Having been chartered by Rotary International last May 07, 1971 in Iloilo City after being organized by the Rotary Club of Iloilo (a.k.a. The organizational planning and final endorsement were spearheaded by then Past District Governor Atty. Ignacio "Nene" Mapa-Salazar (the 1st ever District Governor from Western Visayas Region for Rotary International District 3850) together with then Governor-el
ect Paking de la Cruz. They proposed to the Rotary International the organization of another separate Rotary Club comprising the southern territory of Iloilo. Such proposal was met with enthusiansm by qualified prospect members. Exploratory meeting were made and finally, in April 1971, an organizational meeting was held at the residence of Past District Governor Ignacio "Nene" M. Salazar. At that meeting, the 1st officers and members of the Board of Directors were elected. Thus, the Rotary Club of Iloilo South was born effectively making it the 2nd Rotary Club to be organized in Iloilo City, Philippines. On April 16, 1971, the Rotary Club of Iloilo South held its first weekly meeting as a provisional Club and continued to meet regularly every week until May 7, 1971 when Rotary International transmitted the Charter as its official recognition to the Club. CHARTER OFFICERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS (as of May 7, 1971):
Charter President - Dr. Angel "Angie" de Leon
Charter Vice-President - Emilio "Toto" de la Cruz
Charter Secretary - Judge Vicente "Etek" Gengos, Sr. Charter Treasurer - Romeo "Roming" Villavicencio
Charter Sgt.-at-Arms - Dr. Salvador "Badong" Salas
Charter Board of Directors:
Fr. Jose Alba
Arturo "Kid" J. Salazar
Judge Cornelio Lazaro
Jose Locsin
Domingo Trompeta
CHARTER MEMBERS:
Fr. Jose “Father” Alba
Feliciano “Felicing” Almalvez
Mariano “Nito” E. Cacho, Jr. Emilio “Toto” de la Cruz II
Eugenio “Ening” Dichupa
Robert “Bobby” Garcia, Jr. Judge Vicente “Etek” Gengos, Sr. Antonio “Tony” G. Hechanova
Daniel “Dan” Justiniani
Alfonso“Bronco” Lagman
Rafael “Rafa” Lalana
Judge Cornelio “Coning” Lazaro
Jose “Oting” Locsin, Jr. George “Father George” Monteclaro
Dr. Ernesto “Erning” A. Rivera
Dr. Angel “Angie” de Leon
Engr. Ricardo “Carding” Salas
Dr. Salvador “Badong” Salas
Arturo “Kid” J. Salazar
Dr. Francisco “Esco” Tirol
Leandro “Danding” Torres
Domingo “Badal” Trompeta
Concordia “Cards” Villanueva
Romeo “Roming” Villavicencio
On its 1st year, Past District Governor Angel De Leon (who was not yet a District Governor then) led the new breed of Rotarians and Rotary Anns selected from among the best in the different professions and businesses. The first venue was the Ledesma Hotel (now the River Queen Hotel). The City was taken a back every Friday noon by a group of gregarious, fun-loving guys whose laughter can be heard all over and whose regular weekly meeting lasted late into the afternoon, evenings and stretched sometimes until the next day. These weekly meetings provided the perfect oppurtunity for these serious minded and service oriented people to unwind relax and forget, even if only for a while, the tensions and pressures of daily work and at the same time map out projects in service to the community and the people, most specifically the less fortunate and down trodden. The 70's was the coming out party for the Club. More so with the construction of the Rotary Amphitheater during the incumbency of Past President Antonio "Tony" Hechnova, at the Provincial Capitol Grounds that has become a City Landmark. Also, the Club organized and sponsored the creation & Charter of the Rotary Club of Antique, the Rotary Club of Iloilo City and the Rotary Club of Metro Iloilo, inorder to propagate the ideals of Rotary and motto of "SERVICE ABOVE SELF, he Profits most who Serves Best." The 1980's marked a shift in the focus of service as Club members transcended the confines and comforts of meetings and fellowship as they plunged into public service with the election of and appointments into public office of several of its members. The Four Way Test Oratorical Contest was conceived, providing an avenue for the oratorical skills of high school students in the City and Province of Iloilo. This project is still being held every year. And 13 years ago, in cooperation with its sister club, the Rotary Club of Bacolod South and the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, the Annual Academic Excellence Contest was undertaken to encourage friendly academic competition among students in the Primary Level (Grades 1 to 4), Intermediate Level (Grades 5 to 6) and Secondary Level (1st to 4th Year H.S.) in the Region. This is apart from the various medical and dental missions and the memorandum of agreement with the National Police, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Bantay Bata 163 to render a joint medical and legal assistance. The Club achieved a milestone when it marked its 25th Year Charter Anniversary in 1995, celebrating long and fruitful years of service and taking its rightful place in the affairs of the City and the Province. Furthermore, the Club again organized the creation & Charter of the Rotary Club of Maig-ao, Iloilo. In sharing the ideals of Rotary International to our Ilonggo Youth, our Club for the 1st time organized and sponsored the Rotaract Club of Iloilo South last Rotary Year 2009-2010. This internationally recognized youth club whose membership are between ages 18 to 29 yrs. old (mix student and young professionals) is presently doing its share in improving the community as well as improving the plight of the less previledged and touch their lives. This Rotary Year 2010-2011 is the 40th Year of the Club's existence. With its 1st ever Lady President Dialita "Dial" Jardeleza leading the way, may we continue to do more to advance the ROTARY ideals and motto - "SERVICE ABOVE SELF....He Profits Most Who Serves Best". :)
NOTE: Information were sourced out from the 25th Induction of Officers & Directors Souvenir Program (August 11, 1995) and the 40th Induction of Officers & Directors Souvenir Program (June 26, 2010). This FACEBOOK Account was specifically created inorder to reach out Internationally and Domestically to our members, past members (alumni) relatives of members & past members, friends and individuals as well as institutions who have more or less the same ideals as our organization. May we enumerate the following active Rotary Clubs who were sponsored/organized by the Rotary Club of Iloilo South:
1.) The Rotary Club of Antique
2.) The Rotary Club of Iloilo City
3.) The Rotary Club of Metro Iloilo
4.) The Rotary Club of Miag-ao Iloilo
This FACEBOOK Account was created thru the efforts of then VP Ernesto "Ernie" Salazar-Rivera, Jr. per request of then President Dialita "Dial" Jardeleza (now IPP/ADG/Sec.) & PP Fernando "Fred" Chua. Rotarian VP Ernie Rivera, Jr. later became the President of the Rotary Club of Iloilo South for Rotary Year 2011-2012.
