HCP Marge, Author at Rotary Club of Ibaan

District Kick-Off with Bibo Negosyo and the Approval of Our RCC

We are official! The RotaFit SAHMs is now a Rotary Community Corp.

Last month, the Rotary Club of Ibaan participated in the District Kick-Off activity in Tanauan. With us were the ladies of RotaFit SAHMs, a group of energetic women bonded by their passion for fitness, and connected by their common need to earn additional income for their respective families. Today, we can officially say that the Club has its own very first Rotary Community Corp.

The first in a series of livelihood training workshops was already conducted during the Club’s kick-off activity, and we are continuing these trainings until all members of the RCC have undergone the workshops and received their Kabuhayan Kits.

At the District Kick-Off, we featured products made by the first batch of SAHMs, and we are looking forward to more!

And of course, the Club, represented by HCP Marge Aberásturi, signed the memorandum of support to our beloved District Governor’s Bibo Negosyo Legacy Project.

ALS Graduation, Brigada Eskwela, and a Joint Project with Our Sister Clubs

August started out really busy for the Rotary Club of Ibaan. On this August issue of our bulletin, we are covering three events that happened in four days.

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In August 4, HCP Marge Aberásturi graced the ALS Graduation at Ibaan Central School and delivered an inspirational message to this year’s graduates.

The Club donated certificate jackets to the graduates so they can better safekeep the document that serves as a testament to their hard work and commitment to pursuing a better future.

On August 17, members of the Rotary Club of Ibaan joint our Sister Clubs for the groundbreaking ceremony of our joint project at Maximo Hernandez Memorial Integrated School.

The proposed project is for the installation of a deep well with motor pump and water tank, 20 handwashing stations, and a water drinking station.

The school has 617 students, 28 faculty members (including the principal) and 1 non-teaching staff.

This proposed high-impact project is sponsored by Rotary International District 3640 (South Korea), Rotary International District 3820 (Philippines), Rotary Club of Seoul-Saenamsam, and Rotary Club of Meycauayan Uptown (District 3770), in sisterhood with the Rotary Club of Marilao Circle, Rotary Club of Rosario, and Rotary Club of Metro Ibaan.

This two-day project focuses on connecting with the community and being one with them in creating a learning-conducive environment for students. In the process, we were able to learn more about their most pressing needs in the school and gather information on how we can better support them in the future.

Targeted beneficiaries of this project were three elementary schools in the Municipality of Ibaan: Coliat Elementary School, Bungahan Elementary School, and Quilo Integrated School.

Every year, before the school opening, parents and teachers join forces to clean up of their respective school grounds and make repairs of school facilities. Brigada Eskwela is done in the spirit of civic unity and cooperation between parents and teachers. The Rotary Club of Ibaan, lacking funds to support donation of material things, offered to provide food to the tired parents, teachers, and students of the three elementary schools. We fed roughly 285 people in these two days of activity, in partnership with Batangas Varsitarians led by the Club’s Youth Service Chair, Mark Christian Tolentino.

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RC Ibaan’s First Female President and the Club’s 5th Induction Ceremony

Her name is Marge Aberásturi, and she is the Rotary Club of Ibaan’s Hope Creating President.

She is also known on cyber as The Happy WAHM.

And if you ask ChatGPT, this is what it has to say….

Far from being “popular” and a “notable figure,” Marge leads a simple and happy life with his husband of 24 years and three children, one of whom is also a Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow like her mom.

She’s a happy, and fulfilled, work-at-home, homeschooling mom. She was pushed to become a WAHM after her third child was born prematurely.

Before she became a WAHM, she worked as a middle management executive in a conglomerate. She rose from the ranks and became a regional manager for credit management in a telecommunications company. Her goal was to be the division’s next vice president, but God has better plans.

Her son is now 18 years old, and she’s still very much passionate about the career that she started right beside his crib.

She usually works at home, but she’s also been known to work outside the doctor’s office, in the car, at the piano teacher’s house, and in restaurants.

As a Virtual Assistant with an entrepreneurial mindset, Marge is resilient, resourceful, and solutions-oriented. She sees challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, and what really keeps her going is knowing her “why.”

Her road to presidency is not what the usual presidents take, as she details in her inaugural address.

But Marge is committed to make it work, knowing that she has the support of her husband and their three children.

Her four words for 2023 will carry her through her term to 2024:

Connection
Creation
Gratitude
Service

Take a peek at her Inaugural Address here!

Thank you, my favorite middlechild, for the introduction.

Good afternoon, fellow Rotarians! Protocol observed.

I stand before you today with a heart filled with gratitude and apprehension, humbled by the trust bestowed upon me as the Hope Creating President of the Rotary Club of Ibaan.

I am grateful for the confidence you have in my capability to lead, but apprehensive in the most part because you see, mine is not the usual journey that one takes to a Rotary Club presidency.

In Rotary, you first get to be elected as a president nominee designate. After a year, you get elevated to become the president nominee. Then on the third year, you become the president elect. Only on the fourth year will you get the honor of finally becoming the leader of your club.

So each president has 3 years of preparation, in mind, body, and finances.

I was given 7 months.

It was a week before the PrePETS when I was cajoled (or should I say budoled?) by past presidents Allan Caringal, Gilbert Kalalo and Rodel Abogne to accept the president elect position from our then sitting president elect, twice past president Cesar Marasigan, who expressed his desire to relinquish the position to someone younger.

