Rotary opens Taipei convention with cultural flair

Taipei shimmered with color, music, and fellowship as the 2026 Rotary International Convention opened with an Asian Cultural Festival Dinner that transformed New Palace Grande Luxe Banquet at the Yuaye Convention Center into a showcase of heritage and service.

Hosted by the Zone 10A Rotary Public Image Coordinator Team, led by Overall Event Chair and Past District Governor Mildred V. Vitangcol, the gathering drew Rotarians, dignitaries, and guests from around the world for an evening rooted in culture, friendship, and Rotary’s enduring call to serve.

The convention, held June 13–17 in Taipei, brought together more than 38,000 participants from 140 countries and regions, making it one of Rotary’s largest global gatherings in recent years.

The program carried the spirit of international fellowship from the start, with national anthems, welcome remarks, and messages from Rotary leaders, including Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo, President-elect Yinka Babalola, and President-nominee Larry Lunsford.

Past Rotary International President Gordon McInally was also introduced as event adviser, lending further distinction to an evening that celebrated both leadership and legacy.

At the heart of the celebration was the Cultural Fashion Show: Spotlight on Service, where models representing the Philippines, Australia, Sweden, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand brought the runway to life in national costumes and traditional attire.

Each look offered more than pageantry, carrying stories of craftsmanship, identity, and pride while reflecting Rotary’s ideal of “Service Above Self.”

Among the evening’s standouts was Ilonggo Rotarian Dr. Rollin Tabuena, who opened the runway in a three-piece Nono Palmos creation featuring a cropped front suit and dramatic elongated tail, crafted from handwoven Philippine piña and silk in a rich natural red hue.

A black silk mandarin collar completed the look, giving the ensemble a refined balance of Filipino heritage and contemporary elegance.

Also taking the runway was Rotary District 3850 Governor Federico Victor Acepcion, whose Panay Bukidnon-inspired attire paid tribute to indigenous artistry and cultural memory.

The evening also honored Tabuena as one of the outstanding Rotarian awardees, recognizing him with the Champion of Health Care Excellence Award for his contributions, dedication, and achievements in advancing excellence in his field.

Music added warmth and texture to the celebration, with performances by keyboardist Rexvin Wolfe, pianist Tientalwu, and tenor Michael Lapina.

Program co-host Dexter Nicolau also delivered an intermission number, adding a personal note to the evening’s polished rhythm.

Guiding the program were masters of ceremonies Becky Giblin of Fiji, Andy Li of Hong Kong, and Nicolau of the Philippines, whose presence underscored the event’s international character.

The dinner service, sponsor recognitions, award presentations, and celebratory toast led by Rotary International Director Jennifer Scott gave the gathering both ceremony and intimacy.

By evening’s end, the Cultural Festival Dinner had done more than open a convention.

It set the tone for days of connection in Taipei, where Rotary’s global community gathered not only to celebrate culture, but to renew its shared commitment to action.

As Arezzo reflected during the convention, Rotary is a meeting place “where strangers become friends, friendship becomes trust, where trust becomes action.”

That spirit carried through the convention’s closing ceremony on June 17, when British singer Leona Lewis brought thousands of attendees to their feet with a stirring performance that included “Fire Under My Feet.”

From the runway to the final ovation, Taipei offered Rotary a vivid reminder that service, at its best, is both deeply local and unmistakably global.