Today, the Rotary Club of Dumaguete City, led by its President Nehru Yurong, is holding a medical- dental-optical mission in Bindoy, Negros Oriental, together with friends of the Club, actualizing the motto: Service above Self.
This is an annual activity to reach out to the residents of Bindoy, to coincide with the thanksgiving for the birthday of its past president Francisco Dy Yap. Doctors from the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital, even the retired, Dr. Filemon Flores , Dr. Nerves, Dr. Remoto, and their younger colleagues, have also made this event their own personal commitment.
Optometists Dr. Boy and Inday Santillan, Dr. Justino Kho and his Dental Association friends, have extended their unselfish service for the past many years, and to all those who are involved, please know that we are truly grateful.
Mayor Lawrence Limkaichong and spouse Cong. Jocelyn Limkaichong were invited to attend, although they needed no invitation, as they have given their support in the previous medical missions over the years.
Such is the spirit of service, it is indeed “in giving that we receive”, and this spirit runs through the fiber of all those who have dedicated their spare time in the service of others.
This week, President Nehru, Past Presidents Annie Pinero, Lito Ramada, and Jun Sy took their time to distribute the donated Books Across the Seas to barangay high schools in Nagbalaye, Sta. Catalina, Bacong, and in Valencia, together with Rotarian Mayor Ricky Gonzalez.
Over lunch, the big boys simply recalled their innocent childhoods, making toys out of coconut leaves, taking a neighbor’s green starapples or mangoes by stoning, the simple pleasures of swimming in the river, playing tubig-tubig under the moonlight.
These childhood memories are precious, as their simplicity molded these men and their values of service. They collectively believe that whatever achievements they may have now, and their spirit to share can simply be traced to these roots.
Nowadays, childhood is more complicated, anchored on TV, i-Pod, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, the Internet, and the malls- and it is amazing how children have to adapt to a global environment through the web.
However, more than ever, all the people of the world are interconnected, and any local event may impact the world, by a flick of the mouse.
This is why the song which we used to sing with my brothers in the DeMolays and sisters in Job’s Daughters is apt: “If more people were for people, all people everywhere, there’ll be a lot less people to worry about, and a lot more people who care!”
Yes, let us all care and share even in our own little way, and multiplied many times over, we can make a difference. And in Texas, we say: “Bless your heart, you all!”
