Friday, June 29, 2007 New president to be installed
ROTARY District 3860 will officially install Joseph Michael “Yumi” Espina as the new district governor for Rotary year 2007-2008 on June 30 at Casino Español de Cebu.
Past district governor Antonio “Anton” Florendo will preside in the formal rites which coincides with the 25th charter anniversary of Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente, the new governor’s home club.
Gov. Yumi, as he is fondly called, is no stranger to the Rotary service having been initiated into it by his parents, Cristobal BC Espina, a past president of the Rotary Club of Cebu West, and Filomena Perez-Espina, a past president of the Inner Wheel Club of Cebu West.
As a young student, he was involved in medical missions, feeding programs and other humanitarian efforts.
He was born on May 8, 1955, the 5th child in a brood of eight by pioneering Cebu architects. He garnered honors and awards throughout his academic and professional life.
He has degrees in architecture, civil engineering, geodetic engineering and environmental planning.
He is the former district director for the Visayas Chapter and acting national vice president of the United Architects of the Philippines, which conferred him the honor of being one of the youngest members of the College of Fellows in recognition of his outstanding service to the organization and the architectural profession.
Yumi is an architectural design and design thesis professor at the University of San Carlos College of Architecture and Fine Arts and director of the Architecture Computer Center. He is also an instructor on Site Planning, Land Use and Planning Workshops at the University of the Philippines.
Advocacy
Yumi is married to Sandra Lim and has three boys, one of whom brought him into the special education advocacy.
Yumi has made it his personal cause and lifetime commitment to support families with special children. He founded the Parents’ Reach Foundation Inc.
He is also the founding president of the Stepstones Learning Center, a pre-school which commits to promote a holistic development of children through a comprehensive educational intervention program.
Yumi was invited to the Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente in 1992.
