their service, and so did the Yokohama Specie Bank.
Also 7-Up, but no Coca Cola, no San Miguel, no PAL or other Soriano outfit in those days.
AP's ad inserted the not-so-subtle word "defective" before the word "eyes."
noticeLichauco New President at DagupanA reprinted 1940 item from Balita No. 498 announcing Mariano Lichauco's election as president of the Dagupan Rotary club.p. 4
As we go to press we have learned of the election of Rotarian Mariano Lichauco, rice planter of Dagupan, to the presidency of the Dagupan club. — No. 498, Feb. 1, 1940.
humor[Headline in Pittsburgh paper]A humorous newspaper headline reprinted from Balita No. 204.p. 4
Headline in Pittsburgh paper: SHOOTS MAN WHO WOULDN'T MARRY HER FIVE TIMES — No. 204
reportReports of MeetingsReports on the July 8 meeting, where Senator Camilo Osias spoke on "The Philippines' Struggle for Freedom" for the second anniversary of independence, and the July 15 meeting, with marimba music and head-table guests involved in the Huk/PKM peace negotiations, including Judge Quirino.p. 5
July 8th, 1948
The Hon. Camilo Osias, Senator, former Resident Commissioner to the United States, educator and author, addressed the Rotary Club on the oratorical-sounding subject, "The Philippines' Struggle for Freedom."
The subject had been assigned to him, honoring the occasion of our birthday, the second anniversary of Philippine independence.
Senator Osias brought life and sparkle to a hackneyed theme. The ideal of freedom in this land was pictured as an unbroken stream flowing from the earliest recorded history to the present.
Our task now is to preserve and implement the freedoms already won, and to seek the additional freedoms recently heralded, as Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear.
The close attention, the enthusiastic applause, and ready congratulations, all gave proof that Manila Rotarians are a thoughtful group who well appreciate the stimulation of serious idealism.
July 15, 1948
All in attendance, including a large number of visitors, were thrilled by the beautiful music furnished by Mrs. Waddington on her marimba and accompanied by Professor Carluen. The thanks of the entire club go to the Music Committee for arranging this program.
Our head table was honored by the presence of many who have contributed much to start the movement towards peace and order by negotiating a settlement between the Huks, the PKM, and the people of the Philippines. Of particular mention are the Chronicle staff, who have performed a tremendous amount of good work for the country throughout the negotiations.
We enjoyed the human interest stories of the negotiations related by Judge Quirino. Appreciating the difficulties under which he spoke to us, no one wanted him to make any statement which might be misconstrued and thereby make the solution of the problem more difficult.
When there is so much talk about disarming people, one is bound to comment that the smile of General Castañeda at the head table was itself thoroughly disarming.
noticeOur ThanksThanks Dave Gunnell for lending Philippine flags and a picture of Rizal for the Independence Day meeting.p. 5
— to Dave Gunnell for the loan of several small Philippine flags and the picture of Rizal which graced the meeting in remembrance of the Second Independence Day.
noticeRotary NewsBoard of Directors actions of July 1, 1948: nine honorary members named, Vince Bunuan elected director and Balmy Balmaceda accepting the vice-presidency after Barry Barrett's death, and a new Police Stands Project Committee formed.p. 7, 9
In the meeting of the Board of Directors held July 1, 1948, the following were approved:
1. HONORARY MEMBERS 1. His Excellency, President Elpidio Quirino 2. His Excellency, The American Ambassador 3. Hon. Manuel de la Fuente, Mayor of Manila 4. Hon. George Malcolm, Past District Governor 5. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Comdr. of the Allied Forces 6. Frederic H. Stevens (Steve), Past President 7. Alfonso Sycip, Charter Member 8. Frederic Fisher (Fred) 9. E. S. Turner (Stant)
(Continued on page 9)
2. Vince Bunuan was elected member of the Board of Directors of the Club in view of the death of Barry Barrett. Vince Bunuan was No. 7 in the results of the elections held last April.
3. We have received a cable reply from Balmy Balmaceda that he accepts the proffered position of Vice-President of the Club to fill the vacancy left by Barry Barrett.
