RCSPS TP Guia de Leon welcomes everyone to the ‘New Normal’!
On November 7, I was present in a relief goods operation spearheaded by Assistant Governor Edgar Cavite. Together with other Rotary and Rotaract Clubs based in San Pedro City, Laguna, we were able to distribute 100 pieces of relief goods.
At night, I was able to attend the joint birthday parties of Transforming Presidents (TP) Fatima Acuna and Eva Beltran of the Rotary Clubs of Lipa West and South, respectively. Actually, it was also a project meeting sponsored by TP Kenneth Izon for all the presidents of District 3820 under Governor Ray Atienza. We even had an auction of wines, and the proceeds went directly to the typhoon victims. Yes, even at Signal Number 1, at midnight, I was still on the road.
On November 8, I had to wake up at 6 o’ clock in the morning for another charity drive. Since nobody can drive for me, I had to do the usual… to commute.
In the “new normal,” I had to take a tricycle, a jeepney, a ‘padyak’ (pedicab) and a long walk. Why? Because booking a car was extra tough.
With Serbisyong May Puso, Inner Wheel Clubs, Alagang Kalusugan and the rest of the gang, we were able to give another 100 pieces of relief goods. But this operation was tougher because the team had to literally cross muddy waters while carrying heavy goods. In short, “lusong sa baha” was one of the main challenges of the day.
I was also present in the feeding program courtesy of our sister club, the Rotary Club of Pila West. But I should be off to Legazpi, Los Banos, Padre Garcia, Bacoor, and Lucena… all within this week. It’s crazy, I know. But more than that, it’s super t.i.r.i.n.g. Everything has been draining my energy so fast.
My eyes were automatically shutting down. Fortunately, today was an immersion.
My soul is bugging me now. How can I possibly complain when all I have to do is just to extend help? How can I still sleep soundly knowing that there are so many… way too many… of my fellowmen who are now trying to find ways to live in very, way too much, uncomfortable places? How can I be so selfish to ask for more convenience when in fact, I know, I can do so much more?
Suddenly, as I type in my thoughts, I have come to realize that “Love is the greatest religion.”
Voila! I am now off to four Sisterhood Agreements with the Rotary Club of Pinamalayan Central, Rotary Club of Padre Garcia, Rotary Club of Santa Rosa West and Rotary Club of Legazpi North. All within this week.
I am now going to co-present another series of helpful webinars. One for the environment, two for financial literacy, another two for disaster preparedness, then our crusade to stop the violence again women and children. All within this month.
It takes a real immersion to have a heart. I am now more energized to do more wonderful things for the community! In fact, with or without the Rotary brand in my shirt, I will certainly do something worthwhile in this lifetime… or even more.
You may or you may not notice me standing out as a leader. In fact, I tend to shy away from the limelight. Our simple club, the Rotary Club of San Pedro South, is not even submitting any project reports (yet) to the Awards Committee nor to the Rotary Showcase.
But definitely, you will be seeing me follow the footsteps of those who are paving way to real charity… to real “Service Above Self” activities.
After all, the “New Normal” is all about extending our hearts to our fellowmen. The “New Normal” entails an empowering service to mankind. And yes, the “New Normal” calls for new leaders — those who are willing to be more generous, to be more truthful, and to be more loving.
So help us God.
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