They are known for enriching the lives of poor children, now they help build a more livable community for all.
The Kiwanis Clubs of Hundred Islands and Alaminos City and the Kiwanis Philippine Luzon District has joined the city-wide movement for a cleaner and greener Alaminos when it entered into a memorandum of agreement on Friday night with the city government.
City Administrator Wilmer S. Panabang representing Mayor Hernani A. Braganza, Engr. Fausto Lopez and Eliberto de Torres, Charter Presidents of KC-Hundred Islands and KC-Alaminos City, respectively, District Governor Maribel Garcia and officials of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office led the MOA signing as one of the highlights of the chartering and induction of Kiwanis Club of Alaminos City (KC-AC) held at the Don Leopoldo Sison Auditorium.
The MOA is focused on the sustainable roadside tree planting initiative in the city’s gateway barangays of Cabatuan and San Vicente and the development, management and protection of 1 hectare mangrove plantation at the lush green Sabangan Mangrove Park.
Dr. Juan F. Torres, Jr., the Guest of Honor and Speaker, and district governors and presidents from various clubs in Metro Manila and North Central Luzon witnessed the historic undertaking.
Past presidents and current officers of Hafa Adai Kiwanis Club of Guam (HAKCHG) headed by President Elwin Champaco Quitano also graced the activity.
They were here not just to personally embrace their brothers and sisters who vowed to be of service to the children and the youth but more importantly, to cement its Sisterhood Club Agreement with KC-Hundred Islands.
Mayor Braganza, in his message conveyed through the City Administrator, stressed that the said partnership agreement “augurs well for Alaminos seeking to become a global, green city in the next 5-10 years.”
“We are grateful with this alliance that emphasizes on reversing the trend of deteriorating air quality, depletion of water supply and exhaustion of marine reserves,” added Braganza.
The Mayor even cited the club’s the major contributions to the city which Panabang had numerated that drew cheers from the Kiwanian community.
This include its active participation in 2007 Hundred Islands Global Homecoming, the year-round tree planting project of the city as well as the Christmas Tree fund raiser for the benefit of impoverished children here and for sending relief goods to typhoon victim in Bicol region last year.
Braganza also relayed his warm felicitations to the KC- Hundred Islands for its offspring-Kiwanis Club of Alaminos City and the latter for accepting the challenge of making a difference to the lives of children all over the world.
Dr. Torres, past Kiwanis International President, on his part said that Kiwanis it is a way of life and is very contagious as evidenced by the chartering of KC-AC.
“In Kiwanis, the task of doing good never ends,” he added.
The first Asian president of this global organization then challenged his fellow Kiwanians to be always a good soldier and to share all the good things that God had given us.
Dr. Torres also lauded the forging of sisterhood relationship between KCHI and KCHAHG) which he said only went to show that Kiwanis knows no boundaries.
Earlier, the whole day activity started with an early morning thanks giving mass at St. Joseph Cathedral Parish. A supplemental feeding and distribution of gifts to some needy children was also conducted in Barangay Amandiego.
In the afternoon, the marker of the KC-Alaminos City was blessed and unveiled at the Barangay Cabatuan.
A motorcade followed shortly at the city’s central business district and to the Lucap wharf, the jump-off point to the majestic Hundred Islands National Park (HINP).
The officers and members of the Kiwanis Clubs of Hundred Islands and Alaminos City planted mangrove propagules at the shores of barangay Sabangan as part of the adopt-a-mangrove project.
Together with their guests, they had an eco-adventure tour at the Hundred Island