Governor’s Summary Report
July-December 2008

Introduction

The first month of the biennium was generally spent officiating at installation of officers and induction of new members of the different clubs around the country. It was an opportune time for the governor to spell out her programs for the biennium. Focus is given to the two SIPR identifying projects, Adopt a Barangay and Adopt a PNP Women's & Children’s Desk. The Governor's thrusts this biennium fall under the categories of "Basic Education, Livelihood Training and Family Spacing." Clubs are requested to choose only one impact project to implement at this time.
On SIA programs, we are aiming for a hundred percent participation in programs, WOA, VRA and MADWA. Stop Trafficking of Women and Girls has been added as the new priority program of SIA, in conjunction with the UN Millennium Development Goal, "Empowerment of Women".

Computer Literacy among members is likewise encouraged, to enhance our communication capabilities. It is expected that by the end of this biennium, SIPR officers will have become computer literate. For SIPR to achieve its goals, fundraising has also been given top priority. The annual Dream Raffle has been elevated to the next level, with a brand new car, a Toyota Vios as the Grand Prize.

July, 2008

The first Board Meeting was held on July 31, to provide the District Directors an early insight into the plans and programs of the new biennium, enabling them to re-echo the same to the clubs under their supervision. A calendar of upcoming events was distributed to all DDs. The schedule of District Meetings was set. The annual budget was approved. Raffle tickets were distributed to the DDs for distribution in their districts. Appointments of Chairpersons of vital committees were announced. Special guests at the first board meeting held at our new offices at Globe Telecom Plaza included former governors, Tes Choa, Pery Arkoncel, Dolly Flores, Dulce Gozon and Letty Yap and the four Renaissance Chairpersons.

August, 2008

The Soroptimist Week was celebrated in August. Chairperson of the event was SIPR Secretary Fe Amor Ilagan with the able assistance of DD Flery Marcelo of Metro Manila Northwest District. Traditionally, SI Founder Manila spearheads this event, as Founder Mariquit Castelo chartered SI Greater Manila as the first Soroptimist Club in the Philippines. To spice up the week, a Bowling Tournament and an Amateur Singing Contest was held among club members.

From SIA, we have received two Disaster Relief Grants for SIPR and SI Kalibo, in the maximum amount of $20 thousand US dollars each. This is SIA's immediate response to our call for assistance for our women in the devastated provinces of Aklan and Romblon wrought by Typhoon Frank. SIPR established a similar fund campaign "Puso sa Puso" fund campaign, specifically earmarked for assisting any of our clubs who may be faced with a similar crisis situation in the future.

September, 2008

The 5th Policewomen National Summit jointly organized by the PNP, SIPR and Friends of the PNP was held in Bohol, September 11-13. It was a very successful event, with some 600 policewomen from all over the country in attendance. SIPR hopes to organize a Soroptimist Club in Bohol, as some members of academe and media have indicated their interest in joining the organization. This has been referred to Membership chair Myra Abubakar. It was also a time for getting to know the new officers of the PNP Hierarchy, headed by PNP Chief General Jesus Versoza.

Another landmark event this month is the creation of a new dynamic and informative SIPR website, www.soroptimistphil.org. Created by Bing Grande and Cherry Tumaneng, Public Awareness Chairperson, with the technical assistance of Sasha Villalva of AIM. Members may access forms, draw information, view sample programs/memorandum of agreement/understanding for their own clubs to replicate and gather fresh news from SIA and SIPR.

October, 2008

Our United Nations Forum was attended by more than 200 Soroptimists who commented that this year's celebration was a welcome change. We had interesting speakers, US Consul Cathy Ebert Grey, former Ambassador Rosalinda V. Tirona and Ligaya Domingo from an NGO in the United States. After the forum, members went home with more understanding of the SI/UN partnership focused towards the accomplishment of the UN millennium development goals, more particularly, the Empowerment of Women and the Elimination of Extreme Poverty. After the forum followed a parade of costume and the selection of a Miss United Nations. This was won by Pres. Nonette Cruz of SI Norzagaray.Central, garbed in a Mongolian costume, Jeannie Sandoval, Pres. of SI Malabon was chosen as Ms SIPR. Past President Lizabeth Lu of SI Paranaque chaired this event.

