A learning journey of a thousand steps begins with a single click in THE DOVE. Official e-Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Holy Spirit
The Dove December 13, 2021
Rotary Club of Holy Spirit Club No. 69935 RI District 3780 Philippines
Vol. XIV No. 7
Rotary and partners completed 3-month nutrition program to save lives of 200 malnourished children of needy parents being served by the community kitchen of Fr Alex MGL On November 25, 2021, RCHS turned over eight (8) cases of powdered milk to Fr Alex Nolasco MGL for 200 malnourished children enrolled in the 3-month nutrition program. This fulfills the club’s commitment to provide the milk component of the feeding program that officially ended last November 27, 2021.
Nov 25, 2021. Holy Spirit leaders led by LCP Jl Torre, PE Joy Peralta, PP Marcia and Rtn Joey Peralta posed for remembrance photo with Fr Alex and 20 of the mothers of beneficiary kids.
The eight (8) cases were sponsored by PP Angel Castro (1 case), PP Ped Condeno (1 case), PP Linda Palattao (1 case) PP Dr Bong (1 case), Mrs Gloria Demetillo and daughter Anna (2 cases) and Ms Leila Muňoz (2 cases). Earlier on November 4, 2021, RCHS turned over six (6) cases of powdered milk to Fr Alex. These were sponsored by: PP Angel (2 cases), PP Peth Rivera (1 case), Ms Olive Zoluaga (2 cases), and Drs Benjie & Marivic Reyes of BF Homes (1 case). During the November 25, 2021 event, Fr Alex organized a short program where 20 mothers of the children enrolled in the nutrition program were present. A number of mothera talked about how the community kitchen organized by Fr Alex that covered the nutrition program for undernourished children had greatly benefited their families. One mother said that the program
taught their children to have discipline in their eating habits – that they should be eating healthy food at the proper time. Another mother also appreciated the fact that the community kitchen helped her and the others develop the spirit of bayanihan and togetherness in feeding their families, particularly when cooking and distributing the meals. All were thankful for the milk donations as their children have become healthier. In their feedback last October, the volunteers serving in the program reported that 90% of the enrolled kids showed an increase in weight. During the program, over 100 thank-you letters were handed over to Pres JL Torre, PE Joy Peralta, Rtn Joey Peralta and PP Marcia. All in all, RCHS has turned over 1,420 packs of powdered milk for the nutrition program, with each pack good for 10
days of consumption by a child. Majority of RCHS members have contributed to the success of the program, either by personally contributing or soliciting milk sponsors. Total value of the milk turned over is about P107,000.
In behalf of the 200 beneficiary children and their parents, we convey appreciation for their benevolence and kindness to the sponsors & donors, to Rotary, to project volunteers from the community, and to Fr Alex Nolasco MGL who championed this exemplary humanitarian undertaking.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all !!
Remembrance photos of the 3-month nutrition program for 200 malnourished kids.
Parents expressed their appreciation for and lessons learned from the 3-month Nutrition Program and community kitchen. Nov 25, 2021
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Holy Spirit launches innovative free legal aid service to advice underprivileged members of the community involved in legal issues On November 23, 2021, RC Holy Spirit launched “Isangguni Kay Atorni” , a project to provide free legal assistance to indigent litigants who reside in Barangay Holy Spirit. It is a project initiative of the Peace & Conflict Resolution Committee chaired by Rtn Ed Valbuena, a chief city prosecutor, assisted by three (3) other lawyers who are RCHS members, namely Pres JL Torre, CP Nides Respicio and Rtn Doe Dequiňa. The project was planned in collaboration with St Benedict Parish. The first case, referred by Parish Priest Fr Rey Tano, involved a man who had been accused of attempted homicide. On November
23, 2021, Chair Ed spoke to the litigant lengthily on the phone to get full details on the case which has already been brought to the fiscal’s office. PP Marcia Salvador who previously contacted the litigant for initial information received copies of pertinent documents for study by Chair Ed and the committee.
has fully supported. It was a case of serious physical injuries that is presently being heard at the Lupong Pangkapayapaan of Barangay Holy Spirit. Pres JL gave some advice on what the litigant could possibly do to peacefully resolve the case.
On November 25, 2021, Pres JL was consulted by a beneficiary of the nutrition program which RCHS
First case: Over a smartphone, Barangay resident described to chair Atty Ed Valbuena the particulars of the legal challenge he was facing. PP Marcia observed the discussion.
2nd case: In person, LCP Atty Jl Torre heard the story from the spouse of a resident facing a legal complaint at the Barangay. 3
Careseekers and youth volunteers receive a surprise special treat from Rotarian birthday celebrant On November 21, 2021, notwithstanding the light rain, RCHS treated 28 careseekers from the depressed Isidora area in Barangay Holy Spirit to a surprise special meal courtesy of birthday celebrant PP Beth Sy who wanted to spend the day with children who have a special place in her heart.
The children, accompanied by their guardians, were given a spaghetti & chicken pack, chocolate drink and backpack. Distribution was done at the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart chapel. PP Beth prepared 40 packs. The rest went to the youth volunteers of OLSH. On hand to help were
PP Angel Castro, Rtn Jerry Sy, RCHS Associate Grace Cabading and two of PP Beth’s friends.
Best wishes on your special day, PP Beth.
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As part of club’s continuing SOS (Save our Saviors) Program for front-liners, PP JR Delgra celebrated his birthday by donating supply of Vitamin C and handing over protective items for volunteers at Covid installations and by sharing meal with staff at Red Cross office. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PP JR Delgra.
Launched last year Oplan SOS (Saving Our Saviors) remains a priority project of RCHS to safeguard the health and safety of volunteers at the forefront of the fight against COVID. On November 19, 2021, RCHS led by Life Changing Pres JL Torre turned over to the Philippine Red Cross – Quezon City Chapter bottles of Vitamin C with Zinc good for three (3) months for each of over
80 Red Cross volunteers deployed at COVID recovery facilities in Ateneo and UP. Also donated were eighteen (18) boxes of surgical masks. The donations were received by PNRC QC OIC Janice D Adolfo RN. The vitamin supplements were donated by PP JR Delgra while the masks came from Rtn Suzette Yu. Present during the
Sumptuous food was shared with Red Cross office staff
turnover were PP JR, PP Linda Palattao, PP Beth Sy, Rtn Suzette and Rtn Jerry Sy. The front-liners and staff of Red Cross were also treated to a sumptuous meal courtesy of PP Linda and Pepeton’s, in celebration of PP JR’s birthday as well as the partnership of RCHS and Red Cross QC for many years.
