Rotary District 3860
Unite for Good

Rotary District 3860

District 3860

About Rotary District 3860

How District 3860 Evolved

 

(By: PDG Xavier C. Ledesma and PDG Antonio Tambunting, Jr.)

DISTRICT 3860

 

Fourteen years after the first Rotary club was organized by Paul P. Harris in Chicago, the Rotary movement reached the shores of the Philippines when the Rotary Club of Manila, the first Rotary club in Asia, was chartered in June 1919.

Thirteen years later, RC Manila sponsored the birth of the first Rotary club outside Manila and the second in the country – Rotary Club of Cebu – on November 26, 1932 with 26 charter members. This was followed in 1933 by the organization of the Rotary Club of Iloilo.

DISTRICT 81

 

In the early days, Rotary clubs were under the direct supervision of the President and the Board of Directors of Rotary International. During the presidency of Arch Klump (he of The Rotary Foundation fame) in RY 1916-17, the 186 clubs then in existence were divided into districts. Then in RY 1936-37, Rotary International adopted a general redistricting program that created 23 new districts and changed the boundaries of many others. Consequently, District 81, the first district in Southeast Asia was created. It was composed of 26 clubs – 22 from Mainland China, one from Hong Kong and three from the Philippines. The fourth Rotary club in the Philippines – RC Bacolod was born soon after.

Short-lived, however, was the original District 81. For in RY 1937-38, it was changed to District 96. It was also in RY 1937-38 that the Rotary Club of Baguio was organized.

 

But the following year, RY 1938-39, District 81 was recreated with George Malcolm, an American, as its first District Governor. Under Governor Malcolm, the Rotary Clubs of Dagupan, Davao, and Dumaguete were chartered. Also, the first District Conference was held in Manila with 214 members from five Rotary clubs in attendance. In the same year, RC Iloilo hosted the first District Assembly with 14 Rotarians present. In 1940, the second District Assembly, which was held in Cebu, drew 66 delegates.

 

The War Years

During the Second World War, all the eight clubs in the Philippines (RC’s Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Baguio, Dagupan, Davao and Dumaguete) were disbanded with RC Dagupan becoming the first club to readmitted to R.I. in 1945. The period after the War saw Rotary rebuilding in occupied countries, including the Philippines. The first Filipino to serve as trustee of Rotary International was M.A.T. Caparas. In the same year, Carlos P. Romulo, who served as 3rd VP of R.I. in 1937-38, became the first Filipino honorary trustee of The Rotary Foundation. Theodore L. Hall, who was Governor from 1939 to 1942, was again the Governor of District 81 in RY 1945-46 that saw the readmission to R.I. of RC’s Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete and Manila.

In RY 1946-47, Gil J. Puyat was named the third Governor of District 81 and the first Filipino District Governor, eventually becoming, in 1948, the first Filipino vice president of R.I. During his term, RC Iloilo was readmitted to R.I., while RC’s Tacloban and Tarlac were organized.

In RY 1947-48, Mariano Lichaoco of RC Dagupan became the first non-RC Manila Rotarian to become District Governor. He was also the first to be elected to the position. This was the start of the practice of rotating the governorship so that in RY 1948-49, Ben Gaston of RC Bacolod was elected the first Governor to come from outside Luzon. It took 29 years from the time Rotary reached the Philippines for a Visayan to become R.I. District Governor. Towards the end of RY 1947-48 Rotary spread to Northern Mindanao when RC Cagayan de Oro was chartered on April 22, 1948.

 

The First Cebuano District Governor

Rotary International changed District 81 to District 48 in RY 1950-51 and the following year, Vicente L. Faelnar of the Rotary Club of Cebu became the first Cebuano District Governor. RC Dumaguete produced its first Governor in the person of Ramon Ponce de Leon who served in RY 1954-55.

