The Rotary Club of Urdaneta East partnered with the Rotary Club of Kadoma (Japan) and Japan’s Panasonic Corporation (through the Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation) to bring light to the off-grid communities in Pangasinan and Benguet. This Solar Lantern Cooperation Project is part of the 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project, Panasonic’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative highlighting its technologies and products consistent with its management philosophy to contribute to progress and development of societies. RCK and Panasonic collaborated for the lantern giving project, sharing the total cost of lanterns for communities that were identified and rigorously selected.
An awarding and turnover ceremony was held at the SRMP, San Manuel, Pangasinan attended by some 25 beneficiaries and representatives from cooperating organizations: Shinichi Hayashi, president of Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation (PMPC); Izumi Mitsunori, representative of RC Kadoma (RCK); Cathalie “Leah” Sebreño, president of RC Urdaneta East (RCUE); and Satoshi Fuji, vice-president of San Roque Power Corporation (SRPC). Coordinating the cooperating organizations was RCUE Past President (PP) Tommy “Tom” Valdez, also a vice-president of SRPC.
“These donations are great commemorative project. We believe it will be beneficial to all of us,” said Mitsunori, as he read the message of their Club President, Hiroji Imamura. He also said that thru the project, Japan and the Philippines have established a lasting friendship.
Sebreño extended her appreciation for having been selected by PMPC and RCK as one of their partner clubs in Rotary to implement the Solar Lantern Project. She extended her gratitude to SRPC for coordinating the project and to the 54 beneficiaries for coming to the event to receive their lanterns.
“Ag yaman ak ta napili kami nga beneficiary iti daytoy nga project. Ni Apo Diyos kuma ti mangbendisyon ti panangtulong yu ti agkasapulan [We are grateful for the opportunity to benefit from the project. May the Lord bless you more for the assistance provided for the needy],” responded Lolita Ananayo, Daynet community leader and lantern recipient.
Last February, RCUE members (Special Projects Committee Chairperson Noel Acla, Velasquez, PP George Oris, and Rotarian Arzel Manalili), assisted by SRPC volunteers, visited the Cabayawasan community in San Felipe East, San Nicolas, Pangasinan and turned over the remaining lanterns.
—By PP Tommy “Tom” Valdez; photos by Arzel Manalili
Read full text and more news in the July issue of the Philippine Rotary Magazine.
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