A new committee has been created: POLICE STANDS PROJECT COMMITTEE Juanito Nakpil . . . Chairman Fernando Ocampo . . . Vice-Chairman Al Aquino . . . Member Cris Concepcion . . . " Lu Croft . . . " Johnny Gotuaco . . . "
photoOrder of the Oversize OrchidA cartoon showing a Rotarian being decorated with an enormous orchid corsage by a woman while a man reads from a scroll at a microphone and others look on.p. 7
[Cartoon] ORDER OF THE OVERSIZE ORCHID
[Signed by the artist; signature illegible]
attendanceAttendance at LuncheonAttendance figures for the July 8 (103) and July 15 (142) luncheons, with visiting Rotarians from other clubs and members who made up attendance elsewhere.p. 9
ATTENDANCE AT LUNCHEON July 8, 1948 Members . . . 82 Visitors . . . 21 Total . . . 103
VISITING ROTARIANS Marianito Lichauco . . . Dagupan G. Magnus . . . Hankow, China J. V. Ackermann . . . Cebu Hon. Jose Roy . . . Tarlac Mayor Angel Fernandez . . . Dagupan Leo Gay McAfee . . . Zamboanga F. Sarabia . . . Cebu
VISITING ELSEWHERE: Bob Newton . . . Honolulu Bob Trent . . . Bombay Conrado Benitez . . . San Francisco
ATTENDANCE AT LUNCHEON July 15, 1948 Members . . . 89 Visitors . . . 53 Total . . . 142
VISITING ROTARIANS Emigdio G. Dakanay . . . Davao Roman C. Mores . . . Naga Peter R. Odens . . . Cebu Vicente Arenas . . . Iloilo Ben Salvosa . . . Baguio Bien Yandoc . . . Baguio Marianito Lichauco . . . Dagupan R. Sabino . . . Naga L. Z. Villanueva . . . Dagupan Manuel Abella . . . Naga Tranky Fajardo . . . Baguio Marcelo Ayesa . . . Cebu Fred Sarabia . . . Cebu
notice[Welcome back, from No. 231]A one-line item reprinted from Balita No. 231 welcoming back three members.p. 9
We are glad to have with us again Monk Antrim, Amen Ammen, and Bish Bishop. — No. 231
humorPhilosophiaWitty maxims reprinted from Balita No. 329 and a joke about sausages cooked like fish from No. 295.p. 11
Mighty few pleasant messages come in open-faced envelopes.
Experience is that which is offered young college graduates in lieu of salary.
If you want a thing done well, do it yourself, unless your hair wants cutting.
A committee is a device for dividing responsibility and postponing action.
Silence is a true friend that never betrays. —No. 329
A man bought some sausages and asked his landlady to cook some for breakfast.
"How'll I cook them?" she asked.
"Fry 'em like fish," replied the lodger.
The next morning when the landlady served breakfast she remarked, "I hope you'll enjoy your breakfast, but there's not much in these things when they are cleaned out."—No. 295.
humorThe Old LookA short joke about short skirts, reprinted from Balita No. 242.p. 11
"So you're lost, little man. Why didn't you hang on to your mother's skirt?"
"I couldn't reach it." — No. 242
notice[President Sam says]A reprinted appeal from a past club president, "President Sam," in Balita No. 275, asking members to bring criticism of programs directly to him.p. 11
President Sam says:
CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISMS ARE NECESSARY AND WELCOME.
DON'T BE DUMB. SPEAK UP OR WRITE YOUR CRITICISM OF PROGRAMS AND CLUB ACTIVITIES. DON'T TELL THE OTHER FELLOW. TELL ME. —No. 275.
humor[Bungalow joke]A pun on "bungalow," reprinted from Balita No. 234.p. 11
"I call my place a bungalow," Smith told his neighbor, "because the job was a bungle, and I still owe for it." — No. 234.
humorThe Old, Old StoryA comic dialogue that sounds like a courtship but turns out to be a father coaxing his daughter to eat cereal, reprinted from Balita No. 238.p. 13
"Please now, honey, just one more."
"No."
"Why not? Don't hold off just to be mean."
"No."
"It means so much to me, dearest. Please now, just one, and then I promise —
"No."
"Most girls would be flattered to death to have me urging them like this. Know that?"
Still she shakes her head.
"Don't you want me to even like you any more?"
"Ye-es."
"Well then, you might be a little more agreeable about such a small matter, dear."
"No."
"Come on, now. Be a good sport. Just close your eyes and — "
"No."
"Open those pretty red lips just a tiny bit and —"
"No."
Silly, isn't it? But after all he was only trying to get that last spoonful of cereal inside his daughter. — No. 238.
humor[Mrs. Flanagan and Mrs. Finnegan]A two-line joke reprinted from Balita No. 300.p. 13
Mrs. Flanagan: Was your old man in comfortable circumstances when he died?
Mrs. Finnegan: No, he was half way under a train. —No. 300.
noticeNote of ThanksA letter from Jo Barrett and Arthur Jr. thanking the club for its prayers, funeral wreath and memorial resolution after the death of Barry Barrett.p. 15
TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA:
May I express my deepest appreciation and heartfelt thanks to each and every member for the many kindnesses and prayers extended to us during Barry's illness. It was a great comfort to know all of you were helping to fight the battle even though God did not see fit to answer our prayers.