District 48, which had 35 clubs, was again changed to District 385 in RY 1957-58. This year marked the election of Hernando Pineda of RC Cagayan de Oro City as the first Rotarian from Mindanao to become District Governor. Among the other Governors of District 385 were Joaquin L. Panis, (RY 1960-61) and Alfonso C. Oboza (RY 1963-64). The late Jack Panis was from RC Cebu while the late Ponching Oboza was from RC Davao.

RY 1964-65 saw the subdivision of District 385 in District 380 for Luzon and 385 for Visayas and Mindanao. M.A.T. Caparas became the first DG of the new district, while Leonardo F. Gallardo of RC Bacolod was District 385 Governor.

There were 27 clubs in Luzon and 25 clubs in VisMin at the time.

Among the Governors who served the subdivided District 385 were Vicente Lozada (RY 1966-67, Leon M. Garcia (RY 1967-68), Federico A. Reyes (RY 1970-71) and Leonor S. Lozano (RY 1971-72), who respectively, came from RC’s Cebu West, Davao, Cebu and Davao.


DISTRICT 386

In RY 1974-75, District 385 was redistricted with 30 clubs coming from Panay Island, Negros Occidental, the Zamboanga Peninsula, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and what is now District 3870 (Northern and Central Mindanao covering the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, Iligan, Marawi and cotabato and the provinces of Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat) comprising the old District 385. Another 30 clubs situated in Central and Eastern Visayas and Eastern Mindanao formed the new District 386. Thus was born District 386 with Mariano S. Ilano Jr. of RC Cebu West as it’s Rotary Governor. District 386 covers the islands of Cebu (including Mactan), Bohol, Samar, Leyte, and Siquijor, and the provinces of Negros Oriental, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur and South Cotabato.

During RY 1984-85, District 385 was again subdivided into R.I. District 385 comprising 44 clubs from Western Visayas and Western Mindanao and R.I. District 387 consisting of another 34 clubs from Northern and Central Mindanao. District 386 maintained its status quo.


PERIOD OF EXPANSION

The organization of the Rotary Clubs of Cebu (1932), Davao (1938), Dumaguete (1939) and Tacloban (1946) in what is now District 3860 was followed by the chartering of three clubs in the ‘50’s: RC’s Butuan (1954), Catbalogan (1956) and General Santos City (1957).


The decade of the 60’s saw the formation of seven new clubs, namely, RC’s Cebu West (1961), Koronadal (1961), Tagum (1961), East Davao (1965), Ormoc (1966), Digos (1968), and South Davao (1968).

The 1970’s was a period of rapid expansion in the district with the organization of 22 clubs: RC’s Catarman, Tagbilaran, and West Davao in 1971; RC’s Mandaue, Butuan Borth, Cebu South, Nasipit, and Mati in 1972; RC’s Toril Davao, and Surigao in (1974); RC’s Central Davao, Dadiangas, and San Juanico in (1975); RC’s Cebu North and Metropolitan Davao in (1976); RC’s Talisay, Dumaguete South and Mandaue North in (1977); RC’s Bansalan and Metro Cebu in (1978); and RC’s North Davo and Metro Dadiangas in (1979).


Another 19 clubs were added to the ever-growing roster of Rotary clubs in District 386 during the first half of the 1980’s as follows: RC’s Sta. Ana (Davao), Marbel, Toledo, Tolong and Cebu East in (1980); RC Cebu Fuente in (1982); RC’s Cebu Central and Cebu Lahug in (1983; RC’s Dumaguete North, El Pardo de Cebu, Metro Tagbilaran, and Mactan in (1984); and RC’s Bogo, Datu Silongan, Mandaue East, Ormoc Bay, Cebu Port Center, Cebu University District and Metro Surigao in (1985).

By the end of 1985, there were only 55 clubs in District 386. In contrast there were 66 clubs in District 385. (However, when District 385 was subdivided in RY 1984-85, it retained only 33 clubs. The other 33 clubs went to the new District 387.) But the second half of the decade and the 1990’s would see another spurt in the growth of the district so that by March of the year 2000 District 3860 would have exactly 100 clubs.


