Rotary Hour, graduations and getting involved

We have been very well hosted by the Rotarian's of District 3780 here in The Philippines.

One of our duties was to be interviewed as a team on UNTV for 'Rotary Hour' at their TV studios in Quezon City.

It was quite a nice experience I thought to see how a TV station actually works but then it hit home when sitting on set in front of the TV cameras and the interviewer / presenter appeared and introduced himself, why exactly I was there.

 

The minutes counted down and the programme began with a series of direct questions to any of us - why we were here, what we were doing and what we thought / knew of the Rotary. All in all it was not daunting and I felt pretty relaxed. Apparently our interview has already been aired although I have not seen the finished product (perhaps I was edited out !) but at the Rotary District Conference which we attend next week, we can see the programme and will get a DVD of it to play to everyone back home (I am sure you are awaiting with anticipation !).

On one of my vocation days, I visited a local school and attended a graduation ceremony. It is actually graduation season here and it is a tradition that all the pupils and their parents attend. The pupils looked beautiful dressed in their white gowns and hats. Rather like a University graduation but for young children at school. All politicians attend and a member of the Philippines Senate was present as well as local Councilors. 

I was asked to go on stage and help present the graduation certificates which I did. It was a very special moment for these kids and their parents and gave them a real sense of achievement which they can carry forward in their education. I couldn't help thinking, why do our schools not do this as well ? We can certainly learn some lessons and will be mentioning this when I get home.