Carmelita Kubota honored in Manila

BY

Carmelita Kubota receives the “Ambassador of Goodwill” award from the Navotas Rotary Club in Manila, Philippines on September 16.

Carmelita Kubota, known by many as one of Canyon Lake’s gracious part-time residents, has been at her summer home in Japan since May.

After celebrating her birthday on September 4, Carmelita flew to Manila, Philippines to visit with family and to accept a special award, “Ambassador of Goodwill” from the Rotary Club of Navotas, Rotary International District 3800 on September 16 at the legendary Manila Hotel. It was the club’s 38th Charter Anniversary.

Carmelita says of the event, “It was a very awesome and honorable experience for me for having been invited to that prestigious gathering where they recognized my contributions to their club and their former sister club, the Hamamatsu South Rotary Club, which started in the year 1984. It was an overwhelming joy as I received the award of being their club Ambassador of Goodwill in front of many Rotarians from Metro Manila.

Navotas Rotary Club spouses obliged Carmelita by holding up a copy of The Friday Flyer. Holding the paper are Eduardo M. Yu and his wife Anita. Mr. Yu is past president and charter member of the Navotas Rotary.

She adds, “This year, the motto of Rotary International is ‘Be a Gift to the World.’ For me it carries a deep message that we have to contribute or share what we can to improve the world around us. And I think, without a pause I am in my own humble ways trying to be a gift to the world in terms of doing volunteer activities, serving the community with the fervor and spirit of selflessness and helping the less fortunate ones, whether I am in the East or in the West.”

The award states in part, “In grateful and sincere acknowledgement for having served as the Ambassador of Goodwill between Rotary Club of Navotas, District 3800, Philippines and Rotary Club Hamamatsu South District 2620, Japan through all these years.” Carmelita has played a major role in strengthening the friendship between the two clubs since 1984.