The generous Contributors and Friends of The Rotary Foundation of RI District 3800 showed up in full force at The Rotary Foundation Banquet held at the Grand Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria last November 8. Bedecked in their very elegant formal black suits and long gowns, Rotarians and their spouses enthusiastically showered their support and appreciation for The Rotary Foundation.

    When the host club, RC San Juan del Monte started planning for this major district event, their initial estimate was 200 to 230 attendees. As the appointed date drew nearer, the estimate was revised upward to 250 to 300 and then again to 300 to 350. However the actual number of attendees far exceeded the initial estimate – a total of almost 400 joined DG Raffy and DGL Minda at The Rotary Foundation Banquet.

    Dinner was promptly served at six as per schedule. However, the start of the program was somewhat delayed because the Guest of Honor was held up by heavy traffic coming from Makati. It begun in earnest as soon as he got settled down.

    The emcee, SDG Marilou Co, saw to it that the program run smoothly and without any undue delay because of the large number of honorees and guests. The Majestic and Global Teams made their presence felt. Incumbent Governors and Past District Governors from other Districts led by PRID Paeng Hechanova and PRID lady Mely graced the occasion. All the Past District Governors, DGE, DGN and almost all the PDGLs of our District were present to show their support.

    What lent more interest in the affair was the fact that DG Raffy was able to invite PRIP / TRF Chair - Elect Wilfrid J. Wilkinson from Canada, as the guest of honor. His address which stressed the importance of TRF and the need for continuing support for it, was enthusiastically applauded.

    Certificates and awards for both the Rotary Clubs and the individual donors last Rotary Year were not received on time. Global DG Virgilio Farcon, Jr. awarded them after the speech of the guest of honor. Assisted by PDG Efren de Guzman and PDG Marcos Hermoso, the following were acknowledged and awarded by IPDG Jun: EREY clubs, 100% Sustaining Member Clubs, top 3 Per Capita Clubs, New Paul Harris Fellows and Major Donors.

    This was followed by the recognition of the Raffy Garcia Challenge Honorees by DG Rafael Garcia III with PDG Ferdinand Fuentes and PDG Fabio Enriquez. The highlight and most important part of the evening was the acknowledgement of the TRF Honorees for RY 2011-2012. They are the New PHFs, New Multiple PHFs, New Benefactors, New PH Society Members, Major Donors and Arch Klumph Society Member.

    District Chair for Annual Gift Giving, SDG Manny Reyes and The Rotary Foundation Banquet Chair, SDG Marilou Co, took turns in calling up to the stage each Honoree. The pinning and the awarding was done by PRIP Wilfrid Wilkinson himself with the assistance of DG Raffy Garcia.

    SDG Manny Reyes, the hardworking AG Chair, reported an unprecedented US$ 365,000 contribution to TRF with the next US$ 135,000 coming up in the next few months.

    The following contributors were honored that night. Below is the listing of the Major Donors

NEW MAJOR DONORS, LEVEL 1
   PDG Ferdinand Fuentes and CP Praxedes Y. Tan.

CONTINUING MAJOR DONORS, LEVEL 1
   PDG Eduardo N. Chua Co Kiong, PDG Santos C. Chua, PDG Efren O. de Guzman, PDG Fabio J. Enriquez, PDG Marcos C. Hermoso, PDG Edison U. Ang, PDG Jaime O. Dee, PP Benito de Leon, PP Josephine P. Retirado, CP Emelito M. Felix, PP Jose O. Castro, PP Nicolas Barraza and PP Nelson M. Aspe.

NEW MAJOR DONORS, LEVEL 2
   DGN Luizo C. Ticman, CP Manuel R. Reyes and Florizel Q. de Pano.

CONTINUING MAJOR DONORS, LEVEL 2
   PDG Rufino Y. Luna, PDG Benigno N. Ricafort, PDG Marcelina A. Aurelio, PDG Jose F. Peralta, PDG Antonio G. Puyat and PP Alberto L. Yu.

NEW MAJOR DONORS, LEVEL 3
   PDG Antonio B. Co, CP Marilou O. Co and PP Delfin B. Samson.

ARCH KLUMPH SOCIETY MEMBER, TRUSTEES CIRCLE
   DG Rafael M. Garcia III

    The most significant moment of the night was the conferment by PRIP Wilfrid of the highest award ever given to anyone in our district – The Arch Klumph Society Member, Trustees Circle, to DG Rafael M. Garcia III. This award is given by TRF to one who has contributed at least US$250,000. SDG Marilou Co, RC San Juan del Monte