The Rotary Club of Orion, chartered in 1994, stands out as a major partner in promoting health and education, and poverty alleviation in the community. Under the able leadership of current president for 2009-2010, Ricardo “Rick” Bernabe, RC Orion has undertaken various community projects which include:
1) Continuation of Comprehensive Language Encounter (CLE) funded with P180,000.00 matching grant from Rotary International. CLE is designed to improve the English communication skills of children starting from first grade.
2) Career Guidance and Counseling conducted in all four high schools in Orion to help graduating seniors make critical career decisions. RC Orion sponsors this program annually, and they act as speakers along with the Provincial and Municipal Government representatives from Public Employment Service Office.
3) Blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring program conducted with the cooperation of Orion Municipal Health Officer.
4) Supplemental feeding program conducted at Bilolo Elementary School for 90 days, which benefited 50 malnourished children. Nice gifts were brought home from the U.S. by President Rick and Rotarian Skip Robertson and were presented to feeding program beneficiaries last Christmas and at the closing ceremony held on Feb 5, 2010. President elect Mer Evangelista and his wife Ann Connie also presented monetary gift to the children.
5) Typhoon relief Operation “Tulong” launched in October 2009 to help victims of typhoon Ondoy and Peping in Barangay Almasin, Hermosa with the cooperation of local PREX who selected 250 recipients of assorted food items bought and prepared by members, friends and families of RC Orion; RC Orion also sent relief goods to typhoon victims in Botolan, Zambales and Arayat, Pampanga that were organized by RI District 3790.
6) Distribution of stuffed animal toys to special children at Orion Elementary school.
7) Distribution of food to seventy indigent families in Orion as part of RC Orion’s annual Christmas gift-giving.
8) Donation of $2,100.00 to the Rotary Foundation which is to be used for the eradication of Polio around the world.
9) Building of Toilet Facility in Daan Bilolo.
The Rotary Club of Orion, living by the Rotary motto:
“Service Above Self, continues to make a difference in the community”.
Apolitical, RC Orion asks nothing in return for their services. Motivated individuals are welcome to attend its meeting held every Wednesday at Cunanan’s residence in Barangay Lati. You may also call our membership chairman, Past President Alex Cordero at 09209529351 for inquiry.
By: Ricardo “Rick” Bernabe, President RC Orion
