(work in progress)
San Juan
San Juan City was once the Municipality of San Juan del Monte until June 17, 2007 when it gained cityhood.
Its borders are Quezon City (N and E), Mandaluyong City (S), and Manila (W), hence its claim to "being in the center" even as it is the second smallest, in land area, among the Metro Manila cities and municipalities - 5.94 sq. kms.- land area, < 1 percent of MM total area. [12º 36’ latitude due M and 121º 02 longitude due E]
In this limited territory, there was recorded in 2006 a population of over 204,000.
Before the Spanish colonistas arrived, San Juan was a village, later an encomienda in the 1590s. Later, as a barrio of Santa Ana de Sapa, it was ruled by the Muslim chieftain, Lakan Tagkan (married to Bouan).
In 1602, the Dominican friars built a retreat house for their immediate use, where aging convalescing friars stayed. Later, the Dominicans Constructed a convent sanctuary and a stone church dedicated to the Holy Cross, a church destined to be ravaged during the Spanish occupation. To this day, the thrice-rebuilt church of the Holy Cross stands on the same site, with the Aquinas School for the boys and the Dominican College (Colegio de Jesus Maria) for the girls. In 1783, San Juan became independent of Sta. Ana but it was still then a barrio.
History remained silent in the town of San Juan until August 30, 1896 when Spanish-Filipino war erupted and became the most inspiring battle in our history, the Battle of San Juan Del Monte.
= the town derived its name from the patron saint San Juan de Bautista (Saint John the Baptist), and “Del Monte,” often annexed to it, was named after the hilly structure of the land. =
Municipality to Highly-Urbanized City
For quite some time, the effort to convert the Municipality into a highly-urbanized city had been difficult. Not only because of its small land area and limited income, but its population, according the National Statistics Office, seemed to be decreasing every census year despite the influx of people due to establishment of high-rise condominiums and business enterprises in the municipality.
In 2006, Representative Ronaldo Zamora re-filed the cityhood bill in the House of Representatives geared with a special computation of its population and boasting of the remarkable 200% increase in its income. It was approved and later forwarded to the Philippine Senate. Both Houses approved the bill and, on March 2008, it was transmitted to the Office of the President for signature. The 30-day veto period lapsed which automatically entitled the provision to a plebiscite.
After months of campaign, the plebiscite was held and received more than 96% of YES votes. On June 17, 2008, Republic Act 9388 Converting the Municipality of San Juan into a Highly Urbanized City was approved.
Location and General Description
San Juan is a small congested City located in the heart of Metro Manila. It is among the smallest political subdivisions of the Metropolis. Its land area of 5.94 sq. kms. accounts for less than 1 percent of the region. Located in the very center of the Metropolis, it is bounded by Manila in the west, Quezon City in the north and Mandaluyong in the east and south, at coordinates.
San Juan may be described as a congested town with very little space for expansion. It is predominantly residential with scattered commercial and manufacturing establishments. The City is politically divided into 2 Districts with 10 barangays in District 1 and 11 barangays in District 2.
Because of its central location and its accessibility to and from all points of the region, San Juan has attracted migrants from other areas. The presence of squatter settlements is a problem the city government has to perennially contend with.
Physical Features
Physiography and Terrain
San Juan is composed entirely of undulating low grade tuffaceous plateau of soil. This means that it has the depth and stability to carry almost any type of construction and it has the ability to absorb and hold water.
Most of San Juan’s terrain is gently rolling with a predominant slope of 2 – 12%. However there are flat areas with a slope of 0 –1% scattered along the western boundary and other parts of the city. Except for these flat areas, the physiography and terrain of San Juan make it ideal for urban development.
Flood and Earthquake Risk
Being in the heart of region’s central plateau, the city is free of earthquake damage risks.
However, areas along the western boundary rimmed by the San Juan River are sometimes visited by floods are barangays Salapan, Balong Bato, Progreso, Rivera, San Perfecto, Batis and sometimes Kabayanan.
Land Use
Of the city’s 5.94 square kilometers total land area, about 63.5% square or 3.77 square kilometers are residential, 16% or 0.95 square kilometers is road network 8.9% or 0.53 square kilometer is commercial, 6.7% or 0.40 square kilometer is institutional and the remaining 4.9% or 0.29 square kilometer is industrial.