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President-elect Joy Peralta completes Club President’s Course in preparation for RY 2022-23. Congratulations and Best Wishes, PE Joy ! RC Holy Spirit President-elect Josephine “Joy” Peralta has successfully completed the requirements of the Club President’s Course.
held at the Brewing Point. The course was conducted by the Center for Leadership of the Rotary Center Foundation
She received the Certificate of Completion at graduation ceremonies on November 20, 2021
Class Picture Club Presidents of Rotary International District 3780 RY 2022-23
PE Joy Peralta with DGE Florian Enriquez 6
Interactors of Holy Spirit National High School received the official visit of the District Interact Representative and presented their plans and projects By Faculty Adviser Ma’am Elizabeth Auxillo, HOLY SPIRIT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL The District Interact Representative Visit of Interact Club of Holy Spirit National High School was held via Google Meet last November 14, 2021 at 2:00 – 3:00 in the afternoon. The virtual event was attended by DIR Juliana Rose Galiza, District Interact Vice-Chairman Ricardo Bugayong, District Interact Adviser PP Marcia Salvador, RCHS LCP John Lerrie Torre, RCHS YSC PP Alberto Sevilla and AP Head Teacher Mrs. Gina Cristobal of HSNHSl. The IAC of Fortune High School LCP Ella Delos Santos and their Adviser Ma’am Anna Palma were also present to show their support. The IAC of Fortune High School (sponsored by RC Marikina North D3800) is the newly-established Sister Club of IaC HSNHS. The program proper started with the Call to Order by LCP Krisha Gayle Basay, followed by an AVP of Nationalistic Song, the Prayer and the Four Way Test, which was recited by Vice President Allan Joseph Santos. The guests were warmly greeted and welcomed by Mrs. Gina
Cristobal. LCP John Lerrie Torre gave his inspirational message after the presentation of Club Officers and Members. The guests were entertained by Rain Joshua Lee David through his lively dance performance. Interact Club Officers headed by LCP Krisha Gayle Basay presented their proposed projects and ongoing projects to the DIR, covering Rotary’s 7 Areas of Focus. The projects under Supporting Education are Vocabulary Log, Peer Tutoring, ACAD-Guide, Web Basics, Tulanggalian, and Teen-D.E.R. Under Maternal and Child Health the projects are Toys R Urs, and STRCTY. On Promoting Peace, the projects are Interconnect, BVQ, Positivity Poster, and Tiktoractors. The projects under Providing Clean Water, Sanitation and Hygiene are C.C (Consume and Contribution) and A Pleasure of Giving Hope. On Fighting Disease, the projects is the GC MODE (General Cleaning Mode. While for the Growing Local Economies and Supporting the Environment the projects are RUG?, Trade–In-One, Halaman at Gulayan sa Tahanan 2.0, CO-MEOW-NITY PAW-NTRY and Greenvember. The Interactors also came up with fund raising projects to finance some of their pro-
jects like the DIgiCarol and the Trade-InOne. The Interact Club also presented their International Service program which is the Sisterhood Agreement between IaC HSNHS and IaC Fortune High School from District 3800. The main objectives of the Sisterhood Agreement are to develop and to promote friendship and understanding, and to undertake joint service projects for the benefit of the community in either district.
DIR Juliana Rose Galiza, District Interact Vice-Chairman Ricardo Bugayong and District Interact Adviser Marcia Salvador gave their comments and suggestions after the presentation of the projects. They also congratulated the Club for their well thought-out projects and a very good presentation. LCP Krisha Basay delivered her Closing Remarks and thanked all the guests for attending the event. The program was hosted by VicePresident Allan Joseph Santos and International Understanding Committee Chair Xyandrione Dioniso.
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Sister club relations between Holy Spirit D3780 and Marikina North D3800 are fortified with affiliation of respective Interact partners - breakthrough development RC Holy Spirit D3780 and RC Marikina North D3800 have long been affiliated as sister clubs since February 18, 2010. (THE DOVE March 4, 2010 VOL.II No. 27). The affiliation agreement was signed by then Pres. Linda Palattao of RCHS and Pres. Raul Catapang of RCMN. The ceremony was witnessed for RCHS by PDG Danny Fausto and Bgy. Chair Rtn. Neneng Valmocina in the presence of club officers and members. To further strengthen this partnership, both clubs agreed to extend this relationship to their respective Interact clubs to promote friendship and mutual understanding between the two youth groups early in their Rotary life.
To this end, a virtual meeting was organized by PP Marcia Salvador on November 13, 2021 for a greetand-meet between the Interact Club of Holy Spirit National High School and the Interact Club of Fortune High School sponsored by RC Marikina North D3800. Present were IAC HSNHS President Krisha Gayle Basay, Interact Adviser Ma’am Beth Auxillo, LCP JL Torre, Youth Service Chair Abet Sevilla, and District Interact adviser PP Marcia. LCPJerome Mangubat of RC Marikina North D3800, IAC FHS President Ella delos Santos, and Interact Adviser Ma’am Ann Pama were also present. Interact officers of both clubs also joined. It was a good meeting,
with the two youth club representatives starting to get to know each other. The Interactors of IAC FHS have been invited to the upcoming Forum on HIV-Aids Awareness and Prevention on November 30, 2021. Since then, the Interact presidents and advisers have been communicating with each other and discussing plans to do a project together. A Sister Club Affiliation Agreement has been prepared and sent to Pres Jerome of RCMN who approved it. The Agreement will be signed by the two Faculty Advisers of the Interact clubs and the Presidents of the sponsoring Rotary clubs, and shall remain in force for three (3) years.
