THE SCINTILLA

WHY ROTARACT? Serving while

learning the beauty of giving
BY: ELYROSE NAORBE

owadays, there are lots of organizations giving services

to various communities in the world. There are different nonorganizations and non-profit institutions that keep on reaching out those
people who need help in the society. One is the Rotaract Club, the so
called "youth arm" or partner of the Rotary Club International in rendering valuable help through service above self mantra.

EDITORS NOTE
Rotaract
Club its a
life changing
organization.

But what really is Rotaract and among the many clubs in the
world, why is it fun to be part of the growing Rotaract Club?
To give you some brief history, Rotaract originally began as a
youth program in 1968 at Charlotte North Rotary Club in Charlotte,
North Carolina. It has grown into a major Rotary-sponsored organization of over 9,539 clubs spread around the world and 219,397 members.
It is a service, leadership and community service organization for young
men and women between the ages 1830. As a club, it focuses on the
development of young adults as leaders in their communities and workplaces. Clubs around the world also take part in international service
projects, in a global effort to bring peace and international understanding to the world. "Rotaract" stands for "Rotary in Action",although the
name originally comes from a combination of "Rotary" and
"Interact" (International + Action), the high school level program created by Rotary International in 1962.

The purpose of Rotaract is to provide an opportunity for young men and women to enhance the knowledge
and skills that will assist them in personal development, to address the physical and social needs of their communities, and to promote better relations between all people worldwide through a framework of friendship
and service. To be eligible for membership, prospective members must be 1830 years of age, show that they
are committed to Rotaract, and show that they are of good standing in the community. After being approved
by the club, prospective members are 'inducted' to become members, also known as 'Rotaractors'. Rotaract
Club is not just an ordinary club being founded in the world. It also serves as a leeway for the youth to take
part in various beneficial projects may it be in education, health, water, poverty, war, or even in slowly resolving the conflict within or outside the community.
It's fun being in the club because aside from the overwhelming feeling every time you had helped the
community, you can also gain true friends along the way. It's nice to note that despite the busyness of the
youth that involve their personal commitment, they can still find time learning the value of giving to others.
When I started joining the Rotaract Club in my third year college, at first, I think it was just some ordinary clubs in the university wherein you will mount some intra-projects and that's it, you're done already. But
when the time I got the chance to take some glimpse of the Rotaract world, it simply made me realized that
this club I am joining for almost four years already, is something distinct for the reason that it's a life changing organization, giving it's members the chance to be one of God's instrument of kindness and generosity.
In Rotaract where duty is voluntarily, you will endure first what they called hindrances and problems
which later on, will let you think twice, "Am i really want to pursue this club's mission, vision and goal all the
way?" Am I deserving to be part of the Rotaract Club?" etc.
Frankly speaking, during my first Rotaract encounter, I also asked those questions to myself, but still,
I stand in my own conviction that if you really a true servant leader, you know how to handle the pressure and
managed to solve what problem it is because at the end of the day, the feeling of being an accomplished person will really bring you up high.
In Rotaract, we don't just give fish directly to the people but we teach them on how to fish. Yes, we
extend help in the community but let us make sure the latter will also act according to what we require them
to do and don't just be dependent to us all the time. Rotaract is a service oriented organization which aims to
alleviate lives of other people. Rotaractors, with the help and guide of its Rotarians in Rotary Club, will be
always here to serve you in times you need help and in situations you look for support. They serve as catalysts
of change in lending hands for the betterment of the community and in the country in their own simple way.
So to those students and active leaders who composed the youth sector, we are calling you to be part of our
growing organization. The club that always ready to serve, the club that embibes the spirit of service above
self, and the club that lives the mantra of serving while learning the essence giving. That is the beauty of being members of the Rotaract Club, the club that fits for you.

