PalaRotary 2011
PP Doreen Concepcion, PalaRotary Co-Chair

    Higantes, kites, colorful banners and the eight different colors of the eight zones dotted the huge oval and skyline of the Marikina Sports Park last January 30, 2011 where the District 3800’s PALAROTARY 2011 took place. The Rotary Club of Tres Escalon Taytay was the host of this year’s event.

    The day’s festivities started with a holy mass, followed by the parade of the eight different zones with their own higante accompanied by the marching bands of Cainta and Marikina. The festive atmosphere was very contagious and the Rotarians and their families wholeheartedly joined in the revelry. The parade was followed by the welcome speech of PalaRotary 2011 Chairman IPP Steve Nieva and the message of the District Governor Jun Farcon. The PalaRotary torch was lighted by Tres Escalon’s President Dong Callao and was passed over to LtG and Vice Mayor Fabi Cadiz. Then the torch was passed to all the SAGs of the different zones in a relay across the oval tracks and finally handed over to DG Jun for the final 100 meters run to the cauldron where he lighted the flame of PalaRotary 2011. It was the signal that started District 3800 PalaRotary 2011 and the governor formally announced the games open.

    A bevy of beautiful Rotarians and spouses paraded in front of the judges for the Mrs. PalaRotary 2011 contest. The choice for a married Rotarian or spouse as the event’s muse is a first for this annual event. The crown went to alluring Spouse Helen Buencamino of RC Mandaluyong Central. The cheerdance competition was a revelation as the different zones prepared exciting presentations. The competition was stiff but Zone 5 prevailed over the others.

    The rest of the day was as exciting as the different zones battle it out valiantly for their team. The major games such as the track and field events were dominated by the team from Mandaluyong. In basketball, a new champion was born. Zone 4 garnered the crown this time. Second was Zone 6 and third Zone 2. In mixed volleyball, Zone 5 defended their crown for the 3rd time.

    Simultaneous with all these were kid’s games and family games like tug-o-war, centipede race, sack race which were hotly contested by the different zones. There were other special contests like the best banner (Rizal) and best in uniform (Marikina). There were four entries in the kite flying contest but Zone 4 beat them all with their Rotary kite flying majestically in the air. The sight of those kites lends a whimsical quality to the event. Another first was the Jazz up the Higantes contest. The sight of those eight higantes decorated by the different zones added to the fiesta-like atmosphere of the event. Zone 6 outdid the others when they presented a demure and dalagang Filipina higante with a Rotary sash to boot.

    The sun was merciless that day. It was scorching hot but the games are equally hotter and fiercer but in the end, Zone 5 prevailed. They were declared over-all champion with Zone 4 as second and Zone 8 third.

    But that day wasn’t only about winning the coveted plum. It was about Rotarians and their families, letting their hair down and fighting gallantly for their respective zones. It was about friends who were on different teams tugging on the rope with all their might, adversaries at first but patting each other’s backs the next. It was a day where food was bountiful and sharing was the order of the day. It was all about team spirit, victorious yells and gracious acceptance of defeat. It was also having a beer under the moonlit night in the middle of the oval in very much cooler air with the Governor and other Rotarians from different zones reminiscing about the day’s events. This time there was no competition, only camaraderie and some good laughs among fellow Rotarians. And THAT folks was PalaRotary 2011.