Rotary Club of Central Iloilo City
Rotary International District 3850
Iloilo City, Philippines

HISTORY

      In 1989, the Constitution of the Rotary International made a significant change in its definition of Rotarian from an adult male to an adult person. This opened the gates to the membership of women in Rotary.

      In Rotary year 1989-90, the Rotary Club of Iloilo City, whose President then was Romulo "Moly" Aure, worked indefatigably for the creation of what is now the ROTARY CLUB OF CENTRAL ILOILO CITY.

      The ROTARY CLUB OF CENTRAL ILOILO CITY (RCCIC) received its charter from RI on June 13, 1990 and became the first club in the Visayas to have not only women members, but whose impressive roster of members boast of majority of women. From a group of seven gentlemen and twenty ladies, effervescent woman lawyer Herminia "Hermie" Maravilla became the Charter President and, likewise, the first woman president of a Rotary Club in the Visayas.

      In 1991, inventor/businesswoman Magdalena "Maggie" Villaruz succeeded CP Hermie in steering the wheels of RCCIC. During her term, the RCCIC received its first RI Presidential Citation for having the highest per capita contribution to the Rotary Foundation.

      During the term of Josefina "Jo" Evidente in RY 1992-93, the club sent out its first Rotary Exchange student to Wisconcin, USA and also hosted its inbound ROTEX from Oregon. Pres. Jo's term was capped with another Presidential Citation for a well-balanced programming in all four avenues of service.

      RY 1993-94 saw the presidency of Eva "Eva" Bustamante. Under her stewardship, RCCIC welcomed its first honorary member, Danthea Lopez, whose Saint Vincent de Paul Foundation, Inc. (SVPFI), a non-government organization under the aegis of RCCIC, was adjudged the recepient of the National Award for Community Service (NAS) in the Visayas by the Rotary Club of Makati.

      In 1994, the club's fifth president, Magdalena "Nena" Lometillo, became the third lawyer to sit as president, after CP Hermie and PP Jo. With her at the helm, the club hosted the Voice of Our Youth Impromptu Speech Contests in the zone and district level. Also hosted by the club during the RY 1994-95 was the Presets - Distas. In this Rotary Year, the club was awarded five thousand books for sponsoring the SVPFI in the NACS which in turn were distributed to more than 120 schools all over Panay Island.

      Another woman lawyer rose to the presidency in RY 1995-96, Amparo "Ampy" Lira. At the start of Pres. Ampy's term, the Club's membership was a mere 18. She worked hard to find more members for the Club and rose to the Calgary challenge, as RI President Herb Brown called the program of gaining at least 10% increase in club membership and surpassed it by gaining eleven new members for the club.

      In RY 1996-97, Pres. Marcelo "Mars" Lozada gained distinction of being the male president in a predominantly women-populated RCCIC. During his term, RCCIC was able to forge sisterhood pacts with five clubs from RI District 3780 in Quezon City, namely RC Tomas Morato, RC Cubao Kamias, RC Kalakhang Katipunan, RC North Edsa and RC Timog.

      Under the leadership of businesswoman Emma "Ems" Nava in RY 1997-98, the Club put up a water impounding tank that benefited the Aetas and other residents of Barangay Matag-ub, Janiuay, Iloilo. She was able to recruit new members coming from the banking community and the media and worked for the strengthening of a closer relationship among members. During her term, the club was again awarded the Presidential Citation for a well-balanced program in all four avenues of service.

      In RY 1998-99 under the presidency of a young lawyer, Rose Marie "Rose" Arungayan, the club participated in various community projects of Rotary in Iloilo. Her year saw the start of the Literacy, Recreation and Feeding Program of the Aeta children at Barangay Matag-ub, Janiuay, networking closely with the Special Education Students Association of the West Visayas State University. PP Rose also got a Matching Grant from Thailand for a potable water system.

      Perhaps the president with the longest term to the present is Stella Marie "Stella" Arungayan. Ascending to the helm of leadership by force of circumstances caused by the leave of absence of PP Rose, Stella's Rotary year saw the launching and construction of the potable water system at the Core Shelter Project, Barangay Gaub, Cabatuan, Iloilo.

      Rotary year 2000-01 saw the inauguration of the water system at Barangay Gaub, Cabatuan, Iloilo. Under the presidency of O "Baby" Daņocup, the Club sponsored the Zonal RYLA Camp and introduced the Homemaker/Home Technologist Award for graduating high school students. The Club likewise made a breakthrough by organizing an experimental community-based Rotary Life Club at Ungka 1, Jaro, Iloilo City. Project thrust was strengthening the participation of Interact and Rotaract Clubs and Rotary Volunteer youth groups for the cause of persons with disabilities and school children from ethnic and cultural minority communities.

      Rotary Year 2001-02 saw our Club soar to the skies beneath the wings of Eagle President Alexander "Alex" Ong. With his leadership, the Club conformed to the one-new-member-a-month Global Quest Program of R.I. President Richard King. Also, four Rotarians joined the rolls of Paul Harris Sustaining Members of The Rotary Foundation. President Alex made the "wish upon a star" of indigent children come true with the cooperation of other Rotary Clubs. DG Phil Abello honored the Impact Projects of the Club by naming it as The Outstanding Club of R.I. District 3850 in its category with its leader, as The Outstanding President.

      President Clarissa "Joy" Visitacion, an educator, became the 13th President of the Rotary Club of Central Iloilo City for Rotary Year 2002-2003. During her presidency the club undertook various projects that realized Rotary International's theme: "Sow the Seeds of Love." In that year, the club was bestowed the Highest Percentage Attendance Award in RI District 3850. This is a feat that continues to show that the inherent strength of a club emanates from its members. To cap her term, the club hosted DISTAS 2003 for Zones 1, 2, 3 and 4 of District 3850.