Officers of IAC Holy Spirit National High School for information of leaders of IAC Fortune High School Interact Club of Holy Spirit National High School OFFICERS FOR RY 2021-22 President Vice President Secretary Secretary-Elect Treasurer
Krisha Gayle Basay Allan Santos Althea Donato Cyril Mationg Cristille Almojuela
Membership Committee Fretzelindy Reytiran Club Administration Lea Lumberio International Understanding Xyandrione Dionisio Community Service Lawrence Ballesteros Service Projects Jannah Cristobal Finance Maximillan Tusi Grade 11 Chairman Coby Giray Grade 10 Chairman Anne Revamontan Grade 9 Chairman Ryeishi Deuna Grade 8 Chairman Shayne Catabay Grade 7 Chairman James Giray Adviser
Ma’am Elizabeth Auxillo
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Presidential message Shekhar Mehta ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
President 2021-22 December 2021
Public health is on everyone’s mind due to the global pandemic that still threatens the safety of ourselves and our loved ones. In a sense, COVID-19 has made all of us much more aware of the roles and responsibilities of medical professionals than we were before we had to wear masks and maintain social distance. In addition, while moving through this pandemic, we have also learned about the role we can play in keeping others safe. December is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month in Rotary. The pandemic unfortunately has schooled most people on the toll that disease takes on our communities. But fighting disease is something that Rotarians around the world have been doing for decades. In fact, it is one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus. As Rotarians, we believe that good health and well-being is a human right — even though 400 million people across the globe do not have access to essential health services. The work we do in establishing clinics, eye hospitals, and blood banks, as well as in building infrastructure for medical facilities in underserved communities, all returns to a central belief that access, prevention, and education are the keys to stopping deadly outbreaks that harm the most vulnerable. My exposure to health work began with my Rotary club, Calcutta-Mahanagar. There, among other things, I helped pioneer a program called Saving Little Hearts that over the years has provided more than 2,500 free heart surgeries for children from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Africa. Before the pro-
gram went international, it started locally with the goal of performing just six surgeries within our community. Today, our goal is to complete another 20,000 surgeries over the next five years. The world relies on Rotary to tackle challenges like these and to set an example for others. Over the past decade, medical professionals and government workers have provided free health services to 2.5 million people in 10 countries during Family Health Days, which are organized by Rotarians around the world. Similar health camps in India also provide thousands of surgeries to those in need. Medical missions from India to Africa each year are an excellent example of handson service in disease prevention and treatment. Rotary members can also get involved at a local level; clubs in the United States and Mexico, for example, fund a free health clinic in Guerrero, a small town in Mexico. And of course, our effort to eradicate polio is by far the best story in civil-society health care. This month, think about how your club can focus on preventing and fighting disease. This is the time to take a bigger, better, bolder approach through both club and district projects that can impact more people. Re-evaluate where you are with your goals. Create strategies that can sustain change over years, not months. Everyone deserves a long, healthy life. When you Serve to Change Lives, your actions today can help extend the lives of others.
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From GSE to leadership, my journey into Rotary SERVICE ABOVE SELF
ROTARY VOICES Posted by Rotary International on November 26, 2021
The Four-Way Test OF THE THINGS we think, say or do
1) Is it the TRUTH? 2) Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3) Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Rotarian’s Pledge I am a Rotarian I will always uphold the TRUTH. I am a Rotarian I will always strive to be FAIR in all of my dealings with my fellowmen. I am a Rotarian I will always endeavor to build GOODWILL and UNDERSTANDING in my community, among my countrymen and people of all nations. I am a Rotarian I will always seek to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of people in the spirit of ROTARY SERVICE. I am a Rotarian I will always uphold the Rotary International Motto, SERVICE ABOVE SELF.
Rotarian Code of Conduct As a Rotarian, I will 1) Act with integrity and high ethical standards in my personal and professional life 2) Deal fairly with others and treat them and their occupations with respect 3) Use my professional skills through Rotary to mentor young people, help those with special needs, and improve people’s quality of life in my community and in the world 4) Avoid behaviour that reflects adversely on Rotary or other Rotarians
Vivek Khandelwal (left) and the 2009 Group Study Exchange team to Switzerland.
By Vivek Khandelwal In 2008, I happened to see a newspaper ad promoting Group Study Exchange through Rotary. Intrigued, I applied for the program never suspecting the many ways this simple action would impact my life. Dharmendra Gangrade, a Rotary member who had previously taken part in a Group Study Exchange, oversaw training me and other applicants. The path forward was full of twists and turns, but after a year as an alternate, I was selected for a trip to Switzerland the following year. I experienced many different aspects of my trade as a retail professional in Switzerland. Our team leader did everything he could to enhance our experience and allow us to gain new insights. The affection and kindness that I received from our host families spoke volumes about the program. I was amazed by every single aspect from the level of training that went into it to all the different presentations we gave and received at clubs both before and after. The generosity of Rotary to offer this level of professional development to non-members astounded me. Not long after, with all these experiences still fresh in my mind, I received an invitation from the Rotary club that hosted my exchange to join their club. The decision was easy – I wanted to give back in any way I could. But in
reality, I have always received as much as I have given or more. I later had a chance to get involved with another club that spun off of that club as charter secretary and eventually president. I now serve the Rotary Club of Deonar in District 3141 as director of public relations working together with club leaders, something I truly enjoy. I write on a variety of topics and maintain a monthly blog that keeps our community and members informed. I have also had the good fortune to visit RI World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, and meet the amazing people who provide support to clubs and districts. What has kept me in Rotary these many years is the level of engagement that I am able to have with like-minded people who enable me to take part in truly amazing projects. I completely agree with RI President Shekhar Mehta, who has said that the rent we pay to stay on planet earth is the service we provide to our community. I am a Rotary member for life because of the opportunity it provides me to continue impacting the world in meaningful, fun, and engaging ways. What about you? What inspired you to join and what is keeping you in Rotary? 10
