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Partially covered by grass and street signs, a neglected old marker lies right in the intersection of P. Tuazon and N.Domingo Streets, right beside a Petron gas station. A closer look at the eroded, yet persistent, 1950's landmark reveals the name "Manila Heights." Known only to a few, the area we cover was once known as New Manila Heights.
Our Club's existence came at the initiative of then President Jesus Laxamana (now Past District Governor) of the Rotary Club of New Manila (RCNM) and DGSR Gil Moreno. Our Club came to be known as "The Century Club" when it was presented its charter on June 18, 1984, the day we celebrate our charter anniversary. Ours was the 100th club in the District 378 then composed of a wider area before being subdivided, one of which became District 3780, as it is today.
Some of the members of the new club came from the rosters of the mother club, notably its charter President Domingo Doroja, who was a past treasurer of RCNM, and its Club Secretary Pepito Feriols, a past Secretary of RCNM. New members, plus a sprinkling of RCNM members, filled up its ranks until it reached charter strength.
Immediately, the Club made its impact in the community with the establishment of a day-care center and a scholarship program. A community-based Rotaract and a school-based Interact were organized on the second year. The Club now sponsors a school-based Rotaract in Informatics International College-Diliman, while the former Mt. Carmel High School-based Interact has since moved to the Ponciano Bernardo High School along P. Tuazon Street.
The Club has had some of its projects funded through matching grants, most recent of which was the anti-tuberculosis program in partnership with its sister club in Seoul Gangnam. Other earlier matching grant projects include the extensive feeding program launched with the support of UNICEF and Magnolia Dairy Products, and the polio rehabilitation project in which impaired polio victims were operated on and given the ability to walk again.
The Club's feeding programs have managed to continue year in and year out with the help of partners like Kabisig ng Kalahi and Mead Johnson. In addition, Christmas parties for grade school students at the P. Tuason Elementary have become an annual event. Similarly, career talks are now conducted annually for fourth year high school students at the P. Bernardo High School.
The sporadic scholarships given in the past were later upgraded to the collegiate level and have since been institutionalized with the granting of 2 full scholarships annually at Informatics International College-Diliman, courtesy of our incumbent President, Daniel "Boone" Ongchoco. Beginning this year, the scholarship program will be expanded to also benefit two visually impaired students from the ATRIEV School for the Blind, also on an annual basis.
While the medical and dental missions were the norm for a large part of the Club's history, the desire to make a more sustainable impact in the community has led to the establishment of a more permanent operation in the form of the Club's signature "Kalusugan" Center, a permanent medical and dental clinic in partnership with Barangay Horseshoe and the Philippine National Red Cross-Quezon City Chapter. And taking off from this award-winning project, the Club has recently launched its second permanent project of scale, the "Karunungan at Kabuhayan" Center, a permanent literacy and livelihood center in partnership with Barangay Horseshoe once again, Alay Buhay Community Development Foundation, Informatics, TESDA and Glad News Foundation.
The old Manila Heights marker has withstood the test of time, standing firm despite seasonal and environmental changes. And like the permanent fixture in the center of our locale, despite the changes within the club membership, the Rotary Club of New Manila Heights-stronger than ever-continues to steadfastly plant itself in the very heart of our community.
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