1. HISTORY OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF LA TRINIDAD (RCLT)<br />The Rotary Club of La Trinidad was chartered on March 18, 1991, with Edwin T. Balaki as Charter President. Before the club was chartered, it was first organized by Dr. Lucio B. Victor, then President of the Benguet State University who served as Interim President during the year 1990-1991. In fact, the RCLT members had been holding their regular meetings at the BSU Canteen.<br />Instrumental in the club organization and final establishment were: four Rotarian members of three clubs in Baguio City, namely: PP Manny Yap, PP Sarsi Villanueva, PP Teops Malapit and PP Diony Claridad. They were thus recognized as godfathers of the Rotary Club La Trinidad. Not long after the RCLT was chartered, they had regular meetings at Hotel Supreme and then the members decided to transfer to the Canao Restaurant, Peliz Loy Centrum, Km. 5, and had been using the place as meeting venue until the first quarter of 1997. Then they transferred to the Jack’s Restaurant at Km. 4, where they now meet regularly since the second quarter of 1997 up to the present.<br />As a Rotary Club, it was the first to accept women as members of the rotary and was the first to have a woman president. It is a record of sort. There are now seven (7) active woman members, exclusive of one who died some years back and six who were dropped from membership due to long absences during meetings.<br />In terms of Club Membership, the RCLT experienced dwindling numbers up and down. It went up to as many as 33 members and varied from 21 to 28 as the years went by, the lowest number on record, so far is, 18 since the club was in existence. The reason for these memberships decrease is mainly due to the change of work venue or job assignments of members and long period of non-attendance of meetings.<br />Worthy of note also, is the attendance of the Rotary members during regular meetings. In most of the meetings, charter members always dominate the number of Rotarians in attendance. What is interesting about this is, that there are more Past President that attend meetings than ordinary members. They are: Edwin T. Balaki, now in Davao, 1991-1992; Nicanor Moran, 1992-1993; John Cutiyog, 1993-1994; Fidel A. Demot, 1994-1995; Rey Abellada, 1995-1996; Agapito Laoagan, 1996-1997; Franco T. Bawang, 1997-1998; John B. Kim, 1998-1999; Lyn Z. Hernandez (deceased), 1999-2000; Walter Fuchigami, 2000-2001; Naty Castrence , 2001-2002; Art Peralta, 2002-2003; Esper Pinas, 2003-2004; Elmo Belao, 2004-2005; Richard Lardizabal, 2005-2006; Joselito Villarey, 2006-2007; Jose Mendoza, 2007-2008; and Willy Begay, 2008-2009.<br />It is important to note the past presidents indicate the number of years the RCLT is in existence. Thus, there are now 18 past presidents, which means the RCLT has existed for the last 18 years covering the years from 1991-2009.<br />Since the RCLT was established, it has served or played its role in community development, properly. It has also provided assistance to those who are in need, technologically and financially. From 1991-2009, there were significant accomplishments of the club for each of the Avenues of service, the most significant of which were:<br />ON CLUB SERVICE:<br />Enhanced the Club’s community services by Rotarians’ memberships to:<br />The Pre-Bids and Awards Committee (PBAC) of the La Trinidad Municipality and the Benguet State University.<br />The La Trinidad Water District Board of Directors.<br />The Tourism and Peace and Order Councils of Benguet Province.<br />Worked out sisterhoods or ties with the Rotary Club of Urdaneta North and Makati Central.<br />Raise funds to support club community projects by conducting raffle draws and agreed-upon finest moments and sponsoring concerts for a Cause.<br />The election and the appointments of Rotarians Executive Board Members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Benguet Chapter.<br />ON VOCATIONAL SERVICE<br />Promoted the Rotary objectives, Vision and Four-way Tests by putting up Sign Boards at road crossings in Km. 5, Poblacion, La Trinidad, Km. 3 and Longlong.<br />Initiated and spearheaded the selection of model farmers, drivers and mechanics.<br />Sponsored the selection of outstanding farmers, drivers, and mechanics.<br />Printed Calendars and highlighted the objectives and Four-Way Test of the Rotary International and distributed the same to both government and private offices in the province of Benguet.<br />Established and maintained a ROTAPARK in Puguis, La Trinidad Communal Forest and planted more than 5,000 trees, by entering into a Memorandum of Agreement between RCLT and the La Trinidad Water District in Rotary Year 1994-1995. As of today (September 2009), the pines trees and alnus have height of about 14 feet.