THE GOVERNORS

So far only 17 clubs situated in what is now District 3860 (the zero was added in RY 1991-92 during the term of PDG Johnny Asencio) have produced 36 Governors belonging to the District with five coming from RC Davao (PDG’s Ponching Oboza, Leony Garcia, Onor Lozano, Hila Hilario, and Nick del Rosario), four from RC Cebu (PDG’s Tingting Faelnar, Kack Panis, Rex Reyes, and Manny de Veyra), five from RC Cebu West (PDG’s Tico Lozada, Marianing Ilano, Joe Lardizabal, Toto Cupin and IPDG Ray Patuasi), four from RC East Davao (PDG’s Totoy Cabarroguis, Hermie Villano, Boy Reyes, and Raoul Hilario), three from General Santos (PDG’s Jorge Royeca, Armin Cucueco and Jess Veneracion), two from RC West Davao (PDG’s Bading Angala and Tony Garcia), two from RC Dumaguete (PDG’s Mon Ponce de Leon and King Doromal), three from RC San Juanico (PDG’s Naning Militante, Roqs Tiu and Pabs Quianzon), two from RC Tacloban (PDG’s Tito Redoña and Toting Solis), and one each from RC’s Ormoc (PDG Luing Fran), Koronadal (PDG Art Pingoy), Cebu Fuente (PDG Sar Estalilla), Dadiangas (PDG Johnny Asencio), Metro Cebu (PDG Xavier Ledesma), Mandaue (PDG Dodong Alegrado), Cebu Port Center (PDG Anton Florendo), Central Davao (PDG Monet Titol) and Downtown Davao (IPDG Len Abellera-Magno), Metro Surigao (DG Jun Almeda).

Of the 40 Rotary Governors mentioned above (the figure includes incumbent Governor Jun Almeda. 13 come from Davao City. Another 13 hail from Cebu, while six are from the Leyte/Samar area with another five coming from South Cotabato. Four others come from DumagueteCity, SurigaoCity, BisligCity.

District 3860, as of end of 2005 has 103 clubs and close to 2,294 Rotarians, in the biggest of the 10 Rotary Districts in the Philippines.


(PDG Xavier C. Ledesma served as Governor of District 3860 in 1992-93, while PDG Jun Tambunting was Governor of District 380 in 1976-77).

Rotary District 3860

The Complete Historical Archive

Authored from the records of PDG Xavier C. Ledesma and PDG Antonio Tambunting, Jr., this archive details the inception, evolution, and leadership that built the largest Rotary District in the Philippines.

The Inception & District 81

Fourteen years after the first Rotary club was organized by Paul P. Harris in Chicago, the Rotary movement reached the shores of the Philippines when the Rotary Club of Manila, the first Rotary club in Asia, was chartered in June 1919.

Thirteen years later, RC Manila sponsored the birth of the first Rotary club outside Manila and the second in the country - Rotary Club of Cebu - on November 26, 1932, with 26 charter members. This was followed in 1933 by the organization of the Rotary Club of Iloilo.

The Creation of District 81

In the early days, Rotary clubs were under the direct supervision of the President and the Board of Directors of Rotary International. During the presidency of Arch Klump in RY 1916-17, clubs were divided into districts.

In RY 1936-37, R.I. created District 81, the first district in Southeast Asia. It was composed of 26 clubs: 22 from Mainland China, 1 from Hong Kong, and 3 from the Philippines. RC Bacolod was born soon after.

District 81 was briefly changed to District 96 in RY 1937-38 (the same year RC Baguio was organized) but was recreated in RY 1938-39 with George Malcolm as its first District Governor. Under his term, RC Dagupan, Davao, and Dumaguete were chartered.

First Historical Gatherings

■

First District Conference

Manila (RY 1938-39)

214 delegates from 5 clubs

▲

First District Assembly

Iloilo (RY 1938-39)

14 Rotarians present

●

Second District Assembly

Cebu (1940)

66 delegates present

The War Years & Reconstruction

During the Second World War, all eight clubs in the Philippines (Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Baguio, Dagupan, Davao, Dumaguete) were disbanded.

