My Personal Story as
a Rotarian
The United States is my
adopted country and English is my second
language as I was born and educated in the Philippines until I became a CPA and came to California in the mid-1970s.
Living in America is now about twice as
long than my actual living in the old country.
In those decades, there are a lot of experiences that have passed through the river of my earthly life. That English word, metamorphosis, summed up my
life the last half a century. Oh, how I love that word, so much so that I use it as my byline in my
weekly column in the Asian Journal in San Diego and in the Phil STAR in
Manila. My life could have been that bloodied “caterpillar” until I have escaped the cocoon of my own
inherited or acquired biases, prejudices and
stereotypes that just came along in my life even without even seeking them.
I don’t know about you,
fellow ROTIans, but I have come to believe that as human beings, we are just
molded, often without our consent, by these
collective or cumulative influences of our
own beliefs, education, culture, idiosyncracies, (since we were in our mother’s wombs) as well
as the environment, political, economic
and social systems whereever we grew up.
For instance, what is considered
a national and popular sport (like the corrida
de toros aka bull fights), in Spain
and Mexico may be considered barbaric
and against the “cruelty against animals” laws in the USA and Canada. Even food items are totally different in many
parts of the world, Indeed a person who
has never travelled really has not experienced the many flavors of life nor
seen the beautiful tapestry of colors
of the world. Add to that, the many powerful yet invisible forces of our national
or cultural traditions -- in the religious,
political or social arenas ---- that
each one of us has to go through in our lifetime!
It’s indeed a blessing to be alive and and
for many becomes more exciting by our
membership and activities in the Rotary
organization, whose last name is INTERNATIONAL.
Let me share two unique personal stories
that have transformed me into a more loving person, more understanding and peace-loving human
being because of Rotary International:
First, during my first 10 years in America, when work
and going to school were no longer very exciting as it has become
week to week routine. In the summer of
1977, however, I was invited to attend a
young men’s organization, called the
Jaycees (junior chamber of commerce, where are they now?) and with them, I got hooked on community service as well as
professional and business development. I
was there for good 7 years until I became “roosted” at age 35, but it left many indelible marks
in my being. As active Rotarians, just
read, fathom the Jaycee Creed:
We believe:
That faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life;
That the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of
nations;
That economic justice can best be won by free men through
free enterprise;
That government should be of laws rather than of men;
That earth s great treasure lies in human personality;
And that service to humanity is the best work of life.
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It was originally in the Jaycees
organization that really opened the many
blessing and opportunities of America.
As we believe in the same creed, I felt accepted as a whole person although then I was
obviously very much different, being the
only Asian in the entire Jaycee Club, with my peculiar non-American accent
which I deliberately compensated in learning how to write well. During that time, one of my Jaycee friends
also recommended that I joined the Toastmasters International which
I did! The summer of 1980, during the the Jaycees State Convention, beyond my wildest imaginations (although I
really prepared for it) I won both the WRITE UP AND SPEAK UP CONTESTS in Pasadena, California! And my entire club with our spouses celebrated our awards and even
published my name in our District Newsletter!
And like a peppermint gum, I savored
and enjoyed the flavor while it lasted.
Fast forward… About about
12 years ago, I got introduced to Rotary International the “matured’ brother”
of the Jaycees.
Now with a family and two kids,
priorities have changed and it’s no longer the “training” period but the actual
“practice” of what we have learned earlier in life…. The OBJECTIVES OF ROTARY and THE FOUR-WAY
TEST have replaced our Jaycee Creed.
As alluded earlier, I too have many biases or prejudices. Being a babyboomer growing up in the
Philippines, I heard and read thousands of stories about the cruelty and
inhuman treatment of the Japanese Imperial Army in the Philippines during World
War II. No family is spared from so much
tragedy during the war.
My first real person to person contact with three
Japanese nationals was when I joined the Cerritos Rotary Club where a true
Rotarian and his wife are always there. His name is Thomas “Tom” Takata and
another lady Rotarian Sachie Oda.
Talking to them on a weekly basis and interacting and working with them
for several years, that feeling of
“hatred” and prejudice against the Japanese slowly melted
down.. and eventually totally erased with two official visits to Japan as the
guests of our sister club, the Gifu
Rotary Club. For many years, every
summer we have high school students exchange between Gifu School District and
the ABC School District in Cerritos
I now believe strongly that the
present generation of Japanese nor the Rotarians, then and now, had no
say nor decision powers in attacking the Philippines and Pearl Harbor. My hatred against the cruel Japanese soldiers
should not be transferred to my newfound Japanese friends and fellow Rotarians…
An interesting story: a new digital camera that I left accidentally
in a bullet train from Gifu to Osaka during the 2004 RI convention, was returned to my hotel after two days when
I reported the loss to my Japanese travel agent, Sachie Oda. That made me appreciate their national pride
and honesty. To this date, I am still curious if that camera got lost in the
USA or in the Philippines, would have it been
still returned to me?
Yes, those experiences have
made me a vert proud Rotarian, that has
made my life worth living!
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