PDG Miriam Ruth “JING” Dablio was born in Valencia, Bukidnon and the eldest daughter among seven siblings. Her family and childhood have a lot of influence on what she has become now. Coming from a family whose father is the former Mayor of her town, she was exposed to public service at a very young age. Her people skills are innate and her talent was evident as she grew.
She has been blessed with two children, Sid Ryan, a registered nurse currently working in the UK and holds a degree in Master in Nursing, and Cyd Chariz, also a registered nurse and a good singer. She was also blessed with two awesome grandchildren.
A highly intellectual person, she has an impressive academic record in the pursuit of her medical profession which speaks for what kind of practice and work experiences she have achieved. She was a consistent honor student and graduated Magna Cum Laude from her pre-medical course in BS Biology. She proceeded to take the medical degree at Cebu Doctors’ College of Medicine and finished her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City where she was awarded Best Resident of her batch. She then went back to her hometown to practice her profession to serve her own people. As President/CEO and Medical Director in one of the biggest private hospitals in the Province of Bukidnon, she was honed here for greater service. She is a woman of substance, a woman who doesn’t only know how to wear high heels and lipstick but above all a woman of principle and knows how to assert her will.
A leader known for her combination of charismatic leadership, servant leadership, and situational leadership style, made her effective in attaining the mission and objectives of the organizations she is leading. Her carrot and stick approach drives members to optimum performance, an embodiment of a leader who can easily flex with the new generation by the style she is known for. She had been chosen a leader in her professional organizations and worked tirelessly to advance the causes she believed in as President of the Bukidnon Medical Society, the Bukidnon Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society Region 10.
A greater calling for service is exemplified in her life through her involvement in Rotary. Her experience in this organization is a vehicle that drives her towards pursuing her first love for community service.
As a Rotarian, her stint in Rotary has not been a long one. She joined Rotary in 2006 and was the Charter President of the Rotary Club of Metro Valencia, a centennial club. A year later, she was appointed as District 3870 RYLA Chair, with the RYLA 2017 held in Central Mindanao University has been long remembered as one of the most successful RYLAs in the district. When then-District Governor Jaime Semana appointed her as Assistant Governor and member of the District Training Team in RY 2010-2011, she was adamant, knowing that there were many more experienced Rotarians who deserved the position better, but she accepted the challenge and was given the Exemplary Leadership and Service Award as Assistant Governor in that year. That was also the year that she became a Paul Harris Fellow. Subsequently, she was assigned several appointments in District 3870 as New Generations Chair (RY 2011-2012), Polio Plus Chair (RY 2012-2013), Chair for Vocational Scholarship (RY2013-2014), Chair for Club Extension (RY2014-2015), and Promotions Chair for Kota Kinabalu Rotary Institute in 2014. The most life-changing experience she had in her Rotary life, her Rotary moment, was being chosen as the leader to the last batch of Group Student Exchange team to Brazil in May 2013. Her most recent positions in Rotary are District Trainer for D3870 (RY 2020-2021), and Zone 1B Coordinator for RI Presidential Conference, Manila (RY2021-2022).
She is an embodiment of “Service Above Self.” An advocate whose advocacy is not limited to the practice of her profession but extended beyond the bounds of her comfort zone. Bringing health services to the barangays is only one among her advocacies. She is also very much involved in Education, Environmental Protection, Disaster Response, Women and Children’s Health, and good public governance. She was a member of the Valencia City Nutrition Council and Peace and Order Council, Board of Director of the Philippine Red Cross Bukidnon Chapter, and was one of the founding members and lead convenor of the 1Bukidnon Help Movement, a disaster and relief action group that helped victims of calamities during typhoons Sendong, Pablo, and Yolanda, and during the earthquake in Bohol. She believes with all her heart what Mother Teresa said: “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”
We sat down with her and asked some questions:
As an individual who takes initiative to make our society a better place, what characteristic/s of a Rotarian should a Rotaractor emulate?
- Someone who is perceptive of the needs of others, especially those who are the least, the lost, and the last in society; who has empathy, willingness, and passion to help those in need and make the community a better place for all.
