The District Valentine's Party
PP Jo Bernabe, Valentine’s Party Chair

    Rotarians love fun and fellowship. That was again proven at the District’s Valentine’s Party held at the Main Ballroom of the Valle Verde Country Club in the evening of Saturday, February 12. The event was hosted by the Rotary Club of Marikina Heights.

    Among the first to arrive were the Global Presidents who had prepared a special dance number and had agreed on a last rehearsal. At 6 pm, the Ballroom tastefully decorated for the occasion was still sparsely filled; but at 8 pm additional tables and chairs had to be carried in to accommodate the more than 300 Rotarians and guests prepared for a fun-filled evening. And what an evening it was! The early arrivals had beefed up their appetite with fresh tuna and lechon. Obviously, everyone was happy when PP Jess Domingo announced that dinner was about to be served. The waiters had their hands full, literally, to make sure that everyone got served without much delay. The Global Presidents danced to the delight of the audience while enjoying or waiting for their dinner. PP Jess introduced two young and new Rotarians, Sugar Reyes and JR Andrade, to moderate a short program. As usual, Governor Jun Farcon expressed his delight about the excellent attendance at this nearly last District Fellowship. He had brought in the Noah’s Ark Band to make sure that the evening would not be short of appropriate dance music. The Chairperson of the event, PP Josephine Bernabe, expressed her gratitude to the many sponsors who had generously contributed to assure a delightful evening. She also thanked her Club Team for their time and effort to make sure that the evening would run smoothly. With the more formal part done with, the Noah’s Ark Band let the audience know what they came to Valle Verde for two days before Valentine’s Day. A complete metamorphosis took place. The spacious dance floor was soon filled with fun-loving Rotarians, young and not-so-young (including Governor Jun and Lady Zeny) who danced the evening away watching the DIs in front mindless of the body moist that soon discolored the special attire they had carefully chosen for the night. But who cared? Meanwhile the tables and chairs in the ballroom were nearly empty except for a few that were occupied by those whose bodies were more beholden to the spirits that enliven the internals.

    Of course both the dancers and the band would occasionally rest. The moderators were instantly ready with some parlor games and later in the evening also the raffle prizes. The partying came into conclusion when Gov. Jun banged the gavel to announce the adjournment of the successful District Valentine’s Party 2011. Then, clubs and batches gathered their members together to pose for posterity with Gov. Jun and Lady Zeny. It was late in the evening or rather early morning when the by now tired couples and singles slowly moved to the exit drove their way home for a good night’s rest. It had been a great party. As Governor Jun said in his thank you note the next day: Many he had talked to had expressed in so many ways how this Valentine’s Party was one of the most enjoyable ever.