RC Upper East Side Antipolo Stands Out in Service Projects Expo 2025

PREPARATIONS

As we looked forward to the first-ever District Service Projects Expo initiated by our untiring District Governor Gina Sanchez under the chairmanship of PP Noel Cuico, the energy was electrifying. All the members and spouses of the Rotary Club of Upper East Side Antipolo (RCUESA) had their own tasks preparing for this event, from conceptualization of design, gathering of materials, to the procurement of upcycled decors and props. Our spouses took turns in supervising the preparations for the gourmet fish and liquid soaps, while coordination work was done to check on the harvests of the club's adopted community in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro so that their coffee beans would be ready for roasting and grinding.  The group of Mangyan women cooked the coco sugar, the perfect match for the coffee to be sold. It took a week for the products from the province to reach Manila viavia sea and land transport.

Another meeting of Rotarians was required for needed manpower to attach product stickers and repack the goods in resealable foil pouches. The Casa Solis lanai was turned into a production-packaging assembly line, with boxes and crates reaching the ceiling.

ARTISTIC DETAILS AND DESIGNS

A  collaboration of ideas between PP Larry and GP Vcky Solis completed the drawing board that set the tone for RCUESA’s booth. It consisted of 3 kiosks made out from wooden pallets sourced from the scrap yards in Rizal.  Real bamboo poles were cut from the surroundings of Cascades Subdivision, while a couple of discarded old tires that will hold the poles were painted colorfully by guest artist Orville Tiamson, assisted by PP Ariel Julgan and spouse Tin. Local baskets and artificial greens and flowers were pulled out from the storage of the Solis residence.

The combined 3 booths reflected a community plaza, named "RCUESA Tindahan Square." The RCUESA Tinadahan Square reflected a vibrant open-air hub where neighbors gather, stories flow, and local goods find new homes. Here, every exchange is more than a trade—it is a celebration of community and connection rooted in tradition, grown by the people for the people where neighbors and friends in the locality meet, exchange pleasantries, and sell their wares.

 True to its purpose, a lot of Rotarians and guests dropped by during the Expo for food tasting of the three variants of gourmet fish, namely, dilis, tuyo, and tinapa. Crochet lessons were offered so that others may experience the workshops that RCUESA provides to its RCCs. Later in the afternoon, there was free product tasting of tapuey, or rice wine, from Sagada.  Guests were requested to sign the bamboo poles which were part of the setup to be repurposed for use at the Panunuluyan ng mga Katutubo in Laiban.

A TOTAL EXPERIENCE

The first District Service Proejcts Expo under DG Gina Sanchez is without doubt a historic endeavor, making everyone involved proud and happy. This district event gave opportunities for all 109 clubs to showcase their legacy projects in Rotary.s seven Areas of Focus. At the same time, project partners were highlighted project partners, whether from the private sector or from the government.

This was a day of new discoveries, new ideas, meeting ,old friends while gaining new acquaintances, and, in some instances, finding new opportunities for future collaboration. An unforgettable sharing of our Assumption Antipolo Mothers’ Group RCC or who we call Sitio Nanays made us realize how the simple exposure we opened for them have left a mark in their life. Face-to-face interaction with Rotarians and guests gave them an uneasy or awkward feeling at first, but with the warmth and friendly conversations they had with various buyers and guests who passed by, they regained their confidence and vitality. After going home with pride gained, they expressed a a feeling of belonging and relayed their appreciation to the RCUESA family, ready for the next trade fairs and exhibits

This reflects the essence of our current battle cry, “UNITE FOR GOOD“, as we make sure that no one is left behind.