THE SCINTILLA

My Beloved World Class Rotaractors,

Being a Rotaractor for almost seven years already (a relationship longer
than what I have with my boyfriend! Just kidding) I must say that serving
other people in the society is very rewarding. In Rotaract I feel secured, I
learned the value of one's integrity and I believe I am called to serve others before myself and I realized that serving is not just a way of life but
it's a way to live fully.

DRRS CORNER

DATES TO
REMEMBER

August 14-16 2015 DISTAS 2015

@ Palmas Del MarBacolod City
November 6-7, 2015DRRs Visit
Panay Area
Decemeber 19, 2015DRRs Visit
Negros Area
January 23, 2015DRRE/ DRRN
election
JanuaryDRRs Online Visit with
Mindanao Area
February 19-21, 2016PROCON
May 20-23, 2016 (tentative) DISCON
Every end of the month Passing of
Reports

As I started my journey as your DRR, I was doubtful if I can live through

the expectations of people in the Rotary World. But I guess, this was my
calling. To give service, to lead in the most beautiful way I can and to be
an inspiration to all Rotaractors in the District. (I hope I did inspire you
even in a little way.)As your DRR, let me leave you with this simple
words..
Being a rotaractor or an interactor is a sacrifice, a hard sacrifice. But behind this bitter sweet realization is my challenge for all you to stand up
and become what we are expected to be a beacon of Hope and Difference to this stereotypical overrated world. Truth is my comrades, ourselves are precious gifts we are required to share to the world.
To serve others is to minister to others and help others in various ways, it
is not to do it for show or publicity, but simply to enrich and help the lives
of others and your own life. I see ourselves as heroesordinary people
who make themselves extraordinary.
We have something that could spark a light of difference in the world.
The day we started committing ourselves to a relationship with Rotaract,
we should realize that we are in an entirely different world from the one
weve been the day before.
With this, my fellow Rotaractors, I want you to spread your wings on its
maximum potential. Serve with integrity. Live under the Rotarian values
and BE A GIFT TO THE WORLD. May God bless us all.
Service above self,
Joy Ann P. Ardiente, RN
District Rotaract Representative

CLUB ON FOCUS: RAC MARAPARA

ROTARACT CLUB OF MARAPARA: A Legacy of Excellence and

Volunteerism
The Rotaract Club of Bacolod Marapara is the official youth
arm of the Rotary Club of Bacolod Marapara.
The club was chartered in 2009 with the strong support of its
mother club. RAC Bacolod Marapara focused on establishing a lasting presence in the community through the implementation of various
projects and programs anchored on Rotarian values.
The organization likewise, aims on encouraging young people
to become active volunteers for the community. The initial members
who composed the pioneering Rotaract Club of Bacolod Marapara
are officers and members of TOSPAC-WV (The Outstanding Students of the Philippines Alumni Community in Western Visayas)
whose aim is to initially spearhead the club and pass it on the other youth leaders in the province of Negros Occidental. Past President Aprille Rose S. Nena served as the first RAC Marapara president followed by Elsie Shrine G. Papong, Joy Ann P. Ardiente and
Cherry D. Mijares all became outstanding students of Negros Occidental and Western Visayas.
Following the expansion of the club, more youth leaders are
encouraged to join the club in order to spread the good causr to other
cities and municipalities in the province.
Rotaract Club of Bacolod Marapara is currently on the ramp of establishing more networks within the province of Negros Occidental.
More leaders and more volunteers are being tapped everyday to ensure
the continuity of the organization in the years to come. Some of our
projects include: Brain Feeding, feeding Programs and Health Teachings, medical mission, End Polio Advocacy Program in connection
with Rotary, Coastal Clean Up Drives and Mangrove Plantings, Leadership Training Seminars, Green Revolution Campaign,
#PeacePerfect, Rambol sa Smagol, Aklat para sa mga Bata- Wake Up
and Read, Pamaskua sa Bata.

