TACLOBAN CITY- Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominic Petilla expressed his support to the newly chartered lions club in this city, the Tacloban Centennial Lions Club (TCLC).
Gov.Petilla said that the battle cry of the club is ‘service to the community’ which most of the people in the province needs.
“I really admire those who join this club because this is the club that I knew since I was young,” Petilla said.
He also appreciated the club for being active after the onslaught of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ not just on the relief stage but also on the rehabilitation phase.
“I know that Lions has been very active after Yolanda not just on the relief but on building homes for the victims just like people of San Isidro who received beautiful houses from this club and they are very happy for these houses they received,” Gov.Petilla said during his speech before members and officers of the TCLC held on May 26 at the Leyte Park Resort, this city.
Just like the Lions Club, Petilla said that community development is the flagship program of his administration, including human and family development.
“If you develop a human being, you must also cover all those who have influence to humans and the biggest influence to a person is his/her family. If you develop people to be good citizens, it will reduce crimes, increase production and protect our environment,” Petilla said.
“It’s an honor to be with you tonight because I know we share our malasakit in our community. If we are in the government, in the private sector, there is a lions club to help and serve those poor communities,” he added.
The governor said that he is hoping for a partnership with the TCLC in order to help and serve poor communities, especially in the province.
Aside from Gov. Petilla, Stephen Yap, the district governor of Lions Club International District 301-B2 also congratulated the new officers and members of the TCLC.
“Tacloban is a big progressive city but for the past 68 years, it has only one Lions Club, compare to other smaller neighboring cities like Ormoc City and Tagbilaran City that have five Lions Clubs each. So the addition of a second club to Tacloban is a welcome breakthrough to our district. More clubs means more members, more members means more service. Indeed the power of we,” Yap said in an interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express.
“With the leadership of the Charter President, who I personally have witnessed how dedicated and passionate lion she is, I’m pretty sure this club will grow and be a successful club,” Yap added.
In order to survive, Yap advised the TCLC to invite more dedicated quality lions to be a part of the team, conduct orientations, organize fellowships to deeper camaraderie and do quality projects to attract more members to join.
Ruth Chua, past district governor of Lions Club International District 301-A1, also congratulated the new officers and members of the TCLC.
“Always be proud to wear the lions pins symbolizing as members; (be)proud to be part of the great service association. It is this pride in (our) hearts that will lead (us) towards respectable service; that will remind (us) to always protect our beloved association’s name (and) its proud history,” she said.
Lion Grace Cornista, Charter president of the TCLC, was thankful for the support she received from the provincial government and officials of District 301-B2 including the other clubs who graced the event.
Also elected as new TCLC officers are the following: Atty. Jose Van Tan, 1st vice president; Atty. Jasmine Vivero, 2nd vice president; Jane Cara Mae Roa, secretary; Jestoni Urbano, treasurer; Atty. Mar Francis Rebato, lion tamer; Romeo Dax Calamaya, lion tail-twister; and Christian Allair Matillano, PIO.
(RYAN GABRIEL LLOSA ARCENAS)
