Our Story
A Brief History of the Zonta Club of Central Tuguegarao-- Club No.17.04.1294
The Zonta Club of Central Tuguegarao was chartered on June 8, 1990. Charter membership: 24 dedicated women leaders in business and the professions. Samia Abraham Henrage was Charter President.
SOM Club: Zonta Club of Tuguegarao Foundation.
In its 24 years of service, The Zonta Club of Central Tuguegarao has had twelve (12) presidents.
Meetings Members meet once every month. The date and time are usually agreed upon by the members every start of the biennium. Venue is set at various places within the city, and members are notified in advance of the meeting.
Club Board & Committees: The club has a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary for Recording and Secretary for Correspondence, five members of the Board. The immediate past president serves as an ex-officio member of the Board. Committee Chairpersons are appointed to head the different committees--Service, Membership, Legislative Awareness and Advocacy, and Z Club and Golden Z.
Membership: Club membership averages 22; there was a time when membership reached 37 with a low of 17. Presently there are 21 paid-up members (2013-2014). Orientation of new members are regularly held. Fellowships are also regularly scheduled through monthly membership meetings. Membership had been strengthened through meetings, annual Halloween and Christmas parties, and at the induction/installation ceremonies.
Out-of-town planning activities also provide opportunities for members to bond.
Service Projects:
1. Livelihood programs to equip women with appropriate skills in order to help them become economically self-sufficient. Training programs were offered on sewing, quilting, food preparation, fruit preservation, Christmas décor-making.
2. On women’s health, the club undertook the following:
a. Conducted feeding program at the wards of the Regional Mental Hospital, in depressed barangays, and at the different public schools;
b. Distributed hygiene kits to the women patients of the OB Ward at DSWD Regional Haven for women.
c. Dentist-members of the Club conducted lectures on proper oral & dental care for the Preschool children, along with their mothers and guardians. Free dental kits were also distributed, and the proper way of brushing their teeth was demonstrated.
3. Campaign Against Domestic Violence
Some of our programs were done in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare & Development. DSWD specialists lectured to the members on Domestic Violence in our community in order to heighten their awareness on the subject. In response to the campaign against family violence launched by the Government through DSWD, the Club, in August 2000, signed a resolution condemning all forms of violence against women & children in support of the National Family Violence Prevention Program of the DSWD.
The Club also promoted the establishment of a help desk for women victims of violence, distributed and displayed in all barangay halls the emergency numbers women victims of violence can call. The Club, through its lawyer members, conducted several lectures on Republic Act. 9262 (Violence against women & their children law) in government agencies, schools and universities, among barangay officials, and others not only in the city but also in the entire province and even in nearby provinces. Legal assistance was also extended to women victims of violence. Signature campaigns were also launched to increase awareness on Zonta’s mission to eliminate violence against women and children.
4. Literacy, Education & Advancement of Women:
Given women’s limited access to education and information, and scarcity of financial resources, a holistic & coordinated approach was adopted to improve women’s health, nutrition, their social wellbeing, and raising of their self-esteem. A series of lectures was undertaken on the welfare of women & children. A briefing was conducted on proper health management & prevention of common illness and tropical diseases prevalent in the Philippines such as dengue etc. Preventive measures with the proper medical remedies were also discussed. Social & Family Welfare & Responsible parenthood were also part of the lecture.
5. Partnership with the DSWD Regional Haven For Women:
Through the years, the Zonta Club of Central Tuguegarao has worked as a distinguished partner of the Department of Social Welfare & Development-Regional Haven for Women. It sustained its commitment to share love & time with the residents who are victims of r**e, in**st, physical abuse, molestation, abandonment, who are in dire need of psychological & social support.
The Club takes active part in the processing of the residents by holding regular confidence-building activities, socialization and interaction. It also provides health programs utilizing its medical doctors and dentist-members by giving them medical & dental services. We also distribute toiletries, beauty & hygiene materials.
Through our constant presence & interaction, we obtain first-hand information on the actual experiences of women victims. Zontians provide the moral support and a shoulder to cry on and in the process acquire in-depth understanding of the problems usually encountered by women victims at the hand of their partners. By holding regular confidence-building activities with them, we encourage them to become productive citizens.
Advocacy:
The Club regularly sponsors several symposia on women’s rights. We also never miss celebrating International Women’s month yearly in cooperation with other government and non-government agencies. The Club also regularly sponsors lectures & symposia on Anti- violence against women and children, gender sensitivity programs for college students in various universities in the city, for high school teachers in different schools, parents in the different barangays, in the course of doing service projects for women and children, like medical & dental missions. The Club has printed and posted stickers & tarpaulins, and produced bookmarks promoting women’s and children’s rights. Stickers were distributed to motor vehicles during the celebration of Zonta International Day and other significant days of Zonta. We also go on radio interviews and local TV cables to promote our advocacies.
Club Initiatives
For three years in a row, the club has launched a search for ordinary women with extra- ordinary achievements to give honor and recognition to these women in especially difficult circumstances like single mothers, victims of violence survivors, and those who have overcome their difficult situations and emerged even more successful and empowered. These women are recognized so other women can draw inspiration from their sheer strength and determination. Apart from the recognition for the outstanding women, cash prizes were given to them to start small businesses to help support their families.
Gift giving has always been among the various activities of the club.
Fundraising
The Cub raises funds to support its service projects through sale of raffle draw tickets, jewelry auction, fashion show etc.
District & Area Activities
The club has been actively participating in all Area or District activities. Officers and Board of Directors always attend & participate in the Officers Training Program conducted by the District. It has already hosted Area meetings and is slated to be in charge again in the forthcoming area meeting in May 2014. One member, Susan Carag, has been an Area Director while another member, Mila Lauigan, has been a District Committee Chair on Legislative Awareness and Advocacy. She is also the incoming area Director of Area 4.
International Activities Club officers usually attend International Conventions. Five members have already registered to attend the forthcoming International Convention at Orlando, Florida.
Zonta International Foundation The club contributes to ZI Foundation through its individual members’ donations.
Prepared by: Raquel Sumabat, Club Historian. April 2014
Updated by: Racquel C. Reyes-Aglaua, President, ZN 2020-2022