Some Notable
Citations:
Best Rotaract Club
(Rotary Discon) - 20092013, 2015
Presidential Citation2009-2013, 2015
New Generations Award
-2013

THE SCINTILLA

ENJOYING ROTARACT FOR THE

SAKE OF FULFILMENT
BY: ELYROSE NAORBE
LEI G. FERNANDEZ, 20 years old, a
graduating student of BS Marine Engineering started off his journey in the
Rotaract World four years ago.

When he was in his last year in high school, a time when he was trying to maximize his
potentials, both in academics and co-curricular activities, he was then encountered Rotary in
one of the seminars that he had attended. It was a leadership training and seminar conducted
by the Rotary Club of Silay, followed by the celebration of Boys and Girls Week, where selected
student leaders of different school were given a chance to sit on a respective position in the
government for a week.
We had a glimpse of how the city runs and its current standing situations. Seen bad and
good sides of it. Moved by the stories of our under privileged brothers and sisters. That experience gave me bountiful ideas, inspired me to be socially responsible and opened my mind unto a whole new perspective. A perspective that filled my last year in high school with unfathomable happiness. My hopes and dreams were slowly being realized,said Fernandez.
Like every piece of the puzzlebeing placed one by one in its rightful location, he was and
is still thankful for the blessings that he received. He was blessed enough that he wants to share
those blessings with his neighbours.
And here I am today, been engaging to Rotaract for years now, delighted in the wonderful journey of public service and professional development. Initiating collaborative change
through our little actions and building stronger relationship amongst our partners in service. Collectively, lets share our knowledge and expertise to others. For a talent can only be called a
gift when you share it with others.Together, lets be a gift to the world,Fernandez disclosed.

ROTARACT IS EXTRAORDINARY
BY: ELYROSE NAORBE
Rotaract is our training ground to be good persons and leaders of the society. And most importantly, Rotaract creates friendship that is long lasting and we are all family.
Those were the inspiring lines uttered by Rotaract Club of WVSU World Class President Chona Sanoy
when asked about how she started enjoying the clubs significant role in the community.
When she was still an innocent child, she enjoyed everything with no worries except on playing and how to
escape from mothers rule of sleeping in the afternoon. With her cousins, what they like to do are simple
child like things which they cooperatively plan and agree to execute. As simple as that, they havent realized
that it was already an act of leadership and management.
Why am I telling you this? To make us realize that indeed, even with small things that we did as children,
we already got that special skill that needs only to be developed and to be exposed. And once did, that made
us of what we are right now YOUNG LEADERS, she added.
She graduated elementary at Martin Tirador ES and high school at Janiuay National Comprehensive
School. Currently, she is a college student of WVSU taking up AB Political Science, a senior. Back then,
leadership was introduced to her when shes always elected as class president with simple tasks, responsibilities and problems with simple solution. She thought shes already a well trained leader due to her experiences during elementary and high school, but not until she was elected president of RAC Club of WVSU,
seven months ago.
Rotaract is not just any other organization. It is not like any othr organization. Its not like managing a
class. Its not just a one time commitment but a lifetime which requires too much effort in order to manage
its complexity. It requires not like any other service but quality service. Also it requires so much understanding and open-mindedness especially in dealing with people.
It requires patience and perserverance. It requires time,
balance, and flexibility. It requires everything that a person could possibly offer because Rotaract is not ordinary,
she explained.
However, regardless of these struggles and challenges, being a Rotaract president is an honor for her. Being a Rotaractor is an opportunity for them to extend help to those
who need help the most. It is an opportunity for her to be
a gift to the world.