November 2008

On Stop Trafficking of Women and Girls
SIPR on November 26, entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) in its program to assist in the dissemination of information to those intending to work overseas, regarding the dangers of illegal recruiters. Posters on the subject have been distributed to all SI Clubs. POEA has likewise entered into a MOA with certain LGUs most especially those which have been identified as centers for illegal recruitment and human trafficking . POEA will begin with a "Training the Trainors" program open to all its partners. SIPR will send two representatives from each of its 13 districts for a weeklong training at POEA. The schedule of this seminar/workshop will be announced in late January. This MOA was facilitated through the efforts of President Lita Hizon of SI Manila Tourist Belt.

Breaking the Poverty Cycle
Livelihood Projects of SIPR are now labeled under the name "Breaking the Poverty Cycle"' based on SI Caloocan's award winning project of the same name. It was re-launched on November 5 in Silay City by SI Silay, co-sponsored by the first lady of Silay, Mrs. Marissa Montelibano, a Soroptimist herself. Professor Adelina Rangga of the Technological Institute of the Philippines trained some 40 women on the simple methods of cooking malunggay and other indigenous vegetables available in the area. As an added bonus, the women were given tips on how to start a small business using the new food technology they have learned.

MOU with the Philippine Army 51st Engineering Brigade/Sibuyan Parish
The province of Romblon is a beneficiary of a 20K USD SIA Disaster Relief grant given thru SIPR, intended to assist women victims of the recent typhoon Frank that devastated several provinces in the Philippines in June this year. SIPR, represented by Evelyn San Buenaventura of SI Makati, proponent of the project, went on an ocular inspection of the area in Sibuyan Island and contacted our point person, Fr. Joey of the Sibuyan parish church. SIPR has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with its partners, the 51st Engineering brigade of the Philippine Army, represented by General Jaime Buenaflor, who has agreed to build a multi purpose hall free of charge and the local parish church. The Soroptimist Hall to be utilized for training of women on livelihood skills will have been finished in early February. The building will be constructed on convent grounds. SIPR has an ongoing local disaster relief fund campaign, "Puso sa Puso" with similar intent as the SIA Disaster Relief Fund. Donations are accepted at the SIPR headquarters in Mandaluyong. For more information on this, please check out our website at www.soroptimistphil.org.

Adopt A Barangay
Public Awareness Chairperson, Cherry Tumaneng , has started with a new public awareness program in our adopted barangays launched in the Metro Manila Southeast District Meeting. The Campaign, intended to focus more attention to the Soroptimist Organization requests all club presidents to set up signs in their adopted Barangays "Luv ko, Barangay ko" and the name of the club, in front of their Barangay Halls. This awareness campaign is a way of informing the public, of the continuing projects being implemented by Soroptimists in their adopted Barangays. For more information on the official sign being disseminated, please contact SIPR Headquarters.

Logo Design Competition
To create further awareness of our Stop Trafficking Campaign, SIPR launched a logo design competition in early August among the different Soroptimist clubs, to adopt an official LOGO design for our campaign. On November 25, three well known artists, namely, Allan Cosio , Ivi Avellana Cosio and Edna de la Paz, selected the best design from among the different club entries. The winner was the design submitted by SI Rizal, 2ns place went to SI Nova Central and 3rd place went to SI Eastwood City. A cash prize of 10k was awarded to the winning club. The design will be used as the official logo of the Anti-Trafficking project, and will be used in all campaign paraphernalia such as T shirts, Bags, Vests, Cups etc. Bing Grande chairs this committee.