Approximately, 10% of San Juan has been rendered unfit for development due to high flood risk and level slope. However, the remaining 90% has very good capacities for urban development.
Based on the proposed land use, the land area intended for commercial use rose significantly to 0.99 square kilometer, representing 17% of the town’s total land area intended for commercial use rose significantly to 0.99 square kilometer, representing 17% of the town’s total land area. Land area proposed for institutional use also expanded to 0.42 square kilometer, accounting for 7.1% of the total. On the other hand, land area designed for residential and industrial uses were reduced to 3.54 and 0.05 square kilometers, respectively. Meanwhile, the land area for road network is still the same at 0.95 square kilometer.
Natural Drainage
Aside from the San Juan River which runs along the western order of the municipality, two narrow creeks outline the north western and south western borders of San Juan. The Ermitaño creek from the northern border of Barangay Pasadena near the creek are also visited by floods due to the presence of the creek.
Maytunas creek, on the other hand, runs along the southern border of the municipality but hardly causes flooding on the surrounding areas.
Population and Demography
Considered as the second smallest in the metropolis, the population of San Juan exhibited a downward trend. From 126,708 inhabitants in 1990, the city’s total population slid to 120,752 in 2002 or a reduction of 4.7%. As a matter of fact, from 1990 onwards, an annual decline in the population has been observed, averaging at 0.39%. This was a stark contrast to the city’s total population of 129,833 in 1980, whose growth was attributed to both migration and natural increase. The town’s total population represents 1.2% of the region’s total.
While a drop in the town’s population was reported, increases in the number of inhabitants were registered in some of its barangays. From the year 2000 to 2002, population growths were reported in eight barangays, with barangay Rivera and St. Joseph registering the biggest growth rates of 26% and 21%, respectively. Other barangays, which exhibited increases in population, include Greenhills, Sta. Lucia, San Perfecto, Salapan, Progreso and Isabelita.
Although San Juan’s total population decreases, its population density on the other hand, rises. Population density is the number of persons per unit of area. From 21,323 persons per square kilometer in 1990, the town’s population density rose to 21,063 persons per square kilometer in 2003.
This indicates that San Juan is becoming less densely populated as the number of people, who live on each square kilometer of its total land area, has reduced to 21,063 persons per square kilometer in 2003 from 21,323 persons per square in 1990.
Of the municipality’s total population, 53% or 64,537 are males while 47% or 56,215 are females.
The population of San Juan is relatively young. 27% or 32,165 people of the town’s inhabitants belong to the age bracket under 1-14 years old.
Copyright © 2008 San Juan City
Tel. (6
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS
If it is true what my mother has often said that I was brought with the family to the cemetery every 1st of November since I was born, and since my mother does not lie, then this past 1st of November was the first time that I was not with my family (or whoever are left of it) in the “memorial park” where my parents’ remains lie buried.
1st of November. My family (or at least three generations back), like many other Filipinos, believe that the 1st of November is the day to be at the cemetery, the memorial park, the church crypt, or any other burial ground. And when I could read and understand, I thought that it was presumptuous on our part (my family’s and those who crowd the Cementerio del Norte) to assume that the faithful departed among our family members have indeed become saints so that the 1st of November was truly their feast. When I could read and understand better, I learned that the 1st of November is for the saints and that the next day (All Souls’ Day) was dedicated for those who have died and are not yet or will never be saints. Whatever! I have taken much solace from my college alma mater’s hymn that her alumni, at life’s end, become “like stars in the heaven” (como estrellas en los cielos).
You see, I was born almost right before the death of my mother’s youngest sister. So that, again according to my mother, I was bundled up to Norte in the dark hours of Todos los Santos starting the year I was born, not two months old even, so that we all could ride into the cemetery before it closes its gates to vehicular traffic. We had “comfortable accomodations”, enough parking for two vehicles (including one that had curtains and an urinola), and great expectations about who of our relatives would come by first during the day. When I was a bit grown up and able to appreciate breads, part of my great expectation was pan de sal from Baliuag – a pasalubong from a kapitbahay sa sementeryo. Or should it be kapitlibingan? Whatever!