1945

RC Dagupan became the first club readmitted to R.I. Post-war rebuilding begins. M.A.T. Caparas serves as the first Filipino trustee of R.I., and Carlos P. Romulo becomes the first Filipino honorary trustee of The Rotary Foundation.

RY 1945-46

Theodore L. Hall (DG 1939-1942) serves again as Governor of District 81, overseeing the readmission of RC Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, and Manila.

RY 1946-47

Gil J. Puyat becomes the third Governor of D81 and the first Filipino District Governor. RC Iloilo readmitted; RC Tacloban and Tarlac organized.

RY 1947-49

Mariano Lichaoco (RC Dagupan) becomes the first non-Manila elected DG. In 1948-49, Ben Gaston (RC Bacolod) becomes the first DG from outside Luzon. RC Cagayan de Oro chartered (April 22, 1948).

The Evolution of District 3860

As Rotary flourished in the Philippines, the geographical boundaries required constant redistricting to manage the rapid expansion of clubs across the archipelago.

District 48 (1950-51)

R.I. changes D81 to D48. Vicente L. Faelnar (RC Cebu) becomes the first Cebuano DG. Ramon Ponce de Leon (RC Dumaguete) serves in 1954-55.

District 385 (1957-58)

D48 (35 clubs) changed to D385. Hernando Pineda (RC Cagayan de Oro) becomes the first Mindanao DG. Subdivided in 1964-65 into D380 (Luzon) and D385 (Visayas & Mindanao).

District 386 (1974-75)

Redistricted from D385. 30 clubs formed D386. Mariano S. Ilano Jr. (RC Cebu West) becomes the first DG. Covers Central/Eastern Visayas and Eastern Mindanao.

The Final Form: District 3860

In RY 1991-92, during the term of PDG Johnny Asencio, the zero was added, officially establishing the modern designation of District 3860.

District Area & Geographical Coverage

Rotary District 3860 is composed of the Clubs located in Central and Eastern Visayas, Negros Oriental, and Mindanao Oriental. It represents a vast and diverse territory united by the spirit of service.

Regions & Provinces Included:

Visayas Region
  • Cebu
  • Negros Oriental
  • Bohol
  • Siquijor
  • Leyte
  • Samar
Mindanao Region
  • Agusan del Norte
  • Agusan del Sur
  • Surigao del Norte
  • Surigao del Sur
  • Davao del Norte
  • Davao del Sur
  • Davao Oriental
  • Davao Occidental
  • South Cotabato
  • General Santos
  • Compostela Valley
  • Sarangani

The Period of Expansion

Following the initial charters, the district experienced waves of monumental growth. By March 2000, District 3860 celebrated the charting of exactly 100 active clubs.

  • ►
    1950s: RC Butuan (1954), RC Catbalogan (1956), RC General Santos City (1957).
  • ►
    1960s: Seven new clubs including RC Cebu West, Koronadal, Tagum, East Davao, Ormoc, Digos, South Davao.
  • ►
    1970s: Rapid expansion adding 22 clubs across the region.
  • ►
    1980s: 19 clubs added by 1985.

Clubs Chartered per Decade

Roll of District Governors

This comprehensive record documents the leaders who steered the district, alongside their official home clubs and the annual Rotary International Theme associated with their year.

