Rotary Club of Iloilo South welcomes new leadership

ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo Convention Center took on the warmth of a civic gathering place as nearly 200 Rotarians, Rotaractors, community partners and guests came together for an evening centered not simply on ceremony, but on the enduring culture of service behind the Rotary Club of Iloilo South.

The July 31 induction marked the beginning of Rotary Year 2026–2027 for the club, part of Rotary International District 3850, with incoming President Anne Tacogdoy stepping into the role under Rotary’s guiding principle, “Service Above Self.”

More than a changing of the guard, the evening reflected a leadership tradition built on continuity, fellowship and community work.

Outgoing President Elsie Locsin was recognized for her year of service before District Gov. Carlo De La Cruz formally inducted Tacogdoy and the incoming RCIS board, with the traditional turnover of the gong and gavel underscoring the transition.

In her inaugural message, Tacogdoy set a compassionate tone for the year ahead, emphasizing servant leadership and the importance of creating meaningful, lasting impact in the communities the club serves.

That sense of continuity extended to the club’s growing ranks, with Pauline Ann Malones welcomed as a new member and the officers of the Rotaract Club of Iloilo South formally inducted.

Rotaract President Ewan Gabalda, representing the younger generation of service leaders, delivered his inaugural message as the organization began its own new chapter.

The gathering also looked beyond Iloilo, with RCIS announcing upcoming sister-club agreements with the Rotary Club of Bacolod South and the Rotary Club of Sae Gangreung in South Korea — partnerships designed to deepen ties and open more opportunities for collaboration.

District leaders added gravitas to the occasion, led by De La Cruz, who delivered the keynote address, while past presidents and longtime members, including Vic Lagman and Vee Genson, helped anchor the evening in the club’s institutional history.

Yet formality never overwhelmed the room’s convivial spirit.

Dr. Rollin Tabuena and Dr. Ma. Daisy Tabuena, known as the “Dancing Doctors of Iloilo,” brought an energetic change of pace with a special performance, while Rollin Tabuena also supplied a fashion note in a creation by Ilonggo designer Nono Palmos.

Hosted by Dr. Romeo Magallanes, the program balanced ceremonial tradition with the easy camaraderie that has long been central to Rotary gatherings.

It was this intersection of generations — seasoned Rotarians, incoming officers, new members and young Rotaractors — that gave the occasion its strongest sense of purpose.

As Tacogdoy begins her term, the Rotary Club of Iloilo South enters the new year with stronger local and international ties and a renewed mandate to turn fellowship into action.

The evening’s real statement was not simply that leadership had changed hands, but that the work of service would continue through a wider circle of people ready to carry it forward.