Amazing Race

I am available
I am dependable
I give more than I take
I AM A ROTARIAN
- Robert Barth, RI President 1993-94

For many years TV viewers glued their eyes and attention to a reality TV game show which featured will, wits and guts with pulsating, dramatic and street smart action – adventure. It is called The Amazing Race. The show involves teams of two people (except for Season 8, which had teams of four people), who have some form of a preexisting personal relationship and race around the world in competition with other teams.

Being a member of the Rotary, especially the illustrious Rotary Club of Dagupan East is like being in an Amazing Race. We must have the will, wits and guts to survive all the challenges to be able to help our destitute and less fortunate brothers. Instead of teams of two or four, we are made up of 80 plus people who have formed a bond and commitment to service; guided by the dictum of truthfulness, fairness, goodwill and beneficence. And our prize after the race? Selfless service!

Last Monday we had another great attendance during our weekly meeting. Keep it up fellow RCDE, new members and balik-Rotarians! Kudos to the leadership of our President Mario! Tuesday saw the gritty RCDE Basketball team battle a bigger and stronger P.A.S.A. team in a game which went into overtime but we eventually succumbed. Keep your heads up guys, we did our best and hopefully our tenacity will bear fruits for us the next succeeding games. Thursday was an excruciating leg of our “Amazing Race” as we headed to our yearlong Supplemental Feeding Program in Brgy. Talibaew, Calasiao with Pres. Mario, IPP Boy, Sec. Tony, Arnold, Eric Ian, new members Angelo, Vincent and Johnson, and yours truly in attendance. Then we (IPP Boy, Sec. Tony, Manda, Arnold, Eric Ian, Angelo and me) zoomed to the induction of RC Vigan. We withstood the inclement weather, long driving hours and the arduous stretch of 20 road repairs from Sudipen to Vigan. Whew! On Friday, me and my spouse, Joel and spouse, Manda, Angelo and Ritchie (who was also in the Araneta Center) had our fellowship/ get together by watching the game 7 of the GSM-SMB PBA finals.

Our “Amazing Race” had only just begun. Let's keep on being active, available, dependable, selfless in service for we are Rotarians, we are RCDE!