The pan de sal were yellowish (the eggs or the food coloring?), smaller in size than what was available near where we lived (in San Juan ), and allegedly masarap kahit walang palaman. And, perhaps, because I kept hearing that it was masarap kahit walang palaman, I accepted them as such but not for very long when I learned to bring some mantequilla, potted meat and leftover tortang itlog (more like an omelet with onions, tomatoes bell pepper and some meat) so that my pan de sal was really good because may palaman. To this very day, I taking pan without palaman remains unacceptable to me because doing so was a display of sheer lack of resourcefulness, if not downright lack of initiative to go against public opinion and to better one’s lot.
So where was I last 1st of November? Inspired by __________ about "kissing your ancestors’ bones”, I resolved that I would spend that day in Pasuquin where the remains of my father’s father were (last) laid to rest.
about Pasuquin … past visits
30 Oct SCTEX
If it is true what my mother has often said that I was brought with the family to the cemetery every 1st of November since I was born, and since my mother does not lie, then this past 1st of November was the first time that I was not with my family (or whoever are left of it) in the “memorial park” where my parents’ remains lie buried.
1st of November. My family (or at least three generations back), like many other Filipinos, believe that the 1st of November is the day to be at the cemetery, the memorial park, the church crypt, or any other burial ground. And when I could read and understand, I thought that it was presumptuous on our part (my family’s and those who crowd the Cementerio del Norte) to assume that the faithful departed among our family members have indeed become saints so that the 1st of November was truly their feast. When I could read and understand better, I learned that the 1st of November is for the saints and that the next day (All Souls’ Day) was dedicated for those who have died and are not yet or will never be saints. Whatever! I have taken much solace from my college alma mater’s hymn that her alumni, at life’s end, become “like stars in the heaven” (como estrellas en los cielos).
You see, I was born almost right before the death of my mother’s youngest sister. So that, again according to my mother, I was bundled up to Norte in the dark hours of Todos los Santos starting the year I was born, not two months old even, so that we all could ride into the cemetery before it closes its gates to vehicular traffic. We had “comfortable accomodations”, enough parking for two vehicles (including one that had curtains and an urinola), and great expectations about who of our relatives would come by first during the day. When I was a bit grown up and able to appreciate breads, part of my great expectation was pan de sal from Baliuag – a pasalubong from a kapitbahay sa sementeryo. Or should it be kapitlibingan? Whatever!
The pan de sal were yellowish (the eggs or the food coloring?), smaller in size than what was available near where we lived (in San Juan ), and allegedly masarap kahit walang palaman. And, perhaps, because I kept hearing that it was masarap kahit walang palaman, I accepted them as such but not for very long when I learned to bring some mantequilla, potted meat and leftover tortang itlog (more like an omelet with onions, tomatoes bell pepper and some meat) so that my pan de sal was really good because may palaman. To this very day, I taking pan without palaman remains unacceptable to me because doing so was a display of sheer lack of resourcefulness, if not downright lack of initiative to go against public opinion and to better one’s lot.
So where was I last 1st of November? Inspired by __________ about "kissing your ancestors’ bones”, I resolved that I would spend that day in Pasuquin where the remains of my father’s father were (last) laid to rest.
about Pasuquin … past visits
30 Oct SCTEX
Sunday, October 19, 2008
RC Paraiso free dental clinic, RC Valencia induction, Gov Alex walks against breast cancer
paraisong parisukat
by Grace Ranjo
No less than our 1st lady DGN has told me that there were “many patients” at Paraiso’s free dental clinic last Saturday. DGN Dulce also offered the services of dentists from her club, so let’s check out that offer. If no child or adult from the hardscrabble community near the Rotary Center and among those living within our service area (SFdM) will have bad or missing teeth, then we have taken care of “our own” and that further justifies our outreach to “other” communities. The internationality of Rotary anyway is such that service has no boundaries and the needy are all over QC and the world so we must look forward to our medical and dental clinic in upper/rural Caloocan City, write generous drug companies for medicine donations (as Pres. Bombet has asked us) and aim to give our patients from Bgy. Pangarap new dreams.