THE SCINTILLA

By Elyrose S. Naorbe, Rotaract District Committee Public Image Director

Around 120 young and active leaders from Rotaract and Interact Clubs comprising the Rotaract District 3850 joined the annual Rotaract District Assembly at Palmas Del Mar in Bacolod City
Negros Occidental.
This years theme Unwrapping Servant Leaders focused on leadership development as
well as showcasing the hidden talents and abilities of the future leaders who can uplift the good
morale and standard in the society.
The first day was very interactive as all Rotaractors and Interactors welcomed each other
during the evenings opening program. They also shared some thoughts about their respective
club projects and goals while enjoying the sumptuous dinner prepared inside the function room.
Present in the event was District Rotaract Chairman John Michael Kano Ng who talked about the
Rotaract Basics and District Interact Chairman Doctor Chris Sorongon who profoundly shared the
Interact Basics and The Road to Rotary.
Moreover, Past President Louie Gonzaga was in-charge of giving talks regarding the Rotary
Protocol and Guidelines while District Governor Oliver Ong personally explained the District Vision
and Thrust.
Past District Governor Mark Anthony Ortiz also talked about the Avenues of Service while District Governor Nominee Jundad Legislador explained the Public Image and how it creates impact
in the different issues surrounding within the community.
Past District Rotaract Representative Ace Viarta who actively inspired all the attendees to
create and plan various activities and projects through Activity Planning.
On the later part of the activity, the participants were divided into three groups Presidents, Secretaries and Treasurers time wherein they were trained on how to focus on their respective tasks within the club. They were also given some exercises to determine their function and purpose so that
they can easily work among other members in the club.
The third day of the DISTAS 2015 was the most memorable day for all the participants as they
all enjoyed the Hawaiian fellowship night and were delighted by the evening swimming fellowship,
karaoke and some sort of mind-blowing team building activities.
Before the closing program, the District team headed by District Rotaract Representative
Joy Ann Ardiente recognized the efforts of all the clubs, Rotarians and other people who gave valuable contributions on the success of the event. They also gave two alkansya cans to each Rotaractor and Interactor wherein they will use it in soliciting some amount of money for the Rotary
Foundation and the End Polio Now project.
We are very thankful to all who attended the DISTAS 2015. It was a very successful and momentous event for all of us because most of the clubs were present starting from Western Mindanao, Panay and Negros Occidental. I hope it will start our new fellowship and friendship as we all
live the mantra of being gifts to the world through service above self , said Ardiente.

THE SCINTILLA

RotaCart: Rotaractors Way of Teaching Young

Minds
BY: RAC SILAY

Dressed in hand-me-downs, Lito, a seven year-old boy grabbed his worn-out

slippers, crouched on the sack and laid on the ground beneath a mango tree. He is
just one of the many kids who gather in the area upon the call of someone who wore
a green/blue shirt curious to find out what was in store for them.
As a kid, Lito was forced to quit school because his parents meager income
couldnt support their daily needs. His mother strives every morning to do the bulk
of laundry in the neighbourhood while his father toils the field of the so called hacienderos. They cannot suffice the six hungry mouths that need to be filled in a days
work. However, Lito has a simple dream --- to go back to school despite the hindrances of poverty.
Everything changed when he saw the lad who called them along with the
group of volunteers wearing the same green/blue shirts.
They are the aspiring college students taking various courses. Young leaders and talented professionals who took up the challenge of propagating literacy to young children through a little pushcart called RotaCart, which contains books, papers, coloring materials and other school supplies.

This innovative idea was initiated when the volunteers aspire to educate street children
extended into a tangible ground of learning; all jam-packed in a cart of ideas which RotaCart offers.
RotaCart has been the legacy of the Rotaract Club of Silay which started from a humble
idea derived from the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year - the Pushcart educator Efren Peaflorida, then transformed into a celebrated continuing community project. The Rotaractors dream is to build satellite libraries in every community in Silay City and this cart
contains books and other learning materials funded by various benefactors is a stepping
stone for this dream to be realized

THE SCINTILLA

RAC ILOILO CITY JOINS INTERNATIONAL COASTAL

CLEAN UP
BY: WCP DENNIIS PEDROSA

Nowadays, people have been throwing their garbage irresponsibly. Most of these garbage end up in rivers, coastal areas, sidewalks, etc. This problem results to stagnant water and can affect the
surroundings and its inhabitants. This could also result to dengue or
other health-related problems to those who are residing in the affected areas.

