Why I am Still in Rotary

I have been asked to tell you: Why I am Still in Rotary.... Well, it is an interesting story of my life, since I am now 78 and 46 years of my life have been in Rotary. I was inducted into the Rotary Club of Baguio in 05 November 1960 when I was 32 years old. This then makes my total Rotary membership today– 46 years. I was already a Rotarian before many of you were born or maybe your fathers and mothers did not yet meet! Yes, I am an antique, and not even a valuable antique except to my wife, Cely, 8 children, 21 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.

My friends, there was a time when I was not in a wheelchair, and I loved moving around in Rotary circles all over the country. I was able to visit other clubs and to play good golf for 37 years with Rotarians in Mindanao, particularly Davao and Cebu, and in Luzon, in Baguio and in Metro Manila area, and make good friends to this day.

So Why am I Still A Rotarian? To answer, I have to tell you the story of my life as a Rotarian.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

Many of you know me only as Manong Johnny or Past President Johnny. When I was inducted into Rotary, there were only two Rotary districts– the Luzon-Bicol District and the Visayas-Mindanao District. My 47 years of being a Rotarian has been a blessing in my life. At that time, the two other Rotary Clubs of Dagupan and the Rotary Club of San Fernando, La Union.

My very first assignment as a young Rotarian was chairmanship of the Attendance Committee. In those days, we had to travel to the Rotary Club of Dagupan on Wednesdays or to the Rotary Club of San Fernando, La Union on Tuesdays to make-up an absence. Of course, there was already then the Rotary Club of Manila. In the early days, it was difficult to maintain a 100% attendance record. Well, today, all we have to do is visit rotary.org in the internet, and that’s it.

But I remember that it was always my joy to travel to a meeting in one of our daughter clubs in La Union or in Dagupan. As chairman of my club’s Attendance Committee (47 years ago) every week, in my 1952 Chevrolet Sedan, a big car that could comfortably accommodate seven passengers, including myself as the driver, I enjoyed bringing make-uppers to La Union or to Dagupan. The travel is around one and a half hours, and being the youngest in the group, I was “all ears” to the kwentuhan and chismisan of the older Rotarians.

After a few years of my Rotary membership, I was elected to the Board, and then became the Club Secretary. Being Club Secretary enriches one’s insights on what Rotary is about; as one has to read and be aware of the Rotary Manual of Procedure. I found that being a good Rotarian is a continuous and interesting learning process.

I was elected to the presidency of the Rotary Club of Baguio in 1973-1974, that was 34 years ago. Fellow Rotarians, I keep referring to time and the past years in my Rotary life because I keep getting flash-backs and very fond memories of the good old days. As I said earlier, many of you probably were not yet born or maybe were only babies then or your fathers and mothers did not yet meet. And of course, Immediate Past President Mike Pearson was not yet born!

District Governor Oyan Villanueva specifically instructed me to make my talk long, so bear with me, and let me tell you a story about the time when there were only two Rotary Districts in the Philippines, the Luzon- Bicol District and the Visayas-Mindanao District.

In the year 1975 or more than 30 years ago, I headed a group of 98 percent of our club membership to a Joint District Conference in Cebu. Of our total membership of forty then, 37 decided to join. We planned our trip very well – after coming up with the total cost to the District Conference several months earlier, we saved, contributed every week to a common fund, for all expenses: the bus fares, airline tickets, pocket money, and the hotel accommodations of our five-days stay in Cebu. At that time the Hotel Magellan was the best hotel in Cebu; the Baguio Rotarians occupied almost all the rooms of the third floor of the hotel. Some who signed up late had to billeted in downtown Cebu motels where there are mirrors to the left, right and in the ceiling of the rooms. We always had a 100% attendance of both Rotarians and Rotary Anns in all affairs in that Cebu District Conference. We also hired a small bus for moving around to tour Cebu. We were always together like one big family. Indeed, our ‘togetherness’ at that time felt great!

This was the year when Past District Governor Mar Ocampo became District Governor. Election then was by votation depending on the number of members in a Rotary club. There were only two candidates in our district and each had a sort of ‘a planning room’ in the hotel. There, Rotarians would visit the candidates to give or manifest their support. My good friend, Past District Governor Mar will probably not remember that I was very active in that planning room. Of course, Past District Governor Mar Ocampo won.

In that Cebu Discon, the Rotary Club of Baguio was a hit. We performed Igorot dances that we had practiced for months here in Baguio. University of Baguio school president then, the late Rotary Club of Baguio Past President Ding Bautista wore a bahag or g-string; and his wife, Manang Rosa, wore a tapis. And so did Past President Ben Cid and his wife lovely Ann, Anns Past President Soprano Dolly Cid. Also a hit then was our American Past President Jack Gesner who regaled the audience with several Tagalog songs. And for a finale, we did a choral presentation. Yes, our Rotary Club of Baguio was a big hit in that Cebu District Conference. We had 90% of our club membership attending the Discon, together with our Anns. I relate this episode in my Rotary life because it is one I will always cherish. Today, only PP Jack Gesner and Past President Ben Cid and myself, and our Anns are still around—the others "have gone ahead," so to speak.

Yes, my friends, I am Proud to be A Rotarian. In the late 40’s, my late father, Juan Sr. and my brother, Ben were also members, so there were three Zarates in the Rotary Club of Baguio. Our regular meetings then were at the Pines Hotel where the SM Complex is now located. Later, we had to move to the Casa Vallejo (nearby) when the then Pines Hotel got burned down.

Peculiar to our club, as in other clubs is, we have several members in the Medical Profession. Like PP Benny Sunga, PP Alfred Laygo, and our First Lady President PP Veeh Balajo. We have lawyer members as well. Our club has what we call a MEDELEG Community Service Project, meaning Medical and Legal Assistance to people in the outskirts of Baguio. And from an RI Matching Grant, our Rotary Club of Baguio has been able to construct a costly overhead tramline for the farmers in mountainous Sablan, Benguet to be able to transport their produce to the city. This was a project of “Past Incoming President” Chris Faelnar. This title – because after his election to the presidency early last year, he later had to decline because he has to transfer next year his work and residence to Davao. Next year’s President Raffy Chan and Director Bert Talco, who are both very active in Community Service, finding the need, have improved the toilets in public schools of the outlying Benguet area. And for many years now, before the “school year” ends, headed by PP Roger Naz, our members do talks in graduating classes to help the students choose a career or a profession. Of course, these are just a few of the projects planned and accomplished by our current President, Gerard Audineau for this Rotary year.

I am aware that you all know that being a Rotarian is very fulfilling. For around 47 years now, I still look forward to our Saturday meetings to be with my fellow Rotarians, and to participate in club projects. By the way, together with Charter President Alex Aquino, I helped organize the Rotary Club of Baguio South. And I am very proud to have been made an Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of Baguio-Sunrise. A few months ago, I attended the meetings of the Rotary Club of Dagupan and the Rotary Club of San Fernando, La Union. I was saddened to find that some of my dear old friends—their older members, have “gone ahead." But I was very glad to see again Past President Cres Fernandez and Past President Dan Bulong, still around in the La Union club. Whichever club I visit, I always experience the warm welcome, greetings and sincere handshakes of the members.

And so many friends, as an older, or the oldest Rotarian in Baguio today, I say, WELCOME to Baguio. Thank you for attending this District Conference. I hope you have a pleasant visit. If we can be of service or help in anyway, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Yes, my friends, I am to this day an Active Rotarian!