We write our history not to glorify the past, but to strengthen our resolve. Not to rest on our laurels, but to be inspired by them. Not to compete divisively, but to unify men of goodwill. Not to put a wedge between the past and the future, but to weld them together in a continuum of service to humanity. Not to outshine one another, but to let their sheen form a magnificent swath of stardust in the sky to light the World of Service and Fellowship to which we “Golden Westerners” have dedicated ourselves.
Here then is our story.
In the beginning, the Rotary Club of Marikina, responding to the appeal of Past District Governor Mike Ampil, assigned one of its members of long standing, Nanding Gose, sometime in March 1984 to help look at the feasibility of establishing another Rotary club, west of Marikina with the residents of Provident Villages serving as core recruitment area. With the help of another member, Johnny Gregori, several meetings were held with prospective members; first, in Johnny’s place; second, in Len Velasco’s place; and third, Nanding’s place. It was at the latter’s place where on 9 June 1984, the first set of directors and officers were elected, and the constitution and by-laws were approved. Thus, the Rotary Club of Marikina West was born with RC Marikina as its mother club having to give up the membership of its two prominent sons, Nanding who became Charter President and Johnny who was elected Charter Vice-President, to help nurture the growth of the young club. In addition, our mother club saw to it that we were properly guided and assisted by their best, led by PP Ver Farcon, PP Erning Cruz, PP Jimmy Tiu, PP Chuck Castano, PP Mario Isidro, PP Facundo Santos, and PP Emil Cruz. Prior to Rotary International chartering, RCMW held its first meeting as a provisional club on 18 June 1984 marked with PDG Mike’s inspirational talk and the symbolic acceptance of the mother club’s donation of the bell, gavel, Philippine flag and RCMW’s banner. RCMW’s weekly bulletin called “Golden West” came out with its maiden issue on 16 July 1984. On 28 June 1984, in what was considered to be a record time, RC Marikina West District 380 was chartered by Rotary International and officially became the 22,004th member of the worldwide family of Rotary clubs. While 33 names were submitted as charter members, only 28 pushed through and were inducted on 9 September 1984 at Metro Club, Makati by PDG Fil Mendoza along with 7 new members.
(Contributed by Charter Member Ronnie Lacson)