The Global Map of a Name - Rotary
After more than thirty years in Rotary, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for our global fellowship. With over 1.4 million members across the world, walking into a Rotary meeting anywhere on the globe is supposed to feel like coming home. Yet, how we introduce ourselves at the table reveals a fascinating mirror of human culture. Welcome to the wonderful world of Philippine Rotary, where you don’t just have a name; you have a lineage. You aren't just "Vic or Norma .” You are Past President, Past District Governor, SDG, AG, or Chairman Juan. In the Philippines, we do love our titles. It’s a cultural trait that goes way beyond Rotary. We carry it into our professional lives, and it’s the same psyche that dominates our political landscape. We are easily charmed by empty titles and grand introductions, sometimes forgetting to check if there’s any substance behind them. In our public life, the bar for entry can be so low that almost anyone can get elected, yet we still line ...