December, 2008

Human Rights are Women's Rights
SIPR sponsored a symposium on December 3, at the Architectural Center in Makati, with the authors of the Reproductive Health Bill, Congressman Edcel Lagman and Congresswoman Janette Garin as speakers. On the side of the oppositors, we had Bishop Teodoro Bacani and Former Senator Francisco Tatad. Copies of Reproductive Health Bill No 5043 were distributed to all those who attended the symposium. Congressman Lagman stated that the bill is not pro-abortion but rather emphasizes sex education for the young and aims to reduce the explosion of population among the marginalized and the impoverished families in the country. Congressman Lagman pointed out the salient provisions of the bill. Bishop Bacani spoke about the objections of the Catholic Church. Former Senator Kit Tatad harangued the audience to repudiate the bill as unconstitutional. After the symposium, SI Clubs may now adopt what is best for their adopted barangays in the area of Reproductive Health and women's rights.

Team Building Seminar
The Board of directors of SIPR along with some chairpersons of various vital committees and Renaissance Chairpersons motored to Lobo, Batangas for a team building seminar conducted by Ancilla Enterprise Development Consulting. We were provided complimentary accommodations by Mr. Mario Guanzon of Bacolod, in his beachfront residences in Lobo. The seminar workshop is in line with the biennium's theme of "Building Teams to Live Our Dreams". It is SIPR's hope that the Board and the various chairpersons may be able to work better in peace and harmonious coordination in the months ahead. The following day Dec. 5 was the SIPR Board Meeting, the second for the year.

SIPR/SIPRF Merger
Proceeding with the implementation of the merger of the SIPR Foundation and SIPR, the Board has approved the new bylaws of the surviving organization which is "Soroptimist International of the Philippines Region,(A Foundation)". PG Dolly Flores, initiator of the merger, and Laws and Resolution Chairperson Maripaz Tagle Chua, presented the bylaws to the SIPR Board and refined the same, upon recommendation of some members of the Board.PFD Gladys Tiongco is the 3rd member of the Task Force on the merger. A mail ballot will be sent to all presidents who will be asked to vote on the new bylaws before its submission to the Securities and Exchange Commission. After the membership ratification of the new bylaws, we will proceed with the appointment of a Fund Development Council Chairperson who shall automatically be a member of the Board, with voting rights.

A Triple Treat
The Grand Draw of the Dream Raffle held on Dec. 9 at the Philippine Columbian Clubhouse was an exciting and successful event. Congratulations to the Chairperson, Conchita de la Cruz, who did such a fantastic job. The five tambiolos and the use of pingpong balls showed the transparency of the draw. Region officers and former SIPR governors drew the numbers. SIPR Treasurer Marisol Tugade donated a special prize, a Hongkong package tour for two which was won by SI Zamboanga. Agnes Paynor of SI Antipolo won the first prize, a brand new Toyota Vios. A complete list of winners of the many consolation prizes will be sent to all club Presidents and District Directors. Still at the Philippine Columbian, Dec. 9, the Soroptimist Search for Talent featured a Vocal Solo competition and a Group Dance Competition. Vocalist Olive Jacoba of SI Metro Cabanatuan and Ethel Baroga of SI San Jose del Monte II shared first prize honors. Evelyn PimenteI of SI Malabon provided an entertainment number. In the Choral Group competition, SI San Jose del Monte II was the lone competitor. Their number (Sister Act) complete with authentic nuns' costumes brought the house down. In the choreographed dances, the Spanish Dancers from SI Bocaue, the Thais of SI Sta. Maria, and the Hawaiians from SI Metro Cabanatuan won first, second and third prizes respectively. The winners were awarded cash prizes and baskets of fruits. The SIPR Christmas Party was held in conjunction with both events. Kudos to Chairperson of this event, PP Ampy Araullo of SI Founder Manila.

I wish to thank all our Soroptimist Clubs for wholeheartedly supporting our programs during the past six months. I couldn't have asked for more. Let us give thanks to the Lord for His blessings In the midst of these activities, let us not lose track of our mission to improve the lives of women and girls in our communities.

Here’s wishing you all a Peaceful and bountiful New Year!

Sincerely yours,