Membership is one key to sustain a club through the years; what recommendations will you impart to ensure their stay in the organization?
Be an active member. Get involved and engaged in club activities. Join service projects, seminars, fellowships to learn more and gain more friends. Make yourself useful by contributing your knowledge, talents, gifts to the club and the community. An engaged member will stay.
How can you inspire Rotaractors to take action?
First find your purpose. Knowing your purpose will motivate you to act with dedication and passion, and everything else will follow. An inspiring leader, a vibrant club, a worthwhile project or activity that gives every member an opportunity to contribute his/her knowledge, talents, skills, vocation will inspire Rotaractors to take action.
As a Rotarian, what values can you share to the Rotaractors in continuing their service to the community?
- Integrity: We hold ourselves responsible and accountable to do right at all times, with honesty, transparency, and adherence to Rotary principles.
- Respect and trust : Every person is unique and we should appreciate diversity of thought, individual dignity, and the power of teamwork.
- Empathy and compassion: We meet the needs of the community with sensitivity, empathy, grace, and an open heart.
- Creativity: We don’t always do the same thing over and over in rendering service. We try to be innovative, creative, and forward-thinking to initiate meaningful changes in the community.
How can Rotarians and Rotaractors work more together?
- Rotarians and Rotaractors need to recognize each other’s value and the importance of the other’s existence. Acceptance, not tolerance, is the key. Rotarians need to embrace Rotaractors as equals and partners in service. Rotaractors, young as they are, have special talents and give significant contributions to the organization if given the chance. Rotarians, on the other hand, have a lot to offer to Rotaractors in terms of mentoring, training, building linkages and networking.
How can you strengthen the relationship between Rotary Club to Rotaract Club as well as Rotarian to Rotaractor?
- Doing more activities together and each contributing to the success of these activities can do much to make a good working relationship better. Joint club meetings and fellowships will enable Rotarians and Rotaractors to get to know each other on a more personal level. Rotarians mentoring Rotaractors with similar interests, professions, hobbies may strengthen the relationship even more.
In the world of Rotary, building linkages and networks is very essential, what advice can you give to the Rotaract Clubs that want to expand their network?
- Work closely with your Rotary clubs. Grab every opportunity for joint projects and activities and make friends with Rotarians, Rotarian leaders and mentors. Volunteer in activities of your interest or where you are good at. It is in these activities where Rotarians with similar interests or ones you want to network with are usually found.
What will you suggest to the Rotaractors to increase their donation in the Rotary Foundation and End Polio?
- If you haven’t tried giving, try it now, no matter how small. A little personal sacrifice in giving up that extra cup of Starbucks or Jollibee burger will go a long way in saving one child from the debilitating disease of polio, or providing clean water to a family. If each Rotaractor will save a little amount, that little becomes much if you put them all together. Fund-raising projects is also a good source of funds as it gives the community a chance to participate in doing good in the world through the Rotary Foundation. These activities promote camaraderie and teamwork as well.
How would you motivate Rotaractors to become a dual member?
Dual membership is a good transition for Rotaractors to eventually become full-pledged Rotarians in the future. Oftentimes, dual members act as a bridge between the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs, and strengthen the bond between both clubs. It gives the Rotaractor an opportunity to observe how Rotary conducts its meetings, projects, other activities, and duplicates best practices in his Rotaract club to elevate Rotaract. Being a dual member is also a good chance to build networking and linkages earlier than when you join Rotary at a later time as a Rotarian. In dual membership, you get the best of both worlds.
What advice/s can you give to the Rotaractors?
- Enjoy your youth while you make a positive difference in the community. We only live once. Use your God-given gifts, talents, and skills to serve those in need with integrity, respect, compassion, and creativity. We are in the midst of a most difficult time in history. Many are paralyzed by the fear of the unknown, but we will not allow this pandemic to stop us from fulfilling our purpose and commitment to serve to change lives for the better. Continue to do good but protect yourself and stay safe.
