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October exhibit · October 2026

The Club and the fight against polio

October 24 is World Polio Day, and the Balita shows the Rotary Club of Manila at work against polio for more than seventy years. In 1950 the Club's Community Service Committee paid for special shoes and leg braces for polio patients and loaned equipment to the Polio Pavilion of San Lazaro Hospital. A 1990 page explained Rotary's PolioPlus pledge to supply polio vaccine for immunization programs. District 3810 later honored the Club with a trophy for the highest contribution to the polio eradication campaign in 2002-2003 and a plaque for outstanding PolioPlus contribution in 2016. Recent issues record an End Polio Now banner on Roxas Boulevard, the Sabayang Patak vaccination project, a fundraising concert at the Metropolitan Theatre and the 2025 End Polio motorcade.

  1. Shoes and braces for polio patients1950Shoes and braces for polio patientsAn editorial noted that the Club's Community Service Committee was paying for special shoes and leg braces for four polio patients at the Manila Sanitarium, who were receiving free hospitalization and medicines from the Sanitarium.Balita No. 649, page 17 →
  2. Polio equipment for San Lazaro Hospital1950Polio equipment for San Lazaro HospitalThe headline reads 'San Lazaro Hospital presented with polio equipment by Manila Rotary.' The Club loaned an oro-nasal meter oxygen mask and a Gamco aspirator, which were placed in the hospital's Polio Pavilion. Ted Hall and Vince Bunuan, chairmen of the Community Service Committee, made the presentation, and Dr. Felix Velasco, head of the hospital, called the loan a long-felt need met.Balita No. 659, page 112 →
  3. PolioPlus explained1990PolioPlus explainedA page headed 'Your Rotary Foundation' described PolioPlus as Rotary's commitment to eliminate poliomyelitis as a threat to the world's children, with a pledge to furnish the polio vaccine needed for approved five-year immunization programs and to train Rotarians in project countries to help mobilize support.Balita No. 2396, page 20 →
  4. Highest contribution to polio eradication2002Highest contribution to polio eradicationRotary International District 3810 gave the Club this trophy for 'Highest Contribution to Polio Eradication Campaign' for Rotary year 2002-2003. It is signed by District Governor Rosie Ty Go and dated June 20, 2003 at the Manila Hotel.In the trophy room →
  5. Outstanding Polio Plus contribution2016Outstanding Polio Plus contributionRotary District 3810 presented this plaque for 'Outstanding Polio Plus Contribution' to the Rotary Club of Manila, thanking it for its unwavering support.In the trophy room →
  6. End Polio Now: Countdown to History2019End Polio Now: Countdown to HistoryThe Rotary Foundation presented the Club a certificate of appreciation for its financial support of the End Polio Now: Countdown to History Campaign.In the trophy room →
  7. End Polio Now banner on Roxas Boulevard2019End Polio Now banner on Roxas BoulevardOn October 24, 2019, World Polio Day, the Club placed an End Polio Now banner along Roxas Boulevard.Read the story →
  8. End Polio Now 2020 campaign launched2020End Polio Now 2020 campaign launchedRotary District 3810, led by DG Odie Tarriela, launched its End Polio Now 2020 Campaign on October 24, 2020 at Rizal Park in Manila for World Polio Day. President Bobby Joseph was one of the district's Transformational Presidents.Read the story →
  9. Sabayang Patak polio vaccination2022Sabayang Patak polio vaccinationPresident Hermie Esguerra reported the district-wide polio vaccination project 'Sabayang Patak,' held in line with World Polio Day. District 3810, headed by District Governor Joyce Ambray, led simultaneous vaccination activities in Cavite, Pasay, Manila and Occidental Mindoro.Read the story →
  10. 2023An End Polio Now donorOn November 30, 2023 Rotary International recognized the Club as a 100% Foundation Giving Club, an Every Rotarian, Every Year club and an End Polio Now donor.Read the story →
  11. A concert for End Polio Now2024A concert for End Polio NowOn September 19, 2024 the RCM World-Famous Chorale joined the Rotary Fellowship of International Voices at the Metropolitan Theatre in a concert to support Rotary's End Polio Now drive. Every ticket helped fund polio eradication efforts.Read the story →
  12. End Polio motorcade2025End Polio motorcadeThe Club and other clubs led an End Polio campaign, with a motorcade on October 25, 2025 from the Quirino Grandstand and a vaccination activity at Sta. Ana Hospital.Read the story →

Curated from the Club’s Heritage Library. Captions are drawn from the pages and objects shown.