Video spotlights preserve history, connect members Posted on November 22, 2021
they’ve known for years. We’ve conducted four of these interviews, and plan to do many more. While we set out to keep people connected in a virtual environment, we soon realized the project was also capturing our history and legacy, reminding us of our roots and preserving stories before they are lost. We also share them on social media, where they can attract younger generations who use social media frequently to stay connected and learn about their world. Lancaster Noon Rotary Club President-elect Jamie Culver interviews The pandemic has changed Christine Collins for one of the member spotlights the way we meet and do business. These video interBy Laura Tussing, Rotary Club longest tenured Rotary members views keep us connected and for 15-minute video vignettes that teach us things about each other. of Lancaster, Ohio allow them to tell their stories, re- They will not replace the need for What can you do when a global counting the early years of their regular gatherings, but they have pandemic shuts down interna- careers and how their club experi- opened our eyes to new possibilitional and regional travel, the ence has changed over the years. ties through technology. ability to visit your favorite res- These “Senior Member Spotlights” taurants, or even the ability to solved an immediate need to pro- It’s been a win for all, young and old. attend your regular Rotary club vide programming for our switch to virtual meetings. But they have meeting? also been a huge hit with our Listen to select blog members, particularly newer Two members of our club members who are learning things posts on our came up with an ingenious they did not know about the club new Rotary Voices podanswer that has engaged and their fellow members. Even cast our members and captured some long-time members are the attention of new mem- learning new things about people
bers. Matt Wideman, immediate past president, and Jamie Culver, presidentelect, felt that profiling long -time members with a video interview would be the perfect solution to keep members connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jamie interviewed some of our 11
Rotary projects around the globe November 2021
by Brad Webber
CANADA Three clubs — Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact — collaborated on a cookbook project organized by the Rotary Club of Haliburton, Ontario. Ursula Devolin, the club’s New Generations chair, thought about what members could do during a pandemic: “Everybody’s been cooking through COVID-19, and it seemed to me it would be nice to have a community cook-
UNITED STATES When Judy Gross saw an online ad from someone seeking help with yardwork, members of her Rotary Club of Central Ocean Toms River, New Jersey, were ready to step up. In the ad, local resident Coreen Onnembo-DiLea explained that she was having a hard time keeping up with a garden that brings joy to her 99-year-old father, Achille
SERBIA
and members of the Rotaract Club of Haliburton Highlands illustrated and designed the spiral-bound book; members of all three clubs collected the 84 recipes inside.
book.” Interactors from Haliburton Highlands Secondary School
Book and ad sales generated about $2,800 for the Mahatma Gandhi Sishu Siksha Sadan school near Kolkata, India, which the Rotary club has supported for about 15 years.
“Acky” Onnembo, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who served in the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944. On a Saturday morning in April, six club members showed up with shovels, mulch, flowers, and stones. “Little did I know I’d hear from a team of superhumans that would handle the entire project,” OnnemboDiLea wrote in a letter to the club.
The Rotaract Club of Belgrade Čukarica spotlights men’s health with dramatic flair.
proach to serious matters such as suicide and prostate and testicular cancers.
For several years, the club has staged a play as part of the “Movember” global initiative — “m” is for “mustache” — which has funded more than 1,250 health projects. Penned and directed by doctor and former club member Emilija Ivančajić, the play, Men and Other Problems, adopts a lighthearted ap-
The event went on hiatus because of COVID-19, but the 2019 production drew an audience of some 300 people. “All club members act in the play, with special guests from other Rotaract clubs in District 2483,” says Kristina Zejak, the club’s immediate past president. 12
Rotary projects around the globe . . . TANZANIA For girls in the developing world, a lack of safe transportation can be a barrier to education. At the Ndevelwa Secondary School outside Tabora, Tanzania, for instance, “typically only the boys had the benefit of bikes to help with the journey,” says Elizabeth Demichelis, a member of the Rotary Club of Modesto Sunrise, California. “Thus the concept of pink bikes was born.” The Modesto Sunrise club, with help from the local Rotary Club of Arusha, arranged for the bicycles to be made available to girls; the conspicuous color
NEPAL Long after a vocational training team helped Nepali schoolteachers make the most of their Rotary-funded library and computer lab, the initiative continues to pay dividends. “The resource center is helping to manage online classes in this pandemic time, even in the rural areas of Nepal,” says Rabindra Thapa, a member of the Rotary Club of Kathmandu North, which joined the Rotary Club of Stowe, Vermont, in the global grantsupported project at the Shree Ram Secondary
is a theft deterrent. The girls, their families, and the head of school signed contracts deSchool in Koshidekha. Carolyn Holcombe Damp, a past volunteer at the school, enlisted her partner, Larry Heath of the Stowe club; her sister, Joan Holcombe; and Didi Kearsley — all retired educators — for the team’s trip in late 2017. They stocked the facility with some 1,500 books, 15 laptop computers, and other equipment. The Stowe club and District 7850 each provided $10,000; The Rotary Foundation added $15,000 in funding for the project.
noting responsibility for the care of the assigned bikes.
This story along with 4 others above originally appeared in the November 2021 issue of Rotary magazine
75 million Betty Crocker cookbooks sold since 1950
53 Pink bikes donated by the Rotary Club of Modesto Sunrise
1.4 million New prostate cancer diagnoses worldwide in 2020
32 % Nepalis ages 15 and older who are illiterate 13
Covid vaccines: Will drug companies make bumper profits? By Lucy Hooker & Daniele Palumbo BBC Business Published 18 December 2020 Moderna, a small biotechnology firm, which has been working on the technology behind its ground-breaking RNA vaccine for years, is pricing theirs much higher, at up to $37 per dose. Its aim is to make some profit for the firms' shareholders (although part of the higher price will also cover the costs of transporting those vaccines at very low temperatures).
At the start of the pandemic, we were warned: it takes years to develop a vaccine, so don't expect too much too soon. Now, after only 10 months, the injections have begun and the firms behind the front-runners are household names.
Typically, pharmaceutical companies charge different amounts in different countries, according to what governments can afford.
As a result, investment analysts are forecasting that at least two of them, American biotech company Moderna and Germany's BioNTech with its partner, US giant Pfizer, would be likely to make billions of dollars next year. But it's not clear how much vaccine makers really are set to cash in beyond that. Thanks to the way these vaccines have been funded and the number of firms joining the race to make them, any opportunity to make big profits could be short-lived.
