The Rotary Club of Dagupan was chartered in December 29, 1938. Then RI District Governor (DG for the Philippines) George A. Malcolm appointed Col. Louis Van Schaick then President of the Rotary Club of Baguio as DGSR (RC Baguio was Chartered early part of 1938). There were 28 Charter Members with Rafael Monserrat as the Charter President. The Charter was approved on Dec. 29, 1938 with Charter No.
4910- the seventh (7th) Club in the Philippines. The Rotary Club of Dagupan was suspended during the onslaught of World War II. To liberate the Philippines from the Japanese occupation, Gen. Douglas Macarthur and his forces landed at the Bonuan Beach in Dagupan (Lingayen Gulf) in 1945. One of Gen. Macarthur's staff was Col. Danielson, a Past District Governor, of the Rotary Club of Russel, Kansas. When the American forces entered the town, Col. PDG Dale saw a Rotary Logo Marker and was delighted. He summoned for the members of the RC Dagupan and had informal meetings. He then pledged to have RC Dagupan be rechartered upon his return to the U.S. The Acting President then was Angel Fernandez. Pres. Angel sent the rechartering papers to the U.S. and true to PDG Dale's word, he personally followed-up the rechartering of the Rotary Club of Dagupan. The RC Dagupan was readmitted to RI on June 28, 1945, five (5) months after the informal meetings with the same Charter Members. The RC Dagupan has the “distinction of being the 1st Club to be rechartered in the whole of Asia after the World War II”. Worthwhile mentioning was the help extended by RI's Trust Fund of US 200.00 sent to RC Dagupan which was matched by PDG Dale Danielson. Since then on, the RC Dagupan was back to its feet. Since the Chartering and Re-Chartering of the RC Dagupan, the Club has been an all male Club. The Club has produced three (3) District Governors. Through the years, the Club has been consistently an outstanding performer having won District Awards such as Outstanding Club Award, Outstanding President Award, the 4 –Avenues of Service Awards, Most Outstanding Rotarian of the District, Most Outstanding Club Secretary of the District and Outstanding District Officer. The Club has been producing Rotarians who have been awarded as Outstanding Rotarian of the District. The Club has also been producing from its RANKS District Officers such as District Secretary, Assistant Governor, District Committee Chairs and the like. To date, the RC Dagupan is composed of 43-strong Professionals and Businessmen. The Club meets on Wednesdays at 7:30pm at the Lenox Hotel, Dagupan City, Philippines.
