Pharmacist cited for selflessness by Rotary

Pharmacist Teresita Tumangan will receive this year’s Rotary Service Above Self Award, recognized for her continuing and sustainable hands-on humanitarian service.

The distinction will be bestowed in ceremonies to be presided over by Rotary District 3810 Governor Edmond Aguilaron on May 23 at Manila Hotel.

Tumangan is being cited for her mobile e-learning initiative in the Baseco district of Manila, which she implemented with financial support from Rotary districts abroad.

The project is in six Manila public high schools and is aimed at improving the English comprehension skills of secondary students to increase their chances of going to college or joining the work force.

The mobile e-learning school has gone around from Manila to Pasay City and other areas covered by her Rotary district.

It has formed partnerships with five high schools in Manila and has received positive feedback from students.

Tumangan has also helped 200 out-of-school youth graduates from welding and house-painting courses in collaboration with Success Advance Corp. and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Many of the graduates are now employed by Hanjin, the largest shipbuilding facility in Subic.

Apart from that, Tumangan is being honored for her adoption of day-care centers to feed children, for her regular medical and dental missions and her peace initiatives, including the formation of a Muslim Rotary Club in Greenhills, San Juan City, among others.

She has also organized and empowered the Rotary Club presidents’ spouses into becoming future Rotarians by directly involving them in the community development activities of their husbands.

She is married to lawyer Ed Tumangan, District 3810 past governor.

Annually, some of the 1.2 million Rotarians in 540 districts worldwide are bestowed this award in recognition of their sustained and continuous service to the marginalized in their districts.