Rotary Year Theme Logo District Governor R.I. Theme Home Club / Notes
1938-39 - George Malcolm - District 81
1939-42 - Theodore L. Hall - District 81
1945-46 - Theodore L. Hall - District 81
1946-47 - Gil J. Puyat - District 81
1947-48 - Mariano Lichaoco - RC Dagupan
1948-49 - Ben Gaston - RC Bacolod
1951-52 - Vicente L. Faelnar - RC Cebu
1954-55 Theme 1954 Ramon Ponce de Leon 6 Objectives RC Dumaguete
1957-58 - Hernando Pineda - RC Cagayan de Oro
1960-61 Theme 1960 Joaquin L. Panis You Are Rotary-Live It! Express It! Expand It! RC Cebu
1963-64 Theme 1963 Alfonso C. Oboza Meeting Rotary's Challenge In The Space Age RC Davao
1964-65 - Leonardo F. Gallardo - RC Bacolod
1966-67 Theme 1966 Vicente Lozada, Jr. Better World Through Rotary RC Cebu West
1967-68 Theme 1967 Leon M. Garcia, Sr. Make Your Membership Effective RC Davao
1970-71 Theme 1970 Federico Reyes Bridge the Gaps RC Cebu
1971-72 Theme 1971 Leonor S. Lozano Goodwill Begins With You RC Cebu West
Birth of District 386
1974-75 Theme 1974 Mariano "Marianing" Ilano Jr. Renew the Spirit of Rotary RC Cebu West
1975-76 Theme 1975 Salvador "Bading" A. Angala To Dignify the Human Being RC West Davao
1976-77 Theme 1976 Luis M. Fran I Believe in Rotary RC Ormoc
1977-78 Theme 1977 Jorge P. Royeca Serve To Unite Mankind RC General Santos
1978-79 Theme 1978 Manuel E. de Veyra Reach Out RC Cebu
1979-80 Theme 1979 Honorio "Hila" Hilario Let Service Light the Way RC Davao
1980-81 Theme 1980 Graciano Militante Take Time to Serve RC San Juanico
1981-82 Theme 1981 Arturo P. Pingoy World Understanding and Peace Through Rotary RC Koronadal
1982-83 Theme 1982 Quintin "King" Doromal Mankind is One-Build Bridges of Friendship... RC Dumaguete
1983-84 Theme 1983 Honesto "Totoy" Cabarroguis Share Rotary, Serve People RC East Davao
1984-85 Theme 1984 Jose P. Lardizabal Discover a New World of Service RC Cebu West
1985-86 Theme 1985 Armin Cucueco You Are the Key RC General Santos
1986-87 Theme 1986 Roque "Roqs" Tiu Rotary Brings Hope RC San Juanico
1987-88 Theme 1987 Antonio "Tony" M. Garcia Rotarians United in Service, Dedicated to Peace RC West Davao
1988-89 Theme 1988 Cesar "Sar" G. Estalilla Put Rotary Into Rotary-Your Life RC Cebu Fuente
1989-90 Theme 1989 Herminio "Hermie" I. Villano Enjoy Rotary RC East Davao
1990-91 Theme 1990 Margarito "Tito" Redoña Honor Rotary With Faith and Enthusiasm RC Tacloban
Evolution to District 3860
1991-92 Theme 1991 Juanito "Johnny" Asencio Look Beyond Yourself RC Dadiangas
1992-93 Theme 1992 Xavier "Xav" C. Ledesma Real Happiness is Helping Others RC Metro Cebu
1993-94 Theme 1993 Nicanor "Nick" R. Del Rosario Believe in what You Can Do - Do what You Believe In RC South Davao
1994-95 Theme 1994 Arcadio "Dodong" Alegrado Be a Friend RC Mandaue
1995-96 Theme 1995 Reynaldo "Boy" I. Reyes Act with Integrity, Serve with Love RC East Davao
1996-97 Theme 1996 Vicente "Toting" Solis Build the Future with Action And Vision RC Tacloban
1997-98 Theme 1997 Jesus "Jess" Veneracion Show Rotary Cares RC General Santos
1998-99 Theme 1998 Antonio "Anton" B. Florendo Follow your Rotary Dream RC Cebu Port Centre
1999-00 Theme 1999 Raoul Hilario Act With Consistency, Credibility, Continuity RC East Davao
2000-01 Theme 2000 Jose Ma. Luis "Toto" Cupin Create Awareness, Take Action RC Cebu West
2001-02 Theme 2001 Ramon "Monet" Tirol Mankind is Our Business RC Central Davao
2002-03 Theme 2002 Pablo "Pabs" Quianzon Sow the Seeds of Love RC San Juanico
2003-04 Theme 2003 Roberto "Bert" Dormendo Lend a Hand RC Bislig
2004-05 Theme 2004 Raymond "Ray" Patuasi Celebrate Rotary RC Cebu West
2005-06 Theme 2005 Evelyn "Len" Abellera-Magno Service Above Self RC South Digos
2006-07 Theme 2006 Fernando Almeda Lead the Way RC Metro Surigao
2007-08 Theme 2007 Joseph Michael "Yumi" Espina Rotary Shares RC Cebu Fuente
2008-09 Theme 2008 Pablito "Billy" P. Parilla Make Dreams Real RC Matina Davao
2009-10 Theme 2009 Antonio "Tony" G. Veneracion The Future of Rotary Is In Your Hands RC General Santos
2010-11 Theme 2010 Teodoro "Ted" B. Locson, Jr. Building Communities Bridging Continents RC Cebu Port Centre
2011-12 Theme 2011 Leoncio "Nonoy" P. Villa-Abrille Reach Within To Embrace Humanity RC South Davao
2012-13 Theme 2012 Peter "Perok" M. Rodriguez PEACE Through Service RC Ormoc
2013-14 Theme 2013 Edgar "Ed" R Chiongbian ENGAGE ROTARY - CHANGE LIVES RC Cebu
2014-15 Theme 2014 Remegio G. Salanatin Light Up Rotary RC Sta. Ana Davao
2015-16 Theme 2015 Salvador G. Estudillo Be a Gift to the World RC Central Tacloban
2016-17 Theme 2016 Mary Anne A. Solomon Rotary Serving Humanity RC Cebu Fuente
2017-18 Theme 2017 Art O. Tan Rotary: Making a Difference RC Central Davao
2018-19 Theme 2018 Benjamin "Bing" M. Garcia BE THE INSPIRATION RC Marbel
2019-20 Theme 2019 Philip N. Tan Rotary Connects the World RC Cebu West
2020-21 Theme 2020 Rodel Riezl Reyes Rotary Opens Opportunities RC East Davao
2021-22 Theme 2021 Anna Louisa Bumagat Serve to Change Lives RC Ormoc
2022-23 Theme 2022 Lilu Alino Imagine Rotary RC Cebu
2023-24 Theme 2023 Rozanne "Twinkle" Gamboa Create Hope in the World RC Downtown Davao
2024-25 Theme 2024 Caroline Andrade The Magic of Rotary RC Kandaya Tacloban
2025-26 Theme 2025 Angel "Jong" Fernandez Jr. Unite for Good RC Mandaue (Incumbent)

