A FIRST in its 24-year history, the Rotary Club of Bacolod Central forgo a formal inauguration and instead celebrated its new leadership on July 4 with the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family Home Foundation in Barangay Cabug, Bacolod City.
Immediate past president Paul Parrocho turned over club leadership to Meliton Sillador, executive director of Kalipay Negrense Foundation, a non-profit organization working for the causes of disadvantaged children.
In his inaugural speech, Sillador said the advocacy on empowering children especially the homeless and the abused is very close to his heart, something that Rotary also gives premium too. He also said that it was always his desire to hold his inauguration in the community and the decision of the club to celebrate it with the girls under the care of the Capuchin sisters made it a reality.
The Holy Family Home was the beneficiary of the club’s global grant in 2004 during the term of past district 3850 governor Nanette Garcia, dubbed, “Project Cares.” The grant allowed the club to provide psychological services to the home’s wards, who are sexually and physically abused. These services were sustained even after the closure of the grant.
Dominique Lemay, founder and president of Virlanie Foundation, said that his organization shares the same advocacy for disadvantaged children with Rotary. “In service and in our work, it is important to have the heart in everything that you do and put God in the center of things,” he stressed.
Sillador counts Lemay, who was the guest of honor and speaker during the induction rites, as one of those who continue to inspire him in his social development work.
Meanwhile, Garcia inducted into office the new set of club officers for Rotary year 2019-2020, led by Sillador. The other officers are vice president May Castro, secretary Rose Depra, treasurer Sharon Parrocho, protocol officer Gardenia de Erit, directors Toks Lopez (public image), Josephine Natalaray (The Rotary Foundation), Rolem Basiya (community service), Mate Espina (special project), Paul Parrocho (club membership), Robert Aguillon (club administration), Lulu Abelido (new generation) and Hardy Yap, president-elect.