RCIC throws a Christmas Party for the WVSES kids
The Rotary Club of Iloilo City (RCIC), headed by their energetic president Rebecca L. Maravilla, together with the Rotary Club of Sae Goyang, South Korea sponsored a whole-day Children's Christmas Party for the pupils of Western Visayas Sanitarium Elementary School (WVSES), the school that was adopted by the club three years ago.
WVSES pupils
The day started with a foot parade, from the school going to the Iloilo Golf and Country Club (IGCC), which was led by a Santa Clause who was riding at the back of a red-nosed carabao. Upon reaching the IGCC grounds, the children excitedly gathered in front of the building where a brief ceremony was held.
Grade VI pupils dance with
Boom Tarat Tarat
Miss Fely P. Suribio, Head Teacher III of WVSES, took the opportunity to thank the Rotarians for the help that they have been extending for the school. She, too, stated that with the help of RCIC, WVSES has improved a lot. In fact, according to her, the school has ranked second among the 22 other schools in the town in the latest National Aptitude Test. The kind of success that they amassed was mainly contributed by the books and other learning materials that were donated by the group. At the same time, Miss Suribio together with Berly Flores, president of WVSES Pupil Government presented their token, a RCIC logo drawn by the children amidst their signed thumb marks, as an expression of their enormous gratitude to the RCIC thru their president Rebecca Maravilla. On the other hand, Mr. Geoff Stammers received a portrait done by the pupils.
A song number from RCIC members
The children queued patiently and eagerly for their lunch prepared by the club. Everyone had a smile on their face and glow in their eyes as each opened their lunch box.
The fun never ended there. Right after lunch, WVSES kids rendered a "Boom Tarat Tarat" dance number. The kids made a repeat performance, this time with the Rotarians who seemed to be in the mood to groove.
Miss Fely P. Suribio, Head
Teacher II of WVSES, awards
the portrait to PP Geoff
Stammers
The kids and the kids-at-heart both had a great time running around on the green grounds of the golf club. They had fun looking for golf balls as well as enjoyed the sack race and egg relay.
At around 3:00 pm, the kids were once again queuing. This time for their gifts. Bags of groceries were given to 230 pupils. Each pack contains a bag of rice, sardines, apples, breads and dry noodles courtesy of Nestle Philippines.
"Having a party like this gives us a very fulfilling and humbling experience. We chose WVSES because the location is very convenient considering that most of our members are golfers. This way, it will be easy for them to check on our projects," RCIC president Beck Maravilla explained.
The day before the Children's Christmas Party, the club conducted a medical mission at the WVSES where three doctors and five assistants checked about a hundred of patients with eye problems.
This year the RCIC donated one unit of computer, a set of encyclopedia, science books and other reading materials. They too was able to help in some infrastructures like constructing a fence for the school.
The funding for the said party came from the pledges that was gathered during the club's Halloween Party and from solicitations done by the members. Other sponsors include: Iloilo Golf & Country Club, Nestle Philippines, Pepsi Cola, Dir. Butch Pflieder, PP Winston Santos, Dir. Michael & Ann Rose Soden, PE Lendry Certeza, Dir. Joe & Ann Niera Totengco, Dir. Ed Tan, Rtn. Alex Kang, Pres. Beck Maravilla, Rtn. Bobbie Trabajo II, PDG Oca & DGN Ems Nava, PP Geoff & Ann PP Fel Stammers, PP Tong Somo, Prof. James Kwak, Mr. Vince Flores, Sec. Markus & Ann Eva Duenneisen, PP Ray & Ann Sandra Gomez, PP Nonoy Braga, PP Francis & Ann Carmen Griño, Mr. & Mrs. Leonardo Certeza Jr., Mr. Henry Asucena, Ms. Christine Pop, Ms. Juanita Guto, Ms. Keting Raz, and Dir. Chacha Plamenco.