The organization of the provisional Rotary Club of Las Piñas was conceived by the Rotary Club of Parañaque under it’s 5 President Cesar Jota. Then the District Governor, later RI Director for 1996-1998 Paing Hechanova, assigned RCP Vice President-Elect Rene Ocampo as District Governor Special Representative. He was the most logical choice being the most experienced Parañaque Rotarian residing in Las Piñas. Spearheading it’s formation, Rene called for it’s initial meeting on February 29, 1980 at the Kalantiao Room at Tropical Place Resort Hotel A total of 16 persons attended, a number which steadily grew until its 8th meeting on May 8, 1980.

On May 14 of the same year. Rotary International, under President Jim Bomar, gramed the charter to the Rotary Club of Las Piñas, exactly 18 days after pertinent documents were mailed. It was a record of swift approval in Philippine Rotary history, thanks to the efforts of DG Paing and District Chairman for Extension Cesar Yaico, also Charter President of RC Parañaque.

Fourteen more meetings and the club held its charter presentation and induction of charter officers and members on August 28, 1980. Fittingly, DSGR Rene Ocampo, once a young man in search of a Rotary Club in Las Piñas with which to apply for the Rotary Foundation Group Study Exchange Award, was elected Charter President.

Aside from Charter President Rene Ocampo, the other officers and directors were: Sandy Sadoval, Vice President and President Elect; Buddy Funcion, Secretary, Eli Encarnacion, Treasurer.

Directors were Maxy Abad, Club Service A; Art Gacutan, Club Service B; Joe Tabora, Club Services C Larry Argente, Vocational and Community Services, and Art Higgins, International Service.

On the fourth quarter, Art Higgins who resigned was replaced by Adolf Azcuna. The first year of the club was easily a banner year!

Hitherto unknown, the newly chartered obscure little club attracted international attention when it cosponsored with the Rotary Club of Encino, California the transport and medical treatment of Victor Edward Leyson who suffered from a rare congenital anomaly known as “first bronchial arch syndrome”.

Also the club arranged for the airlifting, free of charge of six-year old boy Chong Yoong Chew and his mother Madame Ho Sin Yew from Kuala Lumpur to Manila and back for an open heartsurgery in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Kajang Malaysia.

In the words of PDG Pepot Barredo, “The Rotary Club of Las Piñas achieved in one year what other clubs would normally take years”.