Transitions Signal Progress

By SONNY COLOMA 

Editor-in-chief

As we anticipate with excitement the joyful ceremonies that will usher in a new Rotary year, we look back with satisfaction and a bit of nostalgia on the past 12 months. Truly, our Rotarians and their clubs have given their best in serving our communities and growing our organization.

Philippine Rotarians were fortunate to have relished the presence of incoming RI President Olawinka Hakeem Babalola. He graciously attended our PRM awards and turnover program, visited a Rotary Homes project in Parañaque, met with Rotaractors and had dinner with his team of incoming district governors — all within a packed four-day schedule that a less energetic person would have found exhausting.

Yet, he smiled his way through, demonstrating the gift of good listening that is a treasured talent of effective leaders.

New PRM Chair Connie Beltran and Past District Governor Ernie Choa joined us in seeking his wise counsel and giving us a peek into his perspective as leader of a gigantic world organization with a glorious history.

He is fired up with a personal goal that he is asking all Rotarians and clubs to adopt. He is envisioning that by 2030, there will be 1.25 million Rotarians and 1.25 million Rotaractors.

This is a well-crafted goal for Rotary’s 125th anniversary celebration. Paul Harris and friends formed the first Rotary club in Chicago. This was followed by the second club in San Francisco, California. According to our dearly beloved Past RI President M.A.T. Caparas, this is what triggered the internationality of Rotary: “If San Francisco Rotary Club of Chicago.”

Kudos to all outgoing District Governors and Club Presidents for a job well done! _____________ This feature appeared in the July 2027 Magazine Issue.