The 7-year old Rotary Club of Valencia inducted its officers last Saturday, including its back-to-back Buenavista President, “Anton”, who comes after elder brother “IPP Charlie”. Unprecedented, perhaps, but, speaking of outreach medical programs, RC Valencia’s adoption of a hospital in Pilar, Sorsogon is something to beat. Pilar is the 2nd most medically-depressed town in the country, is far-flung and is insurgency-stricken. The number of hydroencephalitic children is alarming and even as a hospital administrator is employed and government health workers come around sometimes, volunteers and donations of equipment and supplies are most welcome. RC Valencia is supported by RC Legaspi West.
Despite a late night at the Valencia induction, Gov. Alex was early at the Avon fun walk against breast cancer Sunday morning at the MOA. As in 15 other cities in the country, over 30,000 men, women, children and pets (yes, there were plenty of pets!, mostly dogs!) walked in advocacy against this disease that hits both male and female and even those who are not “well-endowed”. Gov. Alex stood out among the walking VIPs with his height, appropriate attire, trim built, and moreno looks and, at times, was seen in the company of GMA-7 bigwigs and stars like Rod Cornejo and Isa Calzado and Arnold Clavio! There was a sizeable R I D3780 streamer with several club names listed but I didn’t see Paraiso among them. But what’s in a name, anyway. What matters is that Rotarians walked with “the others” for a good cause. Now, who is Rod Cornejo? He is a friend from my Pasig River days, reports direct to the GMA boss and will help us get some media coverage on our club jubilee.
RC
by Grace Ranjo
No less than our 1st lady DGN has told me that there were “many patients” at Paraiso’s free dental clinic last Saturday. DGN Dulce also offered the services of dentists from her club, so let’s check out that offer. If no child or adult from the hardscrabble community near the Rotary Center and among those living within our service area (SFdM) will have bad or missing teeth, then we have taken care of “our own” and that further justifies our outreach to “other” communities. The internationality of Rotary anyway is such that service has no boundaries and the needy are all over QC and the world so we must look forward to our medical and dental clinic in upper/rural Caloocan City, write generous drug companies for medicine donations (as Pres. Bombet has asked us) and aim to give our patients from Bgy. Pangarap new dreams.
The 7-year old Rotary Club of Valencia inducted its officers last Saturday, including its back-to-back Buenavista President, “Anton”, who comes after elder brother “IPP Charlie”. Unprecedented, perhaps, but, speaking of outreach medical programs, RC Valencia’s adoption of a hospital in Pilar, Sorsogon is something to beat. Pilar is the 2nd most medically-depressed town in the country, is far-flung and is insurgency-stricken. The number of hydroencephalitic children is alarming and even as a hospital administrator is employed and government health workers come around sometimes, volunteers and donations of equipment and supplies are most welcome. RC Valencia is supported by RC Legaspi West.
Despite a late night at the Valencia induction, Gov. Alex was early at the Avon fun walk against breast cancer Sunday morning at the MOA. As in 15 other cities in the country, over 30,000 men, women, children and pets (yes, there were plenty of pets!, mostly dogs!) walked in advocacy against this disease that hits both male and female and even those who are not “well-endowed”. Gov. Alex stood out among the walking VIPs with his height, appropriate attire, trim built, and moreno looks and, at times, was seen in the company of GMA-7 bigwigs and stars like Rod Cornejo and Isa Calzado and Arnold Clavio! There was a sizeable R I D3780 streamer with several club names listed but I didn’t see Paraiso among them. But what’s in a name, anyway. What matters is that Rotarians walked with “the others” for a good cause. Now, who is Rod Cornejo? He is a friend from my Pasig River days, reports direct to the GMA boss and will help us get some media coverage on our club jubilee.