Who put the money in? Due to the urgent need for the vaccine, governments and donors, have poured billions of pounds into projects to create and test them. Philanthropic organisations such as the Gates Foundation backed the quest as well as individuals including Alibaba founder Jack Ma and country music star Dolly Parton. In total, governments have provided £6.5bn, according to science data analytics company Airfinity. Not-forprofit organisations have provided nearly £1.5bn. The graphic below has been updated since this article was first published. As it suggests, in total private companies have invested billions of pounds into vaccine development.
AstraZeneca's promise to keep prices low extends only for the "duration of the pandemic". It could start charging higher prices as early as next year, depending on the path of the disease.
However, initially firms didn't rush in to fund vaccine projects. Creating vaccines, especially in the teeth of an acute health emergency, hasn't proved very profitable in the past. The discovery process takes time and is far from certain. Poorer nations need large supplies but can't afford high prices. And vaccines usually need to be administered just once or twice. Medications that are wanted in wealthier countries, especially ones that require daily doses, are bigger money-spinners. Firms that began work on vaccines for other diseases such as Zika and Sars had their fingers burnt. On the other hand, the market for flu' jabs, which is worth several billion dollars a year, suggests that if Covid19, like flu, is here to stay and requires annual booster jabs, then it could be profitable for the firms that come up with the most effective, and most cost-effective products.
What are they charging? Some firms don't want to be seen to be profiting from the global crisis, especially after receiving so much outside funding. The large US drugmaker, Johnson & Johnson, and the UK's AstraZeneca, which is working with a University of Oxford-based biotech company, have pledged to sell the vaccine at a price that just covers their costs. AstraZeneca's currently looks set to be the cheapest at $4 (£3) per dose.
"Right now, governments in the rich world will pay high prices, they are so eager to get their hands on anything that can help bring an end to the pandemic," says Emily Field, head of European pharmaceutical research at Barclays. As soon as more vaccines come on stream, probably next year, competition may well push prices lower, she says.
So will pharma companies make bumper profits? Governments and multilateral organisations have already pledged to buy billions of doses at set prices. So for the next few months, firms will be busy fulfilling those orders as quickly as possible. Those that are selling to countries with deeper pockets will start to see a return on their investment, whereas AstraZeneca, despite having deals to supply the highest number of doses, will only cover its costs. After those first contracts have been fulfilled, it is harder to predict what the new vaccine landscape will look like.
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AstraZeneca to take profits from Covid vaccine By Tom Espiner, Business reporter, BBC News Nov 13, 2021
would transition [to making a profit on the vaccine]," he said. "It's not something we see as a huge profitearner."
AstraZeneca has started to move away from providing its Covid-19 vaccine to countries on a not-forprofit basis. The drugs giant has signed a series of for-profit agreements for next year, and expects to make a modest income from the vaccine, it said. The company had previously said it would only start to make money from the vaccine when Covid-19 was no longer a pandemic. Its chief executive Pascal Soriot said the disease was becoming endemic. The jab will continue to be supplied on a not-for-profit basis to poorer countries. Mr Soriot had said previously: "We decided to provide it at no profit, because our top priority was to protect global health." He told the BBC he had "absolutely no regrets" about not making a profit when competitors had been, despite having to deal with political criticism in various countries. He said the vaccine, which was developed with the University of Oxford, had saved a million lives around the world.
"I absolutely don't regret it," Mr Soriot said. "We are the impact we millions of [AstraZeneca] stellar job."
proud as a company of have had - we've saved hospitalisations. The team continues to do a
He said that the contracts that had been signed are for next year, adding: "The virus is becoming endemic which means we have to learn to live with it. "We started this to help, but we said we
There will be tiered pricing for countries to make sure the vaccine is affordable, Mr Soriot said. By the end of the year AstraZeneca expects to have supplied 250 million doses of its vaccine to the Covax programme for developing countries. Other vaccine manufacturers including Pfizer and Moderna have been making profits from their vaccines.
A normal profit margin in the drugs industry is about 20%, but Mr Soriot said AstraZeneca, which charges about $5 per shot for the Covid vaccine at cost price, would not be making as much profit as that. However, Nick Dearden, director of campaign group Global Justice Now, said AstraZeneca's decision to start profiting from the vaccine while the coronavirus pandemic was continuing "shows the utter folly of giving away publicly-funded science to big pharma". "This moment was always going to
come - and it's exactly why public health experts have demanded a waiver of intellectual property on Covid-19 vaccines," he said. In its latest financial results, AstraZene-
ca said: "The company is now expecting to progressively transition the vaccine to modest profitability as new orders are received. "Covid-19 vaccine sales in [the fourth quarter of 2021] are expected to be a blend of the original pandemic agreements and new orders, with the large majority coming from pandemic agreements."
By the end of September, AstraZeneca and its sub-licensees had supplied 1.5 billion doses. The company reported revenues for the first nine months of the year of $25.4bn (£19bn), but said its overall profit margins had declined, mainly due to providing the Covid-19 vaccine at cost price. AstraZeneca said a rise in profits in the fourth quarter from the Covid-19 vaccine would balance out costs related to developing a Covid-19 antibody treatment, as it kept its overall profit forecast for the year the same. Shares in the drugs giant fell more than 4% on Friday. Meanwhile, another company that has developed a Covid vaccine, US giant Johnson & Johnson, said on Friday that it would split its consumer healthcare division, which makes products including Baby Powder and Listerine, from its drugs and medical devices businesses.
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SELECTED ONLINE PUBLICATIONS FOR WELL-CONNECTED ROTARIANS For readers of digital version of THE DOVE who are online, click “links” to view contents.
From THE WORLD BANK GROUP
Rotary magazine
Relax with some past issues of THE DOVE
THE DOVE Vol. XIV No. 1 THE DOVE Vol. XIV No. 2
THE DOVE Vol. XIV No. 3 THE DOVE Vol. XIV No. 4 THE DOVE Vol. XIV No. 5
THE DOVE Vol. XIV No. 6 THE DOVE RC Holy Spirit D3780 16
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7-Day Moving Average from March 2020 to Dec 11, 2021
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MALAYSIA 4,449 THAILAND 5,007 SOUTH KOREA 6,097 MYANMAR 325 PHILIPPINES 332 VIETNAM 14,499 SINGAPORE 645 INDONESIA 216 Source: Johns Hopkins University
Vaccination rates have plateaued in Germany as cases rise. Europe is once again "at the epicentre" of the Covid pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned, as cases soar across the continent.
