Roxas City to host 30 th Kiwanis Convention

Roxas City will again host the the Kiwanis Convention slated on September 8, 9, and 10, 2005. The 30 th Annual Kiwanis District Convention would bring into fore “the younger years, the greater years” of Kiwanis clubs in Visayas and Mindanao in which clubs gravitated toward volunteers service, developing projects to meet community needs, and stepping forward for civic improvement.

About 500 delegates coming from the District's ten divisions covering the whole of Visayas and Mindanao, will join this very momentous event in Philippine South District history.

“30 Never Looked So Young” is the side theme of this year's convention.

Twenty-eight years ago Kiwanis knew that Panay could be crossed, and in 1977-78 it reached Roxas City and Capiz, implanted by Iloilo Kiwanians. Leading the way that time were the late Dr. Hernando A. Alba, Atty. Mabini L. Altavas and Procupio Punzalan, Manuel (Oling) Jimenez and others who organized the first club—the Kiwanis Club of Kapis lead by Charter President the late Jose (Ritzi) S. Altavas III.

Kiwanis Panay Division composed of the Kiwanis Clubs of Roxas City, Inc., Sumakwel, New Kapis, Activo Capizeño, Ivisan, Jamindan, Iloilo City, Iloilo Dinagyang, Kalibo, Kalibo Ati-atihan, Campo Verde and Boracay are host clubs to the forthcoming convention to be held at the Pavilion, La Hacienda Hotel, Roxas City.

Senator Mar A. Roxas, a true-blooded Capizeño, will be the keynote speaker of the gathering. The other speakers are Mr. Sylvester Neal (Kiwanis International Trustee and Board Counselor from Auburn, USA) and Dr. Steven Rood of the Asia Foundation.

To note, Roxas City hosted the 12 th Kiwanis Annual District Convention eighteen years ago under the leadership of Governor Joaquin S. Dumagpi.

The first District Governor was Emilio Madrigal Piansay, a native of Roxas City and Capiz. He is a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Davao City and still an active member.