<br />Invited Guest of Honor and Speakers to discuss topics of interests related to any of the members specialization.<br />Promoted Little League Baseball competition in La Trinidad<br />ON COMMUNITY SERVICE:<br />The club supported financially and technically strawberry farmers in La Trinidad by augmenting the matching Grants awarded by the Rotary International.<br />Acquired several books from donor Organizations and distributed the same free to various Elementary Schools in La Trinidad.<br />Conducted several medical and dental missions and distributed and administered several medicines donated by the Phil. Medical and Dental Association to elementary school pupils and community members in La Trinidad and municipalities in Benguet; Banengbeng, Sablan; and recently, Tuel, Tublay.<br />The RCLT donated and establish water pumps in Barangays Balili, Betag and Buyagan all in La Trinidad to provide portable water for the people of these communities.<br />The club supported Yarn-Recycling Projects of some communities in La Trinidad, Benguet.<br />Donated funds for the establishment of Police Outposts in Km. 3 and Longlong junction as the Club’s contribution to peace and order maintenance in the municipality of La Trinidad.<br />Initiated and partnered with the Tobishima Corporation for the construction of the school building in Wangal, La Trinidad.<br />The RCLT supported financially and provided work assistance for the construction of a Five-room building for use by elementary pupils in Dumanegdeg, Sabangan, and Mt. Province.<br />Coordinated and partnered with the La Trinidad Police department office for the establishment of curfew hours in computer shops or establishments for minors in the La Trinidad Valley area.<br />In partnership with HEDCOR & Philippine Health Association, the Club had MEDICAL & DENTAL Missions to Asin, Banengbeng, Bineng, and the Beckel.<br />Feeding Program for malnourished children in the Municipality of La Trinidad located in Six (6) barangays for a period of six (6) months, from April to September 1999. There were 130 recipient children from 0-6 years old.<br /> RC La Trinidad donated Medical Books to the Benguet General Hospital on March 1999.<br />Donated computer and vocational books to the Helping Foundation at Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet Province on November 1998.<br />Animal dispersal, RC La Trinidad distributed two (2) live pigs for hog production, one(1) in Central Pico and the other at Pagal, La Trinidad, Benguet Province. <br />Distributed six (6) live goats to different recipients at Barangay Bahong for breeding purposes during the time of PP Walter Fuchigami. <br />Established the RCC for vegetable farmers of the Province of Benguet on August 2008; to help the Benguet farmers alleviate their livelihood. This program is still going on.<br />ON THE YOUTH SERVICE:<br />In partnership with Saitama Scholarship Program, the RCLT granted eighteen (18) College Scholarship to deserving students at the Benguet State University and in some Universities in Baguio City. The Club also supported the college education of one who was financially incapable to pursue a college degree.<br />Funded the expenses of participants on Poster-Making and Oratorical Contest to the area level Contest at the Paskuhan Village, Pampanga Province. <br />Hosted the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) at Acapulco Mountain Resort Lucnab, Baguio City in November 27-29, 1993 and the Valley Hotel, Strawberry Farm, La Trinidad where members of RYLA and Rotaractors were trained in leadership skills.<br />The RCLT provided free service transport to disabled youths from Cruz, La Trinidad to the School of the Disabled in Bakakeng, Baguio City.<br />The ROTARACT Club of La Trinidad was the only Rotaract club in Northern Luzon that sent a delegation to the FIRST South East Asian ROTARACTORS SUMMIT.<br />Three ROTARACTORS of La Trinidad were elected to different positions in the District Level or 3790, such as; District SECRETARY, District TREASURER, District REPRESENTATIVE for Area I.<br />ON INTERNATIONAL SERVICE:<br />Three RCLT Members attended the Rotary International Convention at Calgary, Canada;<br />Funded two ROTARACTORS to attend the First South-East Asian Rotaractors Summit;<br />Maintained one member to the Paul Harries Fellow and six Sustaining Members;<br />Sponsored one RCLT member with the GSE Team to Atlanta, Georrgia, U.S.A.<br />(OPEN TO ADDITIONS OR AMENDMENTS)<br /> PREPARED AND SUBMITTED BY:<br /> PP FRANCO “FRANK” T. BAWANG<br />