Our Rotary Club of Baguio’s Anniversary and Induction of Officers is always a great and memorable event and last 29 July 2006, which was our 69th, was no exception. My Rotary Ann Cely and I were at the Baguio Country Club Ballroom at 5 pm thinking we would be the earliest, but PP Veeh and husband, Willy of RCB South, and our RCB Rotarian Geraldine Fajardo and her family were already there. The ballroom’s backdrop rotary welcome sign was simple, attractive and knowledgeably prepared by PE Raffy Chan. The members of the RCB Chorale arrived with their “maestro” and in a while started vocalizing to prepare for the first two parts of the induction program, the Pambansang Awit and the Rotary Hymn. By 6pm, only three tables were occupied. We were told that President Mike and Incoming President Gerard with our RCB Incoming Board of Directors were huddled in a meeting in another room with our District Governor Florentino “Bishop” Cinense.

For a vantage point, we chose a table fronting the head table, the table chosen for past District Governors. PDG Mar Ocampo and I recalled our fond memories of when he was elected District Governor in Cebu City. By 7pm, our Program Coordinators, PP Doming Valencia and RAPP Josie Chan started calling over the occupants of the head table. The program started 7:30pm. As soon as President Mike convened the meeting, our RCB Chorale led the singing of our Pambansang Awit, followed by “Our Father” which was the opening prayer. PP Benny Sunga diligently introduced the personages in the head table as well as the guests and visiting Rotarians. All Baguio Clubs were well represented and there were many visiting Rotarians from out-of-town clubs, especially our sponsoring club, the Roary Club of Manila represented by President Francis Juico. The Rotary Club of Manila being our mother club, it is sad that President Francis was not given due honor, and he having come from farthest club in Luzon. Present were a total of 173 guests, consiting of 22 Rotary clubs: 7 from Baguio/Benguet, Vigan, Laoag, La Union, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Manila, our sponsoring club. Conspicuously present were 13 Past Distrcit Governors headed by still very active PDG Mar Un Ocampo who now is the Editor-In-Chief of our Philippine Rotary Magazine, DG Florentino “Bishop” Cinense, DG Elect Lorenza “Owens” Torres, DG Nominees Jess “Jess” Nicdao and District Secretary Don Saldaña.

Dinner was then served, during which entertainment led by PP Benny Sunga and PP Lito sang in a duet: Some “Enchanted Evening” and “ Sole Mio”. Our RCB Chorale then performed a beautiful tagalong favorite “lagi Kitang Naaalala”. Rotary Ann PP Josie Chan also sang solo accompanied by the band. President’s Gerard’s daughter, Rota-Kid Estelle also did a beautiful rendition of a tagalog song “ Ngayon Palang Tagumpay Ka Na”. Our lovely Rotary Anns then performed beautifully two dance numbers. Then the Paul Harris fellows were introduced and a former RCB Rotarian Johnnie Go, who even to this day still handles our RCB website, was acknowledged and was pinned his Paul Harris Fellow Pin.

Then it was time to induct the RCB Officers for RY 2006- 07 with Secretary Ben Ladilad calling all our RCB officer to the front. Guest of Honor and Speaker Bishop Cinense inducted them into office. This was followed by the induction of the RY 2006-07 oficers of our Rotary Anns by District Rotary Ann Past President Merla Gonzales of the Rotary Club of Dagupan East. President Gerard did his inaugural address as did Rotary Ann President Maylene Dayrit, both were “short and sweet”. The Introduction of our Guest of Honor and Speaker, DG Florentino “Bishop” Cinense was done by our very own Rotary District 3790 Assistant Governor/PP Linda Winter. To emphasize the strong points of his speech, Bishop Cinense did a power point presentation and after he did a short talk starting by saying “I feel good”, maybe that he was with Rotary Club of Baguio’s 69th Guest of Honor and Inducting Officer. As he rambled on, he emphasized “Leadership” and “Service Above Self”. And he reminded us that all clubs should be composed of “quality members” rather than quantity. That Rotarians should be of help to everyone especially in the under privileged communities. Over the years RCB has already been doing this. And that all Rotarians should go out of their way to “share friendships” with all: within the club, in the community and especially in the District. Rotary Club of Baguio’s response to the Guest of Honor and Speaker by yours truly.

Everything went like “clock work”. Unnoticed and maybe unplanned-the induction affair and ceremony for President’s Gerard’s term as Rotary Club of Baguio’s 69th President happened just like a regular RCB meeting-in only around one and a half hours. This was because of the efficiency of the evening’s Program Coordinators PP Doming Valencia and RAPP Josie Chan. Congratulations to everyone, it was indeed another memorable event for the Rotary Club of Baguio.