Last week, our Club, together with some American eye specialists from the Duke Eye Center of Duke University of North Carolina, USA, and the Phil. Academy of Ophthalmology - Western Visayas Chapter, headed by Dra. Karen Francia, held a medical mission at the Iloilo Doctors Hospital, with its main beneficiaries, our Aeta brethren (Atis) from the Provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras.  Three hundred and eight (308) Atis benefited from the said medical mission by way of free thorough eye examination, lecture on proper eye care, free medicine and free eye glasses. Getting involved in this worthy project is an enriching experience. The American eye doctors got to see first hand the sad plight of our Ati community and were touched.  The Atis doesn’t have the means for a decent eye examination, long neglected by our government and disregarded by society because of the color of their skin and cultural differences. We gratefully commend the Americans doctors for their selfless act of service in our country.

Equally laudable too, are our local eye specialists who took a break from their busy schedules and forego three days of lucrative practice just to advance their advocacy of Sight Preservation. It's their way of fulfilling their social responsibilities, best exemplifying our Rotarian Motto "Service above Self". The Atis will have a very bright future ahead of them, literally and figuratively speaking. (They can see better now with their improved eyesight and eye glasses.) I would like to see more projects like these because we know that out there, many of our helpless brothers and sisters need our resources. I would like to commend our ever competent Director Paul Francia for facilitating this noble project. Rotary Club of Metro Iloilo is very proud to be a part of it!

Last weekend, during the on-going Inter Rotary Club Sports Fest, our Table Tennis team garnered the championship in both the doubles and singles events. Congratulations to Dir. Tony Kon and PP Chris Montero for winning the doubles championship and also to Dir. Don and Rtn Tom Lim for taking the third place. For the singles event, we swept the 1st, 2nd and 3rd honors. PP Chris is the champion, Dir. Tony Kon, 2nd and Rtn. Tom Lim, 3rd Place. Congratulations!