Paula Santiago, past president of the Rotary Club of Champaign West, Illinois, USA, as told to Gene Wurth.
In late May 2024, while standing in line for coffee at the Rotary International Convention in Singapore, I overheard a conversation about another Rotary club’s upcoming presentation describing some of their projects. Most people would have had no idea what was being discussed, because the conversation was in Tagalog, the language of Manila and much of the central Philippines. But, as serendipity would have it, I was born and raised in Manila and am fluent in Tagalog.
I introduced myself in that language and met enthusiastic representatives from the Rotary Club of Makati McKinley, Philippines. I learned about their Happy Schools Project, one of the many that their club has undertaken to improve a rural community in Samar province. While at the convention, I had been thinking of ways I could get my club involved internationally while also continuing our local efforts. I sensed that supporting this project in some way could be an avenue for my club to expand its support globally.
I learned that the Happy Schools Project goal was to provide school shoes, bags, and supplies for hundreds of elementary students across seven of the most remote schools in Northern Samar province – officially recognized as among the 10 poorest provinces in the Philippines. But due to budget constraints, the entire project could not be completed as planned.
I have a personal attachment to Samar province: it is where my grandparents were born and raised before they moved to metro Manila in search of a better life for their family. Supporting the Happy School Project would not only allow my club to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children in Northern Samar, but also bring a sense of fulfillment to me, knowing that we were helping a community in which I have deep roots. It’s possible that some of the children who benefit from our support may even be distant relatives of mine.
I was born in Quezon City and grew up on my mother’s side of the family. At the age of 19, I worked at a U.S. contact center and met a lot of people from the U.S., India, and China. I didn’t have many plans, but I went along with life, working and enjoying meeting people from all over the world in Makati, where many expats lived. By chance, I met my husband there, and at the age of 25, he brought me to the U.S. He tragically died early at the age of 39, but I remarried in 2017 (and now have a son).
My first job in the U.S. was in Danville, Illinois, as an administrative assistant for an economic development organization. After a couple of years, I ended up in the Champaign-Urbana area, working in development for what was then Provena Hospital. It was there my involvement with Rotary began. I had heard of Rotary in the Philippines through a friend active in her club, but in Champaign, I attended a networking event where I learned more about the organization. I was later invited to a meeting and then asked to join. Eager to expand my network, I enthusiastically said yes.
After joining the Rotary Club of Champaign West in 2019, I became involved in committees, was on the board, and served as president in 2024-25. It was not until meeting Rotary Foundation Trustee Larry Lunsford at a district conference that my interest in international projects grew. After hearing my background, he encouraged me to think about supporting a project in my native country through a district or global grant.
Upon returning from the Singapore Convention, I proposed to my club that we try and secure funding to help the Rotary Club of Makati McKinley achieve their goal. Supporting children and youth and setting them up for success has long been one of our club’s priorities.
With our board’s blessing, we worked to get funding and prepared an application for a district grant. We didn’t get the grant, but our board approved allowing our charities committee to make a sizable donation, which allowed the Makati McKinley club to expand their project.
Together, our two clubs have been able to make a tremendous difference in the lives of children in North Samar, upholding Rotary’s mission to serve communities in need around the world. And it all stemmed from an encounter at a Rotary convention.
Register now for the 2026 Rotary International Convention 13-17 June 2026 in Taipei, Taiwan.
https://blog.rotary.org/2025/07/24/chance-meeting-at-convention-leads-to-global-service-opportunity/