Other Historical District Governors

Historical records cite these esteemed Past District Governors (PDGs) who served the region, organized by their primary home clubs:

RC Davao Hila Hilario, Nick del Rosario
RC Cebu Tingting Faelnar, Kack Panis, Rex Reyes, Manny de Veyra
RC Cebu West Tico Lozada, Joe Lardizabal, Toto Cupin, Ray Patuasi
RC East Davao Totoy Cabarroguis, Hermie Villano, Boy Reyes, Raoul Hilario
General Santos Jorge Royeca, Armin Cucueco, Jess Veneracion
RC West Davao Bading Angala, Tony Garcia
RC Dumaguete Mon Ponce de Leon, King Doromal
RC San Juanico Naning Militante, Roqs Tiu, Pabs Quianzon
RC Tacloban Tito Redoña, Toting Solis
RC Ormoc Luing Fran
RC Koronadal Art Pingoy
RC Cebu Fuente Sar Estalilla
RC Mandaue Dodong Alegrado
RC Cebu Port Center Anton Florendo
RC Central Davao Monet Titol
RC Downtown Davao Len Abellera-Magno

Geographic Origins of PDGs

Based on the 40 Rotary Governors identified in the 2005 summary record.

Top PDG Producing Clubs

Distribution of historical leaders across primary constituent clubs.

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