The Rotaract Club of Pakil Baybay Premier has rapidly defined its mission through two significant and complementary mandates: operating as a Culture-Centered Club and a Priority Club. Organized in 2023 and formally chartered by Rotary International on February 5, 2024, under the dynamic leadership of Charter President Arra Lou Pagaraga, the club is now proudly embarking on its second year. Despite its young age, it has already established a profound and widely recognized community impact, rooted deeply in the heritage of its members.
The foundation of the club’s culture-centered identity can be traced to youth leaders and volunteers from the choirs and ministries of the St. Peter of Alcantara Parish Church, widely known as the Turumba Church. This vital connection ensures that the club’s service projects are genuinely interwoven with Pakil’s rich and living traditions, reflecting a spirit of service that is both modern and ancestral.
The club actively participates in key local and religious observances, upholding the spiritual dedication of the townspeople through their shared panata (vow). From joining the annual Intramuros Grand Marian Procession to celebrating Salibanda—the water festival for Sto. Niño—where members share meals with devotees, the club embodies the true spirit of giving. Furthermore, they honor Pakil’s prestigious status as the “Musician Town of Laguna” by organizing the inaugural Pakil Jazz Festival. This acclaimed event provided instrument workshops for the youth, particularly in flute and saxophone, and served as both a benefit concert and a recognition platform for local artists—ensuring that the sounds of Pakil’s veteran musicians continue to resonate through younger generations.
This year, the club decisively elevated its cultural mandate through two critical, legacy-building projects focused on sustainable preservation. Its primary cultural priority is the revitalization of Kayas, the traditional and intricate wood-whittling craft unique to Pakil that now faces the threat of extinction. Through Project Kayas, the club aims to secure the craft’s future by training high school students and advocating for its integration into the local school curriculum. In parallel, the club launched a vital environmental initiative dedicated to the Ibuli, a native chestnut tree classified by the DENR as critically endangered. By focusing on a specific endemic species, the club demonstrates an advanced understanding of environmental stewardship—one that goes beyond tree planting to genuine biodiversity conservation.
The club’s second mandate, its Priority Club status, reflects a deep respect for the lives and responsibilities of its members. Recognizing that service is voluntary, the club ensures that Rotaractors prioritize their most critical commitments—especially academics and early career development—before engaging in activities. The guiding philosophy is clear: the club should enhance, not burden, a member’s life. This reinforces the welcoming belief that “the club is always here, and once a Rotaract, always a Rotaractor.” This empathetic approach to leadership has fostered a professional, resilient, and highly motivated membership capable of executing large-scale initiatives.
Despite its recent charter, the Rotaract Club of Pakil Baybay Premier has accumulated milestones that attest to its exceptional impact. In its debut year, the club successfully hosted major district-level events, including LAGALAG: Lakbay Gala sa Laguna, and was recognized as Namumukod-Tanging Organisasyong Pangkabataan ng Laguna in 2024. Its excellence reached the national stage when it became a Bronze Awardee at the prestigious Edison Ong National Awards 2025, securing seed grant funding as a finalist among entries from ten Rotary International districts. Building on this momentum, Project Kayas was recently hailed as a Sampung Sibol ng Laguna 2025 finalist by the Youth Development Affairs of Laguna.
Most notably, the club has reached a new pinnacle of provincial recognition by being officially named one of the Limang Namumukod-Tanging Organisasyong Pangkabataan ng Laguna. This distinction cements its status as one of the top five youth organizations in the province. The club’s rapid rise—driven by its dual commitment to cultural preservation and environmental action—sets a new standard for Rotaract service, proving that when youth leadership is rooted in heritage and heart, its impact knows no bounds.
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