RC
Club jubilee, RI to convene @ Birmingham, club singing, water and waste water
paraisong parisukat 10.2
by Grace Ranjo
It is 83 days to Christmas, 51 to RC Paraiso’s silver jubilee. Tuloy ang Pasko even if Wall Street in America comes tumbling down. How things have changed! When we were young only Humpty Dumpty falls off the wall; only Jack and Jill come tumbling down. As for our jubilee, no less than our slimmer-smarter-sexier Pres. Bombet leads the fundraising for the celebration thru the D3780 car raffle; but we must all do our share.
the rotarian, R I’s international magazine, is becoming a favorite read. Could it be the new format?, the ‘better’ content?, or do I just have more time to read? If only I can get my copies every month (and not like every other month)? The October issue already promotes the 09 R I Convention in Birmingham that once hosted the 83
R I Convention. And the early selling is for good reason: participation (travel, lodging, registration, etc.) is costly even for clubs already in the UK.
There is no intention however to focus on money given the past two items so I’ll tell you something R I President D.K. Lee of Korea said also in the Oct the rotarian: As a child, his war-torn country was helped by many governments and organizations that put Korea “on a track of health, hope and economic growth.” Economic growth was matched by growth in Rotary club membership. D.K. attributes the latter to, firstly, the desire of Koreans “to help others as we were once helped ourselves … the other is the natural affinity of Koreans have for the values of Rotary: integrity, honor, hard work and fairness”. Now, this is getting eerie (not because it is 30? days to Halloween). We once were also once a war-torn nation. We were also helped by many governments and organizations (plus there was war reparation fund$ and reconstruction loan$). And we also have an affinity for the values of Rotary: integrity, honor, hard work and fairness. And ‘state of the nation reports’ always say that we are on a track of health, hope and economic growth. But we are not like Korea today – a great economy with a well-preserved culture, an international exposure in infrastructure-building, quality manufacturing and trade and a deep pocket from which to draw funds to loan to countries like Bangladesh, Angola and the Philippines. But there is also a South Korea and a North Korea. Ah! this is where we can also easily match Korea. We can soon have a South Philippines-cum-Bangsa Moro Republic if we immediately withdraw our under-supplied, under-fed and outnumbered army troops from Maguindanao. Then we can be like Korea! Now, you know why the rotarian is now my favorite read! But I digressed!
Back to the Rotarian, newsletter-wise, we share the tradition of singing in rotary that Harry Ruggles (Rotarian, not Harry Potter character, huh?) started in RC Chicago in 1905. We are lucky to have a ‘club song’ AND printed in our newslet. O, kanta na tayo! Another article in the Rotarian was a reminder of my former job: Kenyan Rotarians (assisted by Denver, Colo. clubs) providing potable water and showers to 150,000 residents in a Nairobi slum. A sidebar featured PDG Ken Grabeau, president of Pure Water for the World, that works with Rotary clubs to bring biosand filter systems to remote villages in Latin America. Each filter costs just 75 USD or about Php 3750 to build from indigenous material, and removes 96 percent of fecal pathogens (poopoo stuff?) 100 percent of protozoa (tiny boas?) and 50-90 percent of toxic matter (nakamamatay! like crossing streets, ano?)!
Now, why am I writing about these? Because advocacy for clean water resources is a thrust of Rotary. So here’s more: 1.1 billion people don’t have access to safe water; 4,000 kids die each day due to water-related (but preventable) illnesses; 4 miles a day is average distance that women in developing countries (DCs) walk to fetch water and many girls drop out of school to perform this task; by 2025, 2,000,000,000 people will live in drought areas; 500 cu. m./person/year – recommended level of water resources; in DCs, 90+ percent of untreated sewage and 70+ percent of untreated industrial wastewater is dumped in waterways; Americans consume 380 l./person/day, Europeans, 200 l./person/day, sub-Sahara Africans, 10-20 l./person/day; 50+ percent of hospital beds in DCs are occupied by people suffering from water- and sanitation-related (but preventable) illnesses. The Philippines is a DC.