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Austria goes into full lockdown as Covid surges Nov 20, 2021 MNL 6:00AM Published by BBC News One in three Austrians is not yet vaccinated, one of the lowest rates in Western Europe Days after Austria imposed a lockdown on the unvaccinated, it has announced a full national Covid-19 lockdown starting on Monday. Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said it would last a maximum of 20 days and there would be a legal requirement to get vaccinated from 1 February 2022. Many other European countries are imposing restrictions as cases rise. "We don't want a fifth wave," said Mr Schallenberg after meeting the governors of Austria's nine provinces at a resort in the west of the country. For a long time, there had been a consensus over avoiding mandatory vaccinations, the chancellor said. However, too many people had been incited not to get the jab, because of "too many political forces, flimsy vaccination opponents and fake news", he added. The measures are yet to be finalised. Latest figures show the incidence rate has risen to 1,049.9 cases per 100,000 people in the past week, and Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said imposing a lockdown was a "last resort". A record 15,809 cases were reported in the past 24 hours, in a population of under nine million. Under the measures, Austrians will be asked to work from home, nonessential shops will close, and schools will remain open for children who require face-to-face learning. They will continue until 12 December, but will be reassessed after 10 days. Neighbouring Germany has seen several days of record infections this week, and Health Minister Jens
Spahn has spoken of "a national emergency that requires a combined national effort". German leaders have already agreed to introduce restrictions for unvaccinated people in areas with high hospital admissions. And parliament has backed requirements for people to show Covid passes on buses and trains, and in workplaces. But now in Bavaria, which borders Austria, state premier Markus Söder has gone further, declaring a "de facto lockdown for the unvaccinated". Bars and clubs will close for three weeks and all Christmas markets have been cancelled. Where weekly incidence rates top 1,000 per 100,000 people - restaurants, hotels, sport and culture will also close. Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger has already announced that a "lockdown for the unvaccinated" will start on Monday, and the Czech government is also limiting access to a variety of services. The Netherlands introduced a partial lockdown last weekend. In the UK - where there is currently
no lockdown, although masks have to be worn in some parts of the country - the incidence rate per 100,000 is 395.4 cases, officials figures show. Austria's is the first full lockdown imposed by an EU country this winter. The Europe regional director of the World Health Organization, Hans Kluge, has warned of a hard winter ahead. He blamed insufficient vaccination coverage along with "the easing of preventive measures and the spread of the more transmissible Delta variant". Russia on Friday declared a record number of 1,254 Covid deaths in the past 24 hours, for the third day in a row. Hungary reported its highest level of infections - with 11,289 new cases in a population of 10 million. A third booster jab will be made mandatory for health workers from Saturday, along with masks in most enclosed spaces.
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Breaking news Dec 3, 2021
WHO urges countries to be ready for Omicrondriven surge in COVID-19 infections
People wait in line to undergo COVID-19 testing at a testing site in central Seoul on Dec 1, 2021. (File photo: Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji) 03 Dec 2021 03:23PM (Updated: 03 Dec 2021 07:48PM)
MANILA: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday (Dec 3) urged countries to boost healthcare capacity and vaccinate their people to fight a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant, and said travel curbs could buy time but alone were not the answer. Despite shutting its borders to travel from high-risk southern African countries, Australia became the latest country to report community transmission of the new variant, a day after it was found in five US states. It has been reported in at least two dozen countries and started gaining a foothold in Asia this week, with cases reported
in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and I ndia. Many governments have responded by tightening travel rules. "Border controls can buy time, but every country and every community must prepare for new surges in cases," Takeshi Kasai, WHO regional director for the western Pacific, told a virtual media briefing. "People should not only rely on border measures. What is most important is to prepare for these variants with potential high transmissibility. So far, the information available suggests that we don't have to change our approach." Kasai urged countries to fully vaccinate vulnerable groups and stick to preventive
measures such as maskwearing and social distancing. Omicron has been listed as a "variant of concern" by the WHO and scientists are still gathering data to establish how severe and contagious it is just as parts of Europe have been hit by surges of winter infections by the more familiar Delta variant. Michelle Groome, a scientist with South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases, said the country was facing an unprecedented rise in infections due to Omicron. Almost 264 million people have been reported to be infected by the coronavirus since it was first detected in central China in late 2019 and 5.48 million people have died, according to a Reuters tally.
3 travelers in Philippines from South Africa, Burkina Faso, Egypt positive for COVID-19 By JOAHNA LEI CASILAO, GMA News Published December 3, 2021 4:17pm 19
Club of Holy Spirit About THE DOVE THE DOVE is the official newsletter of the Rotary Club of Holy Spirit, Rotary International District 3780. The digital publication features “hyperlinks or web-links” which make it a true electronic newsletter/e-bulletin. Distribution: THE DOVE is published in 3 versions: printed, digital PDF, and online. PDF version sent by email to nearly 1,000 addressees, Rotarians and non-Rotarians in the club, in the district, in Philippine Rotary and outside. Posted on social media networks and groups Printed copies for reports First issue of THE DOVE: 4 June 2009 (Vol I, No. 1) Editorial team: Marcia Salvador, TORY 2018-19 Editor
Ric Salvador ,TORY 2013-14 Asst Editor
Contributors
How to have a COVID-safe family gathering BY EMILY SOHN NOVEMBER 18, 2021 The classic American Thanksgiving has always carried some risk: driving to Grandma’s house, engaging in political conversations with family members, eating undercooked turkey. But in the COVID19 era, people have also had to face serious concerns about gathering during a global pandemic. As the country’s second COVID-19 Thanksgiving approaches, experts say the landscape of risk has changed. New variants have emerged, and tens of thousands of new infections are still occurring every day in the United States. Vaccines are available for everyone age 5 and older, but only 59 percent of people in the U.S. are currently fully vaccinated, and some populations remain at risk due to underlying conditions or compromised immune systems. Data also suggest that bringing people together in groups does indeed raise the chances of passing along the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In the United States last winter,
Thanksgiving and Christmas coincided with a COVID-19 wave, says Joshua Weitz, the founding director of the Quantitative Biosciences Ph.D. program at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, who currently has an appointment at the Institute of Biology at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. Case rates varied by state, but the data show an accompanying nationwide peak in fatalities from about three weeks after Thanksgiving until February. It’s impossible to know if upward trends after Thanksgiving happened because of people sitting around dinner tables, or if the real culprit was traveling across state lines, the change in weather that happens at the end of November, or something else, says Anupam Jena, an economist and physician at Harvard Medical School in Boston. (Find out why colder weather can make respiratory diseases like COVID-19 worse.)
Address: Don Antonio Heights Clubhouse, Bgy. Holy Spirit, QC
How do Thanksgivings in America and Canada differ? Canada celebrated Thanksgiving decades before the Pilgrims, but the holiday in the U.S. and its northern neighbor have much in common. A family gathers in Los Angeles for Thanksgiving dinner on November 26, 2020. This was be20 fore COVID-19 vaccines were available.
Click on this link to view ALERT LEVEL 4 in NCR Sept 16-Oct 15, adjusted to ALERT LEVEL 3 Oct 16-31 until Nov 4
ALERT LEVEL 2 from Nov 5 until Nov 30 extended to Dec 15 Restrictions Under ALERT LEVELS 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 on Trial in NCR
MECQ for METRO MANILA Aug 21 to Sept 15 ECQ for METRO MANILA Aug 6 to 20
Aug 1-6: GCQ with enhanced restrictions in NCR, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal
July 16-31: GCQ with enhanced restrictions in NCR, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Quezon, Batangas, Laguna July 1-15: NCR + Bulacan + Rizal (GCQ with some restrictions) Cavite + Laguna (GCQ w heightened Restrict) NCR Plus: GCQ (with Heightened Restrictions) from May 15 to May 31 to June 15
MECQ from Apr 12 to Apr 30, 2021 to May 14
History of Quarantine Restrictions for NCR
GCQ NCR from Aug 19, 2020 to Mar 28, 2021
MECQ from Aug 4 to Aug 18, 2020 GCQ NCR from June 1 to Aug 3, 2020
ECQ Lockdown Entire Luzon from Mar 17 to May 30, 2020 21
PH
356 New cases. Since Mar 2020: Cases 2,835,345; Recoveries 2,772,728; Deaths 49,591; Active Cases 13,026
Dec 7.
OMICRON stokes world fears, triggers travel bans. LOWEST new daily cases in PH - 356
Reported Cases and Deaths by Country & Territory Dec 7, 2021
WORLD Total 267.2 M
New: 523,174
Deaths 5.3 M
Recovered 240.7 M
Active Cases 21.3 M 22
PH
425 New cases. Since Mar 2020: Cases 2,832,734; Recoveries 2,767,585; Deaths 48,545; Active Cases 15,800
Nov 30.
OMICRON variamt stokes world fears, triggers travel bans. LOWEST new daily cases in PH
Reported Cases and Deaths by Country & Territory Nov 30, 2021
WORLD Total 262.8 M
New: 443,820
Deaths 5.2 M
Recovered 237.4 M
Active Cases 20.3 M 23
PH 3,410 New cases. Since Mar 2020: Cases 2,787,276; Recoveries 2,698,871; Deaths 43,172; Active Cases 45,283 Oct 31 FIFTEEN days from Oct 16 start of ALERT Level 3 with localized “Granular Lockdowns” in NCR PH
Reported Cases and Deaths by Country & Territory Oct 31, 2021
WORLD Total 247.4 M
New: 247,788
Deaths 5.0 M
Recovered 224.0 M
Active Cases 18.3 M
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Reported Cases and Deaths by Country & Territory October 30, 2020
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Confirmed Cases and Deaths by Country and Territory On 3-29-2020 the Philippines with its 110 Million population, exhibited 1,418 COVID-19 positive cases and 71 deaths, still remarkable “containment-of-virusspread” among nations (13 cases per 1 M pop)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 31: A woman wearing a mask poses on May 31, 2020 in New York City. Government guidelines encourage wearing a mask in public with strong social distancing in effect. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Face Masks May Be The Key Determinant Of The Covid19 Curve, Study Suggests 27
Roster of RC Holy Spirit Presidents Rotary Theme
Year
District Governor
Club President
2022-23
Florian Enriquez
PE Joy Vistan Peralta
Life Changing Year
2021-22
Edgardo Ayento
John Lerrie Torre
Transforming Year of Svc
2020-21
Johnny Gaw Yu
Martin Mariñas
Champions of Service Year
2019-20
Bernadette H. Dy
Alberto Sevilla
Inspiring Year of Service
2018-19
Pastor Mar Reyes
Fernando JR Delgra
The Great Rotary Year
2017-18
Chito Borromeo
Ric Salvador
All Stars Rotary Year
2016-17
Dwight Ramos
Peth Rivera
World Class Rotary Year
2015-16
Rey David
Angel Castro
Best Class Rotary Year
2014-15
Samuel Pagdilao
Marites Nepomuceno
First Class Rotary Year
2013-14
Francis Rivera
Eui Bong Jung
Peace
2012-13
Penny Policarpio
Marcia Salvador
Silver Year of Service
2011-12
Jess Cifra
Ped Condeno
Global
2010-11
Ambo Gancayco
Dodgie Osabel
Hands On Service
2009-10
Dulce Coyukiat
Linda Palattao
2008-09
Alex Cureg
Dodgie Osabel
2007-08
Danny Fausto
Nides Respicio
2006-07
Dan Espinosa
Nides Respicio
2005-06
Benjie Bacorro
Nides Respicio
Click here to view Recognition and Awards received by RC Holy Spirit from RY 2009-10 to RY 2020-21
RCHS Chartered by RI on June 29, 2005
George Howard SFDM
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The business of keeping timepieces working Published November 19, 2021, 10:15 AM Manila Bulletin by Faith Argosino
Timepieces – clocks, wristwatches, even sundials – more than measure the passing of time. They carry sentimental memories which increase the value of the piece as time passes by. The longer a timepiece “lives,” the more delight it will bring to its owners and also to people who have dedicated their occupation to understanding how craftsmen a few hundred years ago made clocks that are still ticking today. That is the delight that has kept the passion to restore antique clocks in the hearts of father-and-son Bello and Heber Belizario whose shop name simply states their business: Belizario Clock Repair Shop. Bello’s father, Honorato, started the shop in 1954, and when he passed away at 90 years old in 2016, he left behind a name for good craftsmanship. Bello continues his father’s legacy today, with his 26-year-old son, Heber. Bello, 60, a licensed civil engineer who graduated from the Far Eastern University, has been working with timepieces for almost 30 years now. He started repairing antique clocks after his father passed the business to him in 1994. “When I was in college, I would assist my father in the business. Before we only fixed watches. Once in a while, when a repair job for a clock came, I would repair them. When my father retired from the scene, I focused on clocks since it sparked my interest as an engineering graduate,” he said. For almost three decades, you can say that Bello has been around many homes and antique timepieces. One very notable home he’s
Bello Belizario (Photo taken from Belizario Clock Repair Shop Facebook page)
been to is Malacañan Palace where he fixed two grandfather clocks during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. With the length of time he has been in that business, Bello also has been privileged to work with the oldest clocks in the country, one of them at the University of Santo Tomas. Today, the shop focuses on clock restoration and repair and the sale of timepieces, mainly clocks, he said. “Our services are focused on clock restoration and repair. We also collect and sell timepieces, but they’re also clocks and not wristwatches. It’s because clocks, especially the grandfather clocks, add richness to a room. Ika nga it’s classy. Saan ka makakahanap ng de-hila o de-susi na bagay nowadays? (It’s classy. Where can you find clocks that have keys or pull system to run them these days?),” he said. According to Belizario, fixing 18thcentury clocks and bringing them back to life gives him delight, like stepping back in time. It is like taking a peek at yesterday and appreciating the ingenuity of the clockmaker, he said.
The most difficult and longest clocks to fix, he said are those from the 18th to early 20th century, and the atmos clocks (Jaeger Le-Coultre). While the easiest and shortest to fix are the younger and batterypowered clocks. Atmos is the brand name of a mechanical clock made in Switzerland by Jaeger-LeCoultre that does not require manual winding. It derives the energy it needs to run from variations in the environment’s temperature and atmospheric pressure, and it can run for years without human involvement. He observed that clocks should be maintained every two to three years. That’s why he keeps in touch with their clients to ask about the condition of their clocks. These days, it’s easy to have a watch, or digital clock fixed. You can bring them to a watch store where there’s a man behind a glass-lined booth at the far corner who will open the watch, check it, and then advise on what needs to be done or replaced (likely the battery).
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One timeless brand . . .
Jollibee returns to profitability in third quarter November 10, 2021 | 12:09 am level. System-wide sales for the first nine months improved by 18.4% to P149.69 billion from P126.42 billion. JFC launched 249 new stores during the period, the majority or 67 of which were opened in China, 47 in the Philippines, 29 in North America, and 15 in Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Australia region. Meanwhile, SuperFoods opened 48 stores and CBTL launched 43. Jollibee also opened its first store in Madrid, Spain in September, which is said to be its largest restaurant in Europe as it can accommodate 200 guests. JOLLIBEE FOODS Corp. (JFC) booked an attributable net income of P1.57 billion in the third quarter, a reversal of the P1.58-billion net loss it posted in the same period last year, on the back better earnings from its local operations as a result of its business transformation program, the company said in a disclosure on Tuesday. JFC said the transformation program involves the closure of unprofitable stores, headcount reduction in stores that remain open, closure of four commissaries in the Philippines, and the downsizing of commissary operations, which began in April last year. The company’s revenues amounted to P37.2 billion in the third quarter, up by 24.1% year on year from P29.97 billion on the back of higher sales. However, this was 13.8% lower than the company’s pre-pandemic topline of P43.18 billion in 2019. System-wide sales from companyowned and franchised stores went up by 26.6% to P51.39 billion from P40.59 billion in the third quarter. However, this was 10.4% lower than its sales of P57.36 billion in the same period in 2019. JFC’s same store sales in its Philip-
pine business went up by 32.4% year on year, while sales from its international business rose 12.4%. Worldwide same store growth also improved by 23.6%. “China grew by 2.9%, North America by 19.6%, [same store sales from] Europe [or] Middle East [and] other parts of Asia by 8.8%, and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) by 20.0%,” JFC said. “SuperFoods declined by 53.1% primarily due to heightened restrictions imposed in Vietnam to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019),” it added. The company’s operating income for the quarter amounted to P945 million, a reversal of its P3.35-billion loss in the previous year but 28.3% lower compared to the 2019 level. For the first nine months, JFC booked an attributable net income of P2.7 billion, a reversal of the P13.54billion loss it posted in the same period last year. Jollibee’s topline for the January-toSeptember period rose 17.1% to P108.57 billion from last year’s P92.73 billion. However, it was 15% lower than the pre-pandemic or 2019
Meanwhile, the company closed 221 stores permanently in the third quarter — 158 abroad and 63 in the Philippines. The listed fastfood giant has 17 brands under its belt operating in 34 countries through 5,853 stores, the majority or 3,202 of which are located in the Philippines and 2,651 are overseas. On Tuesday, JFC’s wholly-owned subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte Ltd. (JWPL) also announced that it has executed the tender offer for a portion of its $600-million guaranteed senior perpetual capital securities. On Nov. 3, the company said $203.5 million have already been validly tendered but not withdrawn, which is 33.9% of the outstanding principal amount. The offer forms part of the company’s plans to strengthen its balance sheet. It was partially funded by the company’s recent 12 million preferred shares issuance. Jollibee shares went up by 4.51% or P11.20 to close at P259.80 each on Tuesday. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte
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