Manila charms women Rotarians

It was once-in-a-lifetime ­experience for the 42 all-women ­‘Shegulls’ team from RID 3000 as they went on a week-long expedition to Manila, Philippines. They initiated five ­projects in the country in a joint endeavour with local clubs of RID 3820 with whom they had flag exchanges at interactive sessions.

All the 35 Rotarians, plus seven Annets, from RID 3000 ­women’s empowerment team, RC ­Tiruchirapalli Shakthi and other clubs, turned pink ambassadors to create awareness on breast and cervical cancer. And their bus was covered with flex boards to promote the Rotary project. At the venue they distributed pamphlets, and the pink stoles worn by the visitors were handed over to the local Rotarians.

Yellow balloons with big smileys were released to carry the message of love to mark the World Kindness Day (Nov 13). On the very next day, blue balloons and blue bands spread the message of preventing diabetes among the Filipinos. On the International Day for the Prevention of all forms of Transnational Organised Crime (Nov 15), observed for the first time in the world, members of RC Theni Stars distributed flyers and leaflets, and released white balloons in the air. World Tolerance Day (Nov 16) was marked with similar distribution of leaflets by members of RC Madurai Blossoms.

Women Rotarians from RID 3000 in Manila, Philippines.

It was a solemn occasion at the candle-lit vigil to mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (Nov 17). Orange balloons rose up in the sky to spread the message of road safety among drivers and commuters in Manila. In this event, members of RC Madurai Malligai led the visitors, thus creating an impact among the locals in Manila. Bowled over by the Filipino hospitality, the ­Shegulls team from Tamil Nadu enjoyed the Indian lunch, visited the Okada ­Musical Fountain that attracts many tourists, then went to ­Intramuros, a quaint walled colony having ­Spanish buildings and homes reflecting the colonial rule of a bygone era.

The visitors were impressed by the cobbled street that led to San ­Augustin Church and Fort Santiago in which their national hero was imprisoned before his execution in 1896. “Be it the Manila Cathedral, the imposing stone-and-wood Casa Manila or the Cultural Centre of the Philippines, there was no dearth of excitement or wonder for foreign travellers,” said Allirani Balaji, secretary of the district’s Women’s Empowerment Team.

The boat ride on dugout canoes towards the crater during the Taal ­Volcano Island tour was nothing short of high adrenaline rush. “Travelling in a native banca amidst rocks and boulders at steep gorges and lush vegetation to reach the Pagsanjan Falls is something we can’t forget at all,” she said.

The Rotarians rounded off their Manila trip with a shopping binge at the Festival Mall, bamboo rafting and a museum tour at Villa Escudero, a must-see destination that is replete with local heritage and traditional landscape. Rtn Babu Kannan coordinated with PDG Meanne Solomon, RID 3820, to arrange a hassle-free, joyful experience of their week-long stay in Manila.

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