On a sunny day, we had the honor of hosting our visiting international sponsor from Korea who generously supported our Global Grant 2567147. This grant funded the donation of an infant radiant warmer set to be donated to Ifugao General Hospital. The day was filled with gratitude, cultural exchange, and meaningful visits to places dear to our hearts.
Our esteemed visitors included President Jin Yong Kim together with his clubmate Jeong Jin Bae of the Rotary Club of Dangjin-Songak from Rotary District 3620 of Korea. Our first stop was the club’s adopted community, the Cardinal Sin Village. This community features high rise
residences that provide homes for families relocated from Pasig river. It also boasts its own
church, Ina ng Laging Saklolo, and a school. It was heartwarming to show our visitors the
positive impact of our club’s efforts.
To make the visit even more special, we treated our Korean sponsors to a traditional Filipino
breakfast rice, viands, and fresh fruits.
Next, we visited our adopted school, the Makati Elementary School in Barangay Poblacion,
Makati, where we had a courtesy meeting with the school Principal and took a tour around the
school. The students were excited and happy to meet our international guests, making it a joyful moment for everyone involved.
Our third stop brought us to Plaza Cristo Rey, also located in Poblacion, Makati. This place
holds significance to our club as it is where we derive our name, the Rotary Club of Makati
Cristo Rey. Our visitors had the opportunity to pose for pictures with this historic backdrop.
To conclude the first half of the tour, we took our guests to St. Nicholas Restaurant at A. Venue Suites for a sumptuous lunch. As a gesture of appreciation for their generous support of our project, we presented our visitors with a plaque of appreciation and a token of gratitude. In addition, we held a ceremonial sisterhood agreement signing to signify our continuing friendship and partnership. The celebration continued with a short entertainment segment, where our clubmates and visitors enjoyed singing and dancing, making for a truly memorable experience.
In the second part of the tour, we took our guests to the historic heart of Manila, Intramuros. Our first stop was at Fort Santiago, where our visitors enjoyed feeding the doves in the park and exploring the historical site that was once a Spanish military barracks and the place where our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, was held captive. The atmosphere was filled with awe as our visitors experienced a piece of Philippine history.
To make the experience even more special, we treated our guests to a ride in a traditional kalesa carriage, which toured us around the historic area, including the oldest church in the Philippines, the 16th-century San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, adding a unique charm to the day.
The tour concluded with a delightful dinner at La Café Cathedral, located just behind the iconic Manila Cathedral. Surrounded by history and the warm atmosphere of the café, we shared a final meal together, reflecting on the wonderful day of cultural exchange, friendship, and appreciation.
It was a day to remember, as we celebrated the bond between our club and our Korean sponsor, strengthened by their generosity and our shared commitment to service.
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