Closer to home, about 90 percent of Metro Manila is served with piped water; only 15 percent are served with sewerage and sanitation; only 8 percent of waste water is treated, the rest go to the Pasig or other rivers enroute to Manila Bay or Laguna Lake; 11 million persons have access to water, wastewater of only 1.95 is fully treated; less than 10 percent of septic tanks are desludged and 65-75 percent of pollution in waterways is residential sewage. Many of our water lines and tubes for septic tank effluent are co-located in storm drains (kanal), that were designed merely to bring rain water or storm runoff to the river. So when it floods …
by Grace Ranjo
It is 83 days to Christmas, 51 to RC Paraiso’s silver jubilee. Tuloy ang Pasko even if Wall Street in America comes tumbling down. How things have changed! When we were young only Humpty Dumpty falls off the wall; only Jack and Jill come tumbling down. As for our jubilee, no less than our slimmer-smarter-sexier Pres. Bombet leads the fundraising for the celebration thru the D3780 car raffle; but we must all do our share.
the rotarian, R I’s international magazine, is becoming a favorite read. Could it be the new format?, the ‘better’ content?, or do I just have more time to read? If only I can get my copies every month (and not like every other month)? The October issue already promotes the 09 R I Convention in Birmingham that once hosted the 83
R I Convention. And the early selling is for good reason: participation (travel, lodging, registration, etc.) is costly even for clubs already in the UK.
There is no intention however to focus on money given the past two items so I’ll tell you something R I President D.K. Lee of Korea said also in the Oct the rotarian: As a child, his war-torn country was helped by many governments and organizations that put Korea “on a track of health, hope and economic growth.” Economic growth was matched by growth in Rotary club membership. D.K. attributes the latter to, firstly, the desire of Koreans “to help others as we were once helped ourselves … the other is the natural affinity of Koreans have for the values of Rotary: integrity, honor, hard work and fairness”. Now, this is getting eerie (not because it is 30? days to Halloween). We once were also once a war-torn nation. We were also helped by many governments and organizations (plus there was war reparation fund$ and reconstruction loan$). And we also have an affinity for the values of Rotary: integrity, honor, hard work and fairness. And ‘state of the nation reports’ always say that we are on a track of health, hope and economic growth. But we are not like Korea today – a great economy with a well-preserved culture, an international exposure in infrastructure-building, quality manufacturing and trade and a deep pocket from which to draw funds to loan to countries like Bangladesh, Angola and the Philippines. But there is also a South Korea and a North Korea. Ah! this is where we can also easily match Korea. We can soon have a South Philippines-cum-Bangsa Moro Republic if we immediately withdraw our under-supplied, under-fed and outnumbered army troops from Maguindanao. Then we can be like Korea! Now, you know why the rotarian is now my favorite read! But I digressed!
Back to the Rotarian, newsletter-wise, we share the tradition of singing in rotary that Harry Ruggles (Rotarian, not Harry Potter character, huh?) started in RC Chicago in 1905. We are lucky to have a ‘club song’ AND printed in our newslet. O, kanta na tayo! Another article in the Rotarian was a reminder of my former job: Kenyan Rotarians (assisted by Denver, Colo. clubs) providing potable water and showers to 150,000 residents in a Nairobi slum. A sidebar featured PDG Ken Grabeau, president of Pure Water for the World, that works with Rotary clubs to bring biosand filter systems to remote villages in Latin America. Each filter costs just 75 USD or about Php 3750 to build from indigenous material, and removes 96 percent of fecal pathogens (poopoo stuff?) 100 percent of protozoa (tiny boas?) and 50-90 percent of toxic matter (nakamamatay! like crossing streets, ano?)!
Now, why am I writing about these? Because advocacy for clean water resources is a thrust of Rotary. So here’s more: 1.1 billion people don’t have access to safe water; 4,000 kids die each day due to water-related (but preventable) illnesses; 4 miles a day is average distance that women in developing countries (DCs) walk to fetch water and many girls drop out of school to perform this task; by 2025, 2,000,000,000 people will live in drought areas; 500 cu. m./person/year – recommended level of water resources; in DCs, 90+ percent of untreated sewage and 70+ percent of untreated industrial wastewater is dumped in waterways; Americans consume 380 l./person/day, Europeans, 200 l./person/day, sub-Sahara Africans, 10-20 l./person/day; 50+ percent of hospital beds in DCs are occupied by people suffering from water- and sanitation-related (but preventable) illnesses. The Philippines is a DC.
