To Be The Light: Rotaract Club of CDO East Urban

The Rotary Club of CDO East Urban includes in their string of success the chartering of
the Rotaract Club of CDO East Urban. Composed of a group of well-rounded young
individuals from different sectors, the Rotaract Club was established on August 5, 2018
spearheaded by New Generations Director Daisy Tiu and Chairman Catherine Ann Aquino.

With the goal of embodying Rotary’s motto of service for others and being an inspiration, the Rotaract Club of CDO East Urban has helped organized a number of activities and headed a few others.

In October 3 to 4 2018, specialized wheelchairs were distributed. Beneficiaries were children suffering from impaired movement such as Cerebral Palsy. On a joint project, hearing aids were distributed on October 5. The event was made possible with the cooperation of the following NGOs and Philanthropist; wheelchair for Kids Inc., Rotary Club of Mosman, PDG Danny Low, RID 9685 NSW Australia, Dr. Angeline Low, and Physiotherapist Melissa Chan & Jenny Young in coordination with project partners Capitol University, Congresswoman Juliette T. Uy, Cagayan de Oro Social Welfare Office, Misamis Oriental Provincial Social Welfare Office, and Zonta Club CDO 1.

October 14 started early for the rotaractors and rotarians alike. The community rallied together with the common goal of collecting and documenting the trash littering the coastline of Barangay Bonbon. After the cleanup, a short talk was given by friends from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) X and City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO). Subjects discussed were regarding coastal cleanups and why it is important that we pitch in followed by little known local ordinances that aim to help the environment.

Easing into the holidays, the 9 th Annual Christmas Bazaar was hosted at the Centrio Mall Activity Center. Participated in by some of the big names like Mags Boutique and Kathryn’s Bakeshop, the idea was to have a one-stop shop for Christmas presents. The bazaar also proved to be an effective training ground for the young rotaractors in terms of business management and hone their skills in their craft, testing the waters for their market.

As the new year rolled in, so too did the community projects. Together with its partners, the Rotaract Club of CDO East Urban with its mother club, Rotary Club of CDO East Urban, and Zonta Club of CDO 1 organized a Special Protection Program for Children Symposium on January 24 at Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. Topics covered were bullying, addiction, human trafficking, and teenage pregnancy. Prior the talks, the Interact Club of CDO East Urban based in Villanueva was inducted. Members of the Interact Club consisted of 64 high school students from three schools in the area.

March was a month-long celebration for women. Together with Vday CDO and Oro Teatro Bulawanon, the Rotaract Club of CDO East Urban staged The Vagina Monologues. Hailed by The New York Times as "funny" and "poignant", and by the Daily News as "intelligent" and "courageous," The Vagina Monologues, which was first performed off-Broadway by Ms. Eve Ensler, dives into the mystery, humor, pain, power, wisdom, outrage and excitement buried in women’s experiences. The monologues are funny, witty, honest, and at times dramatic. They talk about self-discovery, self-love, recovering from a brutal experience, childbirth, and the complexities of womanhood. One of the most popular (and heart-wrenching) pieces is about a young woman who was raped by soldiers during the war in Bosnia. Another landmark monologue features five trans-women who tell stories about an abused childhood.

What makes this year’s production so much more special is that actors include men and members of the LGBTQ community as they, too, are or have been victims of violence. It also features several original pieces/monologues written by Kagay-anons.

The Vagina Monologues kicked off during International Women’s Day on March 8 at the SuperStar KTV Lounge & Club. This was followed by two more shows. The second one was in partnership with the local government of Balingasag on March 18 and the third show was at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) conducted March 29.

The Rotaract Club of CDO East Urban takes inspiration from its sponsor club. Taking to heart the words of PE Lady Rosalinda M. Caragos during the induction of the Rotaract Club, the club continually strives to “be the light to the candle, the reflection to the mirror, and to be the inspiration”.