District Governor's Message

Follow the Footsteps

Pres. Kalyan Banerjee stressed the importance of family, along with continuity and change. Everything emanates from the home, and whatever values we have ripples to our neighborhood and to the world at large. It could also be the reason why PRIP MAT Caparas conceptualized the Children’s Party, which we simultaneously held last July 1, to empower our new generation and make kids appreciate generosity and kindheartedness. In other words, to make them follow our footsteps and inculcate in their young minds the beauty of volunteerism through Rotary.

When I finished my Internship from a tertiary hospital in Bacolod City, I was reserved a residency slot, being one of the best interns. After passing the Medical Board Exams, I had no choice, however, but to go back to my hometown and work in a government hospital which offered higher compensation. I knew that my family was pinning their hopes on me, to uplift ourselves from poverty. My first salary went to the school expenses of my sisters. Scholarships are not forever, and I became the family breadwinner after my mother lost two legs from diabetes and my father retired from being a clerk in a government agency. More important than the memory of piling debts, are the values I got from them. It was hard work, helpfulness and empathy that made me strive more to achieve what I wanted in life. I wanted to follow their footsteps, as a simple couple who strived despite hardships, to give the best of the future for their children.

Rotary International was very apt when it labeled December as the Family Month. The spirit of the Yuletide Season further gives us more reason to value the family. It is the season of togetherness, forgiveness and kindness. And Rotary is one big family reaching for that one vision. It is also with Rotary that we helped families achieve some things in life through the many projects we have centered on alleviating the pain and bringing hope to the forgotten and the desolate.

This is the very reason why, for this Rotary year, we are honoring the family of Rotary leaders in our district. I hope that the Rotary Family Awards remind everyone that being together in a service organization further strengthens our vision. I believe that kids of Rotarians value the memories of their dads and moms bringing them to service events and fellowship activities of the organization. No wonder that we have several generations of Rotary leaders. The new generation looks up to us as perfect role models, dreaming of becoming like us someday. For me, Rotary is the one of best legacies we could give to our children–the legacy of priceless values in our Strategic Plan: service, fellowship, leadership, diversity, and integrity.

I never thought that the simple Rotary Family Award mean so much to some of our fellow Rotarian leaders. There were four awardees who could not contain their happiness, as they couldn’t wait to show their tokens to their parents, who are ailing and in their sunset years. There was one club president who cried uncontrollably, as she could have shared the award with her past president husband, who is now gone. There was more drama in real life, and I felt that honoring the family leaders of Rotary was one of the more significant parts of my club visits.

Every time I sing, I would always remember my father, who would accompany me with his guitar, when I was young. He was once the Songbird of Alimodian, Iloilo. And every time I made an excellent performance, the crowd would give him more credit and whispered that I followed his footsteps. My parents may not be Rotarians, but for sure, they made me to be one.

Merry Christmas and
a Prosperous New Year!

DG Melvin