In accordance to this, the Rotaract and Interact Club of Iloilo City

made ways to lessen the effect of this problem by joining the Nationwide Celebration of the International Coastal Clean-up of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources last Sept. 19,
2015.

This coastal clean-up aims to wipe out or if not, clean the garbage that stacked up in the Jaro River. Members of different community organization including Rotaract and Interact helped in picking up garbages which filled up numerous sacks.

The residents near the area also helped in cleaning the river.
Satisfaction can be found in the eyes of the volunteers after the back
breaking clearing of the coastal area.

Its good to know that in our little ways, we were able to extend our help in maintaining the cleanliness of the environment.
Even in our little ways, we can make a great difference for the environment. If everyone would be responsible in handling their wastes
then maybe the environment will never have to suffer, says Pedrosa.

PROJECT TRU HERO: MARAPARAS COMBATIVE

PROJECT
BY: WCP JOHN PAUL ITAAS
Gerard Way said, Heroes are ordinary people who make themselves extraordinary.
Heroes are part of our culture. They represent us far more than just entertainment- they
represent a moral idea that somewhere, somehow, someone can stand and make a difference. A hero is
someone who changes lives in a positive way and nothing more is a better example than a policeman.
Their simple self-sacrifice for our country and their ability to influence individuals to be morally upright
contributing much to the societys though tagged with contempt and judgement is our modern definition
of heroism.
Down under was a partnership made between Rotaract Club of Marapara and the Regional Training Center 6 PNP Class Kidlat under the humble leadership of P/Supt Benliner Capili to give birth
to Project True Hero- an initiative to restore the stereotyped, pre-judged morale of the policemen through
series of self-enhancing and community building activities as a vital catalyst of change in our society.
Project TRUE Hero covers the following projects:
OBSERVE. BELIEVE. SHARE. REPEAT (RAC Marapara Leadership and Teambuilding Activity)
To kick- off Project True Hero, this activity was done to extract the best of our heros workforce through
Leadership Talks embodying Rotaract and Rotarys ideals on leading a community and Teambuilding
exercises to foster trust and better communication.
#PEACEPerfect#PeacePerfect is an advocacy project in promoting Peace within self, colleagues and within the community involving the policemen as the no. 1 peace builder of our society. Arming this project, several activities were formed as a manifestation of the value of peace such as Hugs for Peace, Hand Print Commitment Advocacy for Peace, Hundreds of Letters for Peace and Peace Lens.
RAMBOL SA SMAGOL
Rambol Sa Smagol is an initiative to answer the call of providing flip flops or slippers to people whose
feet are bare. RAC Marapara and Class Kidlat distributed more than five hundred pairs of slippers to recognized communities such as the Home for the Blind, GK Villages and some far flung communities.
Concluding the activity is a follow-up feeding program who teaches kids the importance of health
through nutrition and health hygiene.

THE SCINTILLA

Offshoot the Mangrove Planting Legacy

A coalition of 389 Rotaractors and policemen started a green revolution in Bacolod covering around a
thousand mangrove propagules in an answer to the need for recuperating Mother Earth. A 12 kilometer
walk from RTC 6 to Mansilingan started the activity and was concluded by a coastal clean-up in the area. A true hero for the environment was indeed shown.

Red Alert Blood Letting Activity

An initiative to give gratitude to the SAF Fallen 44, RAC Marapara spearheaded a bloodletting activity
which attracted 200 prospect donors. The blood donation activity was done in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross and RTC 6 . This event turned out to be a success and support from different sectors
is a testament of solidarity with the commitment to give honor to the SAF Fallen 44.
PROJECT True Hero is an ongoing project which started November 2014 with PNP Class Kidlat of
RTC 6. This project made RAC Maraparas ideal in making a visible difference into life

PANAY AREA

NEGROS AREA

THE SCINTILLA

WHAT TO WATCH OUT: