By LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

IT was a long drive home Saturday evening from SBMA (Subic) where we attended the 33rd annual district convention of Kiwanis Int’l.-Philippine Luzon District.

It was more of a joyride for Allan (Mr. Y) and I in our old hot and old Mitsubishi box type car. Left Olongapo City last Saturday at about 4:40p.m. and arrived home in Dagupan City at about 10:30 p.m. It was ‘leisure driving’ at the speed (the most) of 80kph; he cannot drive faster than that as the car will wiggle.

It was trip down memory lane too.

September 1999, Allan and I and the kiwanians were here for the annual district convention. October 30, 1999, we got married. The ceremony was held at Pedrito’s Arellano. In attendance were a good number of Kiwanians from Division 1 and officers from the district office. Immediately after lunch and the usual picture-taking, they all drove to Laoag City and attended the induction program of the Kiwanis Club of Laoag City.
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Kiwanians from Division I went home victors and beaming with smile from the three-day convention.

Division I Lt.Gov. Rey Bangsal (past president of the Kiwanis Club of Sombrero Calasiao) was adjudged one of the two Most Outstanding Lieutenant Governors. (The other one is Lt. Gov. Joe Camañag of Division 4-A.)

Ninong Rey duplicated the feat made by his wife, past Div. 1 Lt. Gov. Ellen Bangsal (1999-2000), who was given the highest distinction of 5-star Lt. Governor during the 2000 district convention held in Tagaytay City.

Kiwanis Club of Hundred Islands was chosen as the Most Outstanding Club (district-wide) while the clubs from our division who were recognized as Outstanding Clubs are the Kiwanis Clubs of Dagupeña, Pangasinense, Sombrero Calasiao, Princess Urduja, Amputi’y Layag, Baguio City and Laoag City.
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Past Lt. Gov. Cirila “Lolay” Celeste (past president of KC Pangasinense), was unopposed in her bid for District Treasurer (2007-2008). She’s the second kiwanian from Division I (Region 1, Baguio City and Cagayan) to be elected as district officer.
The first was Kiwanian Urbano “Banet” Caasi of the Kiwanis Club of Bolinao.

Meanwhile, Kiwanian Claudio “Junie” Nadal of the Kiwanis Club of Cainta (Division 3C) was virtually unpposed as District Governor after the other candidates were disqualified as they lack some of the qualifications/requirements to run for the position.

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Choices for the next district convention are Puerto Princesa, Baguio City, Tagaytay City and a Super Ferry Cruise. My personal choice is Puerto Prinsesa. (My being with kiwanis brought me to several places. The best so far was Legaspi City where we enjoyed the majestic beauty of Mayon Volcano from the Mayon Hotel.)

As the lone bid for the hosting of the 2008 mid-year convention was placed Past Lt. Gov. Marlon Valdez (KC Laoag City past president), the next kiwanis trip will be in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

The Kiwanis Asia Pacific Convetion on March 2008 will be held

in Indonesia.

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On Mr. Y’s birthday last September 1, the two of us travelled to Quezon City and joined Jen Cruz and his Singles for Christ buddies in their outreach program at the Gawad Kalinga site at Don Manuel, barangay Balingasay.

Jen said she saw at the Jessica Soho program at GMA 7 the launching of the joint endeavor of Kiwanis Club of Dagupeña and Police Regional Office 1, specifically Gen. Leopoldo Bataoil’s brainchild “Culture of Savings” program held at the West Central Elementary School in Dagupan City.

Thereat, our club sponsored the piggy banks distributed to 100 pupils to drumbeat the campaign. It was ceremonial in nature. But the objective is to encourage the children to practice saving instead of them using their money or part of their baon in placing bets in games such as text, cara-cruz, spider fight, in computer games or in hataw machines, etc.

So, KC Dagupena brought the “Culture of Savings” campaign to the children at a GK site in Quezon City for our campaign have no boundaries.

Saving (may it be in piggy banks, kawayan, coconut shell, milk tin cans) is an old practice that is slowly being forgotten by our elders to pass on to the young ones. Let’s rekindle this by starting in our homes. I too have my own piggy bank and clay coin bank. (Know what, drop your small P.25 coins into the coin bank and you will be surprised later how much you’ve accumulated)