Dumaguete City Host Lions

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The wives of the Lions were very much in evidence since the Dumaguete Lions Club was organized on March 19, 1950. Twelve years later, on July 8, 1962, they formally came into being as the Dumaguete Lionettes Club with their own set of officers. Their first President, Luz Raymundo, set the tone of service which was followed by the 29 Presidents from 1962 to 1991. Records show that each one of them left the imprint of her own brand of leadership, passing on the torch to the next, always with distinction.

Under such inspired leadership, the Lionettes thrived and assumed many roles. First and foremost has been their constant role as Lions’ Club hostesses. They have been indispensable in both planning and execution. VIPs and fellow visiting Lions have come and gone, with memories of the warmth and graciousness of their receptions. In the early years, among those who saved the Lions-Lioness hospitality were Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez, Senator and Mrs. Quintin Paredes, the first Miss Universe Armi Kusuela, President and Mrs. Ferdinand Marcos, and International Lions Clubs Vice President Dudley Simms. All the District Governors of District 301-B, who came for their annual visits as well as the Sumoto Lions Club got the full share of attention as being done up to now. When the Dumaguete Lions Club hosted the Second District Cabinet Meeting in 1978, it was the very first time they tackled such a big undertaking. It meant entertaining 300 officers from 63 Lions Clubs of  District 301-B. The Lions and Lioness Clubs in this “Convention City” did so well that they were asked to host later on the Second, Third and Fourth Cabinet Meetings in 1982, 1985, 1992, respectively.

A lot of entertaining at all these receptions for visitors and for the programs held annually during Valentine’s, Charter, Induction, United Nations and Christmas Days, brought out talents of all sorts. Much enjoyed were dances by Mariant’s Dance Company (MEV Dancers), skits by dramatic talents from Lions and Lionettes, choral ensembles which really took time to train, monologues, cooking demonstrations, flower arrangements, costumes presentations, and even fashion shows. The pictures of these evoke much laughter and nostalgia as good wholesome fun pervaded the atmosphere of such occasions. The working relationship was there for all to see. To the credit of the Lions, the Lionettes will always remember how they were always asked to grace not only the socials but also the turnovers of the many Lions projects to the City and the Province.

By the time 1976 rolled around, the Lionettes came to be called Lionesses per directive from Lions International. But whether they were called Lionettes or Lioness did not matter much. They prove to the community that they could gain laurels on their own for their strong sense of civic-consciousness.

How did they carry out their role as social welfare workers? The Lionesses showed much concern for the unfortunate and needy. They built a future for the harelip cases they sponsored for corrective surgeries. De-worming of children in some barangays took place plus the giving of eyeglasses for indigents. The adopted barangays availed of much more than these with free clinics included. Free surgery was even arranged for them at Silliman Medical Center. They reached out to the young boys’ Protectory much as mothers would. They did not forget the City Jail Inmates, the Talay mental cases, and the patients at the Anti-TB Pavilion especially during Christmas time. Whenever the Lions had their “Operation Pahalipay”, the Lionesses pitched in. When the typhoons hit frequently the country in the 80’s, one can be sure the ladies got busy as bees soliciting used clothing, canned goods and cash for victims in Luzon. With the inundation by the terrible flood in Ormoc City in 1991, Lionesses Mariant Villegas and Obdulia Tangente personally went to Ormoc to distribute cash and goods raised by the club for the victims. Fund drive solicitations of activities like Global Peace Run and Walk for a Cause were responded to, as well as yearly campaigns for the Philippine National Red Cross, the Philippine Mental Health Association, Girl Scout of the Philippines and Anti-TB.

The heart of the ladies opened up to the low-income families where the housewives needed to augment their incomes. Self-help courses in Looc and Daro were started. Calindagan now boasts of a new Children and Livelihood Training Center, thanks to the Sumoto Lions Club. They prepared prospective maids for better paying jobs by opening Household Help Training Services. They did not hesitate to invite doctors with renowned expertise like Dr. Purificacion Florendo and Dr. Salud Kho for lectures on physical well-being. It was not only in 1991 but also in the years past and succeeding years that such lectures were given. Being safety-conscious also, they sponsored Learn-to-Swim courses of the Philippine National Red Cross.

From the early years of Lionism, the Lionesses were called time and again by the Lions to display their artistry. They took care of making the area around the Capitol’s multi-colored fountain and pool, the thing of beauty to behold in 1970. They followed this up with the Quezon Park beautification complete with the painting of benches and donation of trashcans. They took on the perking up of the areas around the Lions Welcome Sign and the Waiting shed at the pier. Then they branched out to the island of the wide L. Rovira Road.

Without fund raising, projects are difficult to pursue. The Lions had big fund raising activities that found Lionesses in the thick of things. The Lee Tang Hua Acrobatic group, an internationally renowned circus, came to town in 1975 and wowed the City. The Alaska Milk Trapeze Group in 1976 set hearts palpitating, all for sweet charity’s sake. The Lionesses went to town selling tickets, joining the fun. Their enthusiasm was no less for benefit concerts like those of guitarist Pacifico Pelaez, the Ateneo Glee Club, the Alice Reyes Dance Company and the MEV Dance Concerts. Bingo Socials were held in 1982 and 1998. Annual Bazaars meant the display of all sorts of items to entice the buyers especially before Christmas, taxing their ingenuity to the utmost. Raffles were also resorted to. They knew that funds must be available especially for the current drive to ward off and lessen the drug menace.

Beauty contests have always had attraction for Lions and Lioness, who took on the sponsorship of Mae Echiverri as a candidate for Bb. Pilipinas in 1969. That emboldened them to undertake the Dumaguete City Fiesta sponsorship thrice in 1979, 1987, and 1991. When the Third District Cabinet Meeting was held here in 1992, another beauty contest with Miss Cebu winning the title of Miss Lions District 301-B was held. These were events that stood out.

The Lionesses were not just limited to their turf. The Lions made it also a point to bring their Lionesses to national and international conventions, including out of town special events. The trips they most enjoyed were visits to the Sumoto Lions Club, their sister club in Japan. The Filipino-Japanese-American Amity Memorial Shrine in Valencia, being built jointly by both Clubs, is a tribute to the dead in Japanese war in WW II. Sumoto Lions Club members have been the guests here of both the Lions and Lionesses for many years.

The Lionesses have good reason to be proud of their very own member, Mariant Escaño-Villegas. She has shown all the other Lioness Clubs that Dumaguete can come up with quality members who can occupy national positions with honor. The Lionesses have been doing their community  work since 1962 but it was only in 1986 that the Dumaguete Lioness Club was chartered and recognized by Lions International. Mariant became the Charter President. She has put the club on the map by her becoming Lioness District 301-B President in 1987-88. The next year, she was chosen Lioness Multiple District 301 Vice President. Then she rose to become the National President, Multiple District 301 Philippines in 1989-90, the only one from the Visayas up to today. There were only 5 Lioness Multiple District Presidents all over the world during her term. She became one of the few Melvin Jones Fellow from the Visayas that same year.

It is quite discouraging when the Lions Club International dissolved the Lioness Clubs worldwide in the late 1980’s. The mandate affected the local set-up. The members retained the name Lioness but were not officially recognized. However, they have kept functioning as an auxiliary group, extending strong active support to their Lions. Some of them have opted to strengthen the Lions Club by becoming Lady Lion.

Truly dedication to Lionism has been the Lioness password and ever will be.