By Cyrus A. Natividad

Pastor Jec with wife Herme and children.

Pastor Jec Dan Borlado, the new President of the Rotary Club of Jaro Centraline (RCJC), a special alumni chapter of CPUAAI, will focus on the essence of change during his stint as president. Although it’s a wide-ranging topic, it is mostly focused on peacebuilding and conflict prevention and resolution. “This is a Peace-Fellow’s program that clubs around the world are participating, at a time of great depression because of the pandemic”, the club President said. The Rotary International year (R.I. 2021-2022) theme is “Serve to change lives.”

As a minister for youth who has been representing the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches in many countries around the world, Borlado is well engaged in mentoring trainers on conflict resolution particularly in Asian peace builders in areas of Conflict Analysis, Conflict Resolution, Experiential Education and many others related to Conflict Transformation. The Rotary Club of Jaro Centraline recognizes the need for a Club President who has worked extensively with socio-civic organizations and programs.

In an online interview by The Centralian Link, RCJC President Borlado expressed his sense of fulfillment in being able to use his position in the Rotary Club for the greater good. He said that “I acknowledge my father-in-law, the late Rotarian and Scout Master Hernando P. Agriam in this pursuit of the 4-way Test with the vision of Rotary.” He added that “Rotary gives an opportunity to practice charity, humbly extending help to others.”
Asked for the reason why he joined the Rotary Club, Borlado said, “I joined Rotary primarily because of my participation in peace and nation-building.”

In 2012, Borlado joined the Training for Conflict Transformation Trainers (TCTT) in Chiang Mai, Thailand with teacher Daniel Buttry, a Baptist Missionary for the International Ministries, American Baptist Churches, U.S.A. “I was encouraged by Buttry to pursue further studies and training with Rotary International”, Borlado said.

Among the programs or projects that Borlado supposedly said would be relevant and helpful in today’s crisis situation are those that present economic solutions to daily hunger realities for the poor and upholding vaccine access equity. “We can offer mental wellness support (e.g. prayer) for medical and community frontliners – these are very relevant to life experiences and situations during the pandemic”, he said.

He challenged Rotarians by saying, “This is a chance to build a better world. We should not miss this opportunity to help establish healthy and wholesome communities on earth”. Borlado personally accepts that his being a Rotarian is “an expression of faith in Christ Jesus and the daily cost of being a follower of Christ.” Furthermore he said, “With Rotary, we shall be ready to serve and change lives, to be true and faithful to our vision as an international organization. It is my dream to have Rotary support our personal mission plans for humanity.”

Borlado will collaborate with Central Philippine University and CPU Alumni Associations worldwide to partner with the Rotary Club of Jaro Centraline for the 7 areas of focus namely: Peace and conflict prevention/resolution, Disease Prevention and Treatment, Maternal and Child Health, Water and Sanitation, Basic Education and Literacy, Economic and Community Development, and Supporting the Environment.

Pastor Jec Dan Borlado studied elementary to graduate school from Central Philippine University (Elementary 1997, High School 2001, Med Tech 2005, Master of Divinity 2013). He recently a course from the Institute of Human Rights of the Academies of Christian Conference of Asia (2021). He also received training in Peace Building and Conflict Transformation in 2012.

Borlado is a Pastor’s Kid. His parents Rev. Danilo A. Borlado (current member of CPU Corporation) and Pastor Mary Lou S.Borlado are both Centralians and alumni of the CPU College of Theology. They were serving at the Jaro Evangelical Church (JEC) during the time he was born in 1984. His parents are CPBC missionaries currently based in Hong Kong with the New Beginnings Christian Fellowship.

He is happily married to Herme Agriam, a professor at Central Philippine University College of Nursing. They have two children – Matteo Chaim who is 6 years old and Annika Estelle who will be turning 3 at the end of August. Jec and Herme are avid mountain bikers.

He is a singer, songwriter, and musician (a member of the CPU Handbell Ringers). He was sent previously as Youth Commissioner to the World Council of Churches, and has represented the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches to many countries around the world, attending ecumenical and Baptist conferences and meetings.

He served as Minister for Youth at La Carlota Evangelical Church, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental for 4 years (2013-2017).

He currently serves as Program Director of the CPBC – Pastoral Placement, Theological Education.