With the promise and commitment that they will contribute to The Rotary Foundation if I accept the position, I directed them to talk to my husband.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, my husband readily agreed.

So here I am, and believe you me, PP Allan, PP Gilbert, I will collect on those promises.

Your confidence is not just a validation of my commitment to this incredible global organization but also a testament to the inherent potential for growth and progress we have as a collective.

Let us not forget the foundation upon which our club stands: “Service Above Self.” These three words are not just our motto; they are the pillars that have guided us for over a century. It’s about looking beyond ourselves and understanding the true value of giving. The endeavors we undertake, the projects we set out to complete, are all driven by this guiding principle.

We are a global network of neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. And as your Hope Creating President, it is my duty and my honor to lead us towards this vision, to create hope in the world.

During my term, I intend to further our commitment to creating a positive and lasting impact. I believe that every small step we take today will lead to a significant change tomorrow. With that in mind, I would like to express my support to the district’s goals and thrusts, beginning with its legacy project for the Rotary Year 2023 to 2024, which is to develop sustainable income generating projects in and for the community. Our club’s projects will also give heavier focus on community and economic development, basic education and literacy, maternal and child health, environment, and disease prevention and treatment, but we will not neglect our commitment to peace and conflict prevention, and water, sanitation and hygiene.

In the spirit of our four-way test, we will approach every project with integrity and strive to build goodwill and better friendships.

Moreover, we will seek to strengthen our partnerships and collaborations, both locally and internationally. We will engage more fully with the community around us, building relationships based on mutual respect and understanding. We will strive to be a club that is known not just for its deeds but also for its heart.

The world around us is continually changing, and we must be ready to evolve with it. To this end, we will strive to leverage the latest technologies and innovative ideas, ensuring our projects remain relevant and impactful.

This club is built on the hard work and dedication of each of its members. And so, I invite you all to join me in this endeavor. I encourage you to share your ideas, to volunteer your time, and to actively participate in our projects. Let us work together, let us learn together, and let us serve together.

I want to conclude by saying, being chosen as your president is an immense honor. I promise to serve with dedication, to lead with integrity, and to always keep the principles of our great Rotary Club at the heart of everything I do.

Here’s to a fruitful year ahead, filled with service, friendship, and impact. Together, we can create hope in the world.

To my family, thank you for the love and support. Jojo, you are the wind beneath my wings. You are my number one fan and you are my perfect pair. Without you, I can’t do all the things I’m doing. Xia, Bea, Jude… thank you for rolling with all the punches. You know I love you to GN Z11, with a few trips round and back.

To everyone here tonight, thank you, and good evening.

Rotary Club of Ibaan Kicks Off Hope Creating Year with Empowering Training on Dishwashing Liquid Production

On July 1st, the Rotary Club of Ibaan launched its Hope Creating Year with a unique and community-driven event aimed at economic empowerment. The activity is in support of the BIBO Negosyo District Kick-Off which featured the Rotary Community Corps of District 3820 clubs.

Instead of opting for the usual gala or fundraiser, the Club chose to invest in human capital by hosting a hands-on training session on how to make dishwashing liquid. This training workshop, a part of the Club’s broader community outreach strategy, was notably attended by members of the new Rotary Community Corp that the Club is in the process of organizing.

Skill-Building and Economic Empowerment

The event’s objective was not merely to teach a skill but to encourage self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship among the local populace. The training session aimed to equip attendees with the skills and knowledge necessary to start small-scale production of dishwashing liquid—a commodity with consistent market demand. By doing so, the Rotary Club of Ibaan endeavored to create a ripple effect that would not only benefit individuals but also have a broader impact on the local economy.

The Rotary Community Corp: A New Initiative

The training was a significant milestone for the Rotary Community Corp (RCC), a new initiative by the Rotary Club of Ibaan. RCC is designed to bring together members of the community who wish to volunteer their time, skills, and expertise for the betterment of society. The attendance of RCC members at the training highlights the cooperative spirit between the Rotary Club and the new Community Corp, setting a tone of hands-on involvement and active participation for the rest of the fiscal year.

The Training: A Step-by-Step Guide

The training was conducted by the club’s incoming president, Hope Creating President Marge Aberásturi, who learned the step-by-step process which included both theoretical and practical sessions. Attendees were introduced to the basic ingredients required for dishwashing liquid production, safety measures, and quality control. Subsequently, they were guided through the hands-on process of creating the product, complete with opportunities for one-on-one instruction to clarify any questions or concerns.

Community Feedback and Future Plans

Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed gratitude for a program that provided them with tangible skills and economic opportunities. The success of the event has encouraged the Rotary Club of Ibaan to plan a series of similar workshops covering various skill sets that can offer economic benefits to the community.

The Rotary Club of Ibaan’s kick-off activity showcases a thoughtful and impactful approach to community engagement and economic empowerment. By teaching attendees how to produce a basic household commodity like dishwashing liquid, the Club has provided them with a means of self-reliance and potentially a new revenue stream. The event is emblematic of Rotary’s ethos—Service Above Self—and serves as a promising indicator of what the Club and its newly-formed Community Corp aim to achieve in the coming year.