I wish to thank you for the beautiful wreath of tube roses, gardenias, and gladiolas which was among the first to arrive from Barry — from his Rotary friends he loved so much, and his club, a club in which no amount of work was too great for him to do.
The resolution which I have was wonderful and very touching. May I just say "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."
Sincerely, ROTARY ANN JO BARRETT, AND ARTHUR, JR.
articleOur Privilege and PleasureA short reprint from Balita No. 533 (July 31, 1941) on the privilege of being welcomed at any Rotary club in the world.p. 15
One of the greatest privileges of Rotary is that of being a welcome guest at any Rotary club in the world.
No Rotarian need be a stranger in any town, so long as there is a Rotary club in that town.
To be greeted and welcomed by a group of fellow Rotarians when you're away from home is an experience that never fails to prove delightful.—No. 533 — July 31, 1941.
humorThe New Bridge RulesTen tongue-in-cheek rules of bad bridge etiquette, reprinted from Balita No. 254 (October 24, 1929).p. 17
1. Pick up your cards as dealt, in order to be ready to bid ahead of the others.
2. If your hand is rotten, mention it. This will help guide your partner in his bid and play.
3. If your partner bids first, don't hesitate to raise him. He has to play it anyway.
4. Don't be in a hurry. Try several cards on each trick until you are sure which one fits best.
5. Occasionally ask what is trump. This will show the others you are interested in the game.
6. Walk around the table when you are dummy, and take a good look at the other hands. Then show your helpfulness by telling each person how many tricks he can take if he plays it right.
7. Keep up a steady patter of conversation. This makes for good fellowship.
8. Always, trump your partner's trick. You might have forgotten, and so miss a trick.
9. When set, be sure to your plays. This demonstrates your knowledge of bridge.
10. Eating chocolate caramels or other cohesive candy will help to keep the cards from skidding.—No. 254 — 10/24/29.
articleThe Rotary WheelExplains the symbolism of the Rotary wheel emblem (cogs as members, rim as the club, spokes as meetings, shaft as Rotary International), reprinted from Balita No. 310 (May 5, 1932).p. 17
The founders of Rotary chose a wheel for its emblem. This wheel has 6 spokes and 24 teeth or cogs.
It is not a rubber-tired wheel, for Rotary carries no passengers. It is not a smooth wheel dependent upon friction for its driving power, but a gear wheel, with cogs designed for service.
The cogs may be likened to the members, each with a part in the work to be done, and constantly in mesh with the other cogs.
The cogs are held together by the rim, which is the Club. The spokes, which connect the members to their Club, are the meetings, coming at regular intervals. These meetings impart to the Club and its members the drive of the central shaft, which is Rotary International—No. 310 — 5/5/32.
presidentThe President's PagePresident Emy Javier asks committees to plan their year, reserves the Junior Rotary Room for latecomers, urges better attendance, announces a November visit by Justice Malcolm, invites suggestions, and introduces a question box answered by the Past Presidents' Committee, whose members are listed.p. 18
1. Chairmen of the various committees are requested to hold a meeting of their respective committees in order to plan and outline their work for the year. President Emy desires to be advised of the date, place and hour of meetings so he may attend and help.
2. Beginning today, Thursday, July 22, 1948, the small additional room, otherwise called as "The Junior Rotary Room", will be reserved for late comers. The Rotary Room proper should be filled first. We do not want to have waiters serve the late comers in the main room once our program is started, because they disturb our Guest Speaker. Please co-operate with our Sergeant-at-Arms.
3. Our Club is the leader of all the clubs in the 81st District. We must improve our attendance. Cards are being printed to be distributed among our members to remind them of our meetings. Days of meetings of all the other clubs in the District will also be printed on the card for the information of members.
4. President Emy received word from Justice Malcolm, our former President and District Governor, advising him that he will be in Manila early in November. We are preparing a special program and reception for our great visiting Rotarian. The Board of Directors would like to receive suggestions regarding this program and reception.
5. Members who have suggestions or criticisms to make for the benefit of the Club should please communicate the same to President Emy.
6. Instead of the President taking his 5 minutes time for Rotary Information, we are starting a new practice. We will provide a box where the members can put in their questions, suggestions, or comments, and the answers to these questions will be given at the next following meeting by the Chairman of the Past Presidents' Committee
Past Presidents Committee: Ted Hall . . . Chairman Vic Buencamino . . . Vice Chairman EA Perkins . . . Member Arsenic Luz . . . " Ned Hall . . . " Gil Puyat . . . " Forrest Myers . . . " Manoling Lim . . . "