Rotary Clubs host Supporting the Environment forum

Today, the Rotary Club of Zamboanga City (D3850) and Rotary Club of Marinduque North (D3820), with D3850 Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Zone 10 to 11, and Rotary Club of Metro Kalibo, hosted the Seven Area of Focus (AOF 7) – Supporting the Environment, held at Emerald Room, Astoria Hotel, Zamboanga City.

Through the initiative of Immediate Past District Governor Edwin G. To, they invited the First Cadre from South Pacific Region in Rotary International’s Newest Area of Focus- Supporting the Environment, Past President Evangeline Buella-Mandia of the Rotary Club of Marinduque North (D3820), and the only Filipino to be a part of this respectable committee.

PP Vangie is currently an Associate Professor and recently designated as the Head of the Department of Environmental Science, College of Natural and Allied Health Sciences of Marinduque State University. She is passionate to protect and sustain the environment, by spearheading various research programs and the collaborations with colleges, universities and other stakeholders. Right now, she is leading efforts to protect the coastal areas at the Heart of the Philippines with her Artificial Coral Reef Project through their club’s Global grant application with the Rotary International.

She presented the eligibility, its parameters and other goals for applying for a global grant in response to AOF 7 – Supporting the Environment and the scholarship opportunity, too. Questions were entertained after her presentation.

In the words of PDG Oliver, “we keep giving to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) and in return we get global grants.” Today’s participants were led by the Rotary Club of Zamboanga City president Oliver Cheong, together with Rotarians from Rotary Clubs of Zamboanga City North, Metro Zamboanga, Zamboanga City West, Zamboanga City East and Bongao, Rotaract Clubs in Zone 10 and 11, and teachers from Western Mindanao State University as their academe partners. Also present were IPDG Edwin To, PDG Oliver Ong, District GML Editor-in-Chief PP Megs Lunn, GML Layout Artist Clouds Lunn, District Polio Plus Chair PP Jun Kwan, District New Gen Chair/GG Rotaract Rtn. Nick Paira, and Rtn. Reuel Mangubat of Rotary Club of Kalibo.