Cagayan de Oro City – Newly elected Zonta Club of Cagayan de Oro 1 (ZCCDO1) officers took their oath recently in a ceremony held at Sentro 1850, this city. The oath-taking for the officers for biennium 2024-2026 was administered by Past Area Director Dr. Josephine Go. This was followed by the turnover of club’s gavel and banner from the previous set of officers.
Merlinda Rebolos, President-Elect
Jocelyn Gogo, Vice-President
The new set of officers is composed of President Jasmine Sarmiento, President-Elect Merlinda Rebolos, Vice-President Jocelyn Gogo, Secretary Myra Balandra, Treasurer Lina Estrella Faburada., Auditor Sheryl Pacheco, Director Julie Ang and Public Relations Officer Roena Ibay Bince.
Myra Balandra, Secretary
In her acceptance speech, Sarmiento acknowledged the initiatives that were undertaken by the previous crop of leaders, most especially her predecessor Immediate Past President Caroline Neri in which through her synergism, she made her way to the finish line of her presidency with two prestigious awards on governance and increased in membership.
Lina Estrella Faburada, Treasurer
She added, the immediate past president is an inspiration, a challenge and an avenue for the new set of officers to continue doing those great works that Neri had begun.
Sheryl Pacheco, Auditor
Together, she said the new officers are going to make sure that the club’s four main goals mandated by Zonta International will be achieved, namely: leadership, sustainability, credibility and visibility.
Julie Ang, Director, Service Projects
She said that through active participation and commitment, the club is going to make sure that their theme of Education, Economic and Equity is going to be accomplished.
Sarmiento added, in summary, greater focus in key areas will include:
- Expanding Access to Education
- Advocating for gender equity
- Ending gender-based violence
- Ending child marriage
- Youth Programs
- Health and
- Climate Justice
Roena Bince, Press Relation Officer
ZCCDO1 is a member of Zonta International, a leading global organization of individuals working together to build a better world for women and girls. It envisions a world in which women’s rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.
Caroline Neri, Immediate Past President
Furthermore, she said at the end of the year 2026, it is her dream and prayer that the club will have transformed those possibilities and opportunities into stories of success and triumph. In closing, the newly installed president said, “As we all share a dream and sing with one voice. I am, you are, we are Zontians in Action. Together, we are looking forward to the next two years and beyond.”