Closer to home, about 90 percent of Metro Manila is served with piped water; only 15 percent are served with sewerage and sanitation; only 8 percent of waste water is treated, the rest go to the Pasig or other rivers enroute to Manila Bay or Laguna Lake; 11 million persons have access to water, wastewater of only 1.95 is fully treated; less than 10 percent of septic tanks are desludged and 65-75 percent of pollution in waterways is residential sewage. Many of our water lines and tubes for septic tank effluent are co-located in storm drains (kanal), that were designed merely to bring rain water or storm runoff to the river. So when it floods …
Thursday, October 2, 2008
paraisong parisukat 10/2
It is 83 days to Christmas, 51 to RC Paraiso’s silver jubilee. Tuloy ang Pasko even if Wall Street in
the rotarian, R I’s international magazine, is becoming a favorite read. Could it be the new format?, the ‘better’ content?, or do I just have more time to read? If only I can get my copies every month (and not like every other month)? The October issue already promotes the 09 R I Convention in
R I Convention. And the early selling is for good reason: participation (travel, lodging, registration, etc.) is costly even for clubs already in the
There is no intention however to focus on money given the past two items so I’ll tell you something R I President D.K. Lee of Korea said also in the Oct the rotarian: As a child, his war-torn country was helped by many governments and organizations that put Korea “on a track of health, hope and economic growth.” Economic growth was matched by growth in Rotary club membership. D.K. attributes the latter to, firstly, the desire of Koreans “to help others as we were once helped ourselves … the other is the natural affinity of Koreans have for the values of Rotary: integrity, honor, hard work and fairness”. Now, this is getting eerie (not because it is 29 days to Halloween). We once were also once a war-torn nation. We were also helped by many governments and organizations (plus there was war reparation fund$ and reconstruction loan$). And we also have an affinity for the values of Rotary: integrity, honor, hard work and fairness. And ‘state of the nation reports’ always say that we are on a track of health, hope and economic growth. But we are not like
Back to the Rotarian, newsletter-wise, we share the tradition of singing in rotary that Harry Ruggles (Rotarian, not Harry Potter character, huh?) started in RC Chicago in 1905. We are lucky to have a ‘club song’ AND printed in our newslet. O, kanta na tayo! Another article in the Rotarian was a reminder of my former job: Kenyan Rotarians (assisted by
Now, why am I writing about these? Because advocacy for clean water resources is a thrust of Rotary. So here’s more: 1.1 billion people don’t have access to safe water; 4,000 kids die each day due to water-related (but preventable) illnesses; 4 miles a day is average distance that women in developing countries (DCs) walk to fetch water and many girls drop out of school to perform this task; by 2025, 2,000,000,000 people will live in drought areas; 500 cu. m./person/year – recommended level of water resources; in DCs, 90+ percent of untreated sewage and 70+ percent of untreated industrial wastewater is dumped in waterways; Americans consume 380 l./person/day, Europeans, 200 l./person/day, sub-Sahara Africans, 10-20 l./person/day; 50+ percent of hospital beds in DCs are occupied by people suffering from water- and sanitation-related (but preventable) illnesses. The
Closer to home, about 90 percent of Metro Manila is served with piped water; only 15 percent are served with sewerage and sanitation; only 8 percent of waste water is treated, the rest go to the Pasig or other rivers enroute to Manila Bay or Laguna Lake; 11 million persons have access to water, wastewater of only 1.95 is fully treated; less than 10 percent of septic tanks are desludged and 65-75 percent of pollution in waterways is residential sewage. Many of our water lines and tubes for septic tank effluent are co-located in storm drains (kanal), that were designed merely to bring rain water or storm runoff to the river. So when it floods …
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
TEST BLOG - paraiso, q.c.
paraisong parisukat
The last District Induction 05 July at the
The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Seminar 1-5 p.m. 12 July 2008 SEAMEO INNOTECH, Commonwealth Av, QC
Participants: Club
Fee: Two Hundred Pesos
Gov. Alex encourages all other Rotarians to attend district trainings for (genuine) Rotarization. Rotarization is indeed key to membership retention and club strength.
A farewell walk for the outgoing president and a victory walk for the new club head (complete with purple velvety cape and
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