LAST February, I decided to attend Rotary International’s (RI) convention scheduled for May 27 to 31. I booked an economy seat in Singapore Airlines (the cheapest at the time) and a standard room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel just about a hundred meters across the river from the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center.
Visa requirements were fulfilled — biometrics and medical exam — through service providers of the Australian Embassy, followed by an e-visa to save, I suppose, on manpower, time and effort. The request to have a medical exam came rather late, a few days before departure, but that was quickly resolved in the nick of time.
The ride from my residence to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 took half an hour, and another half hour to check in and clear immigration despite the throng of departing passengers. Not bad at all, I thought. The one thing that annoyed me, though, was the air-conditioning in the terminal that literally gave a warm welcome and goodbye.
A sympathetic attendant allowed me to change seats where there was ample legroom after the doors closed. Everything went according to schedule until the unexpected “force majeure.” A lightning storm over the airport froze all take-offs and landings for three hours! Result? I missed my connecting flight in Singapore.
A number of us headed for Melbourne were stuck in Changi Airport for over seven hours — from around midnight to 8 a.m. or thereabouts. It’s a good thing that Changi, a tourist destination in its own right, had accommodations for long layovers. I chose a pay lounge that provided bed and shower facilities, plus unlimited food.
By the time I landed in Melbourne, it was mid-afternoon. Like Changi, the airport was clean, tidy, eye-catching and functioning like a well-oiled machine. Cleared immigration, baggage claim and customs quickly, and took a cab for the half-hour ride to the hotel. All cabs accept cash or credit cards for payment. No sweat.
I had a few days to be with my co-Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Manila (RCM) and our family members before the convention began. We loved Williamstown, a quaint suburb across the bay, with Melbourne’s skyline fronting the various sailing and yacht clubs; and Melbourne’s diversity of quality restaurants.
The RI Convention went beyond my expectations as a first timer. Melbourne really poured it on with pulsating entertainment from start to end. Smooth as silk, from the flow to the glow. Rotarians simply had a good time developing relationships. But with 14,000 in attendance, we barely scratched the surface.
The opening and closing ceremonies were held at the Rod Laver Arena. Imprinted on our minds were the Parade of Flags from 122 countries, The Tenors from Canada, songs from “The Greatest Showman” and the Bee Gees kept the crowd clamoring for more. At the Hall of Friendship, Rotarians stepped up to entertain the crowd with gusto.
There were breakout sessions on community economic development; health and hygiene; drug addiction prevention; imagining change; branding and imaging; perspectives from young Rotarians; writing content for online audiences; and fellowships by wine connoisseurs, military veterans and centennial clubs.
Best of all were the inspiring and profound speeches of outgoing RI President Jennifer Jones from Canada who anchored her term on the platform of “diversity, equality and inclusion”; and her successor, Gordon McInally from Scotland, who will campaign for creating hope for humanity living in despair at the margins.
At the closing ceremony, President Jones said this: “We don’t imagine yesterday — and we also don’t look for hope in past actions. ‘Hope’ and ‘imagine’ are words for tomorrow — words that propel us forward. They build upon each other and offer a path forward. A path of continuity.”
We also witnessed uplifting speeches from an articulate 10-year-old female poet; a female Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Leymah Gobwee; the founder of Global Citizen, Hugh Evans; the tourism minister of Victoria, Australia, Steve Dimpolous; and the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp.
The focus on human and ecological security to prevent conflict and instill lasting peace in the world was echoed throughout the period. From promoting health care; education; community development; water, hygiene and sanitation; to eradicating polio, Rotary unites People of Action.
Singapore’s next (2024), then Calgary (2025), Taipei (2026), Honolulu (2027) and in Manila (2028) through the meritorious efforts of Sam Pagdilao Jr. (PMA Baron of Class ’79), who headed the Office of Internal Security in the DILG-Napolcom during my term as secretary and chairman, respectively.
There are over 46,000 Rotary member clubs worldwide, with a membership of 1.4 million individuals. Here in the Philippines, according to a Rotary Philippines website, there are now over 800 Rotary Clubs, possibly more. It is a non-political and non-religious organization. Membership is by invitation.
A few days ago, the club I belong to, the Rotary Club of Manila, turned 104 years old. It was the first Rotary Club in the Philippines and the first in Asia, organized by Leon J. Lambert, chartered on June 1, 1919 by the Rotary Club of Seattle and authorized to operate as a formal organization under Rotary International.
RCM went on to organize around 20 daughter clubs so far. These include the RCs of Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Baguio, Malolos, Lucena, Batangas, San Pablo, Cavite, Pasay, Caloocan, Quezon City, University District Manila, Raha Sulayman, Panday Pira, Bagumbayan, Intramuros, San Miguel, Tondo and Sta. Mesa.
RCM sister clubs include RCs in Bangkok, Guam, Kowloon East, Osaka East, Seoul-Muak, Singapore and Taipei. RCM’s co-members in the Circle of Centennial Rotary Clubs are RC Calcutta, RC Shanghai, RC Seattle 4, RC Minneapolis 9, RC Washington, D.C. 46, RC San Francisco 2 and RC Wilmington, Delaware.
Rotary International is not just a collection of clubs, it’s a global movement in the service of mankind. It has clearly defined values, directions, action plans and learning tools for every Rotary club member to do what one can to serve humanity above self. That’s as close to Christ as one can get.
Rafael M. Alunan 3rd is president-elect of the Rotary Club of Manila for RY 2023-2024.