This is the 24th distribution of SCAW to the Philippines. Over the years a very successful partnership and bonding has been developed between Mr. Murray Dryden and a group of Kiwanis and other volunteers from various service organizations in the Philippines.
During this year’s distribution, many fond memories of Mr. Dryden — the man — were told to us which the SCAW team extremely enjoyed and made us realize the depth of the respect and love they have for Mr. Dryden. I decided to submit to the Newsletter an interview with Dr. Juan F. Torres Jr., the Chairman of SCAW Philippines, the lead group that organizes and overseas all Philippine distribution.
Linda: Dr. Torres, how did you meet Mr. Dryden and how did the Philippines become one of the recipients of bedkits?
Dr. Torres: I was District Governor in 1982-83 holding office at the Manila Peninsula Hotel, when a tall lanky man appeared one day and asked me, what I’d do if I received bedkits for children. I immediately replied, "Of course, I’ll give it to children." Shortly thereafter, he simply left.
About a month or two later, I received a letter stating that SCAW Canada was considering the Philippines for one of its recipients of bedkits. I did not give it much thought so I gave the letter to a club president for acknowledgement. Shortly thereafter, he received a cheque from SCAW for 500 bedkits. The Kiwanian did not know what to do and asked me for advice. I realized that Mr. Dryden really meant business. This was the start of the SCAW relationship.
After the kits were made, Mr. Dryden came to the Philippines and asked me why my own club was not included in the distribution. From the start, we developed a close relationship and he wanted to know why I was not more actively involved. After a few years, Mr. Dryden informed me that he will discontinue SCAW in the Philippines on account of certain discrepancies that were not in keeping with SCAW procedures.
Somehow, I was in Toronto area and I appealed for reconsideration. I emphasized that the children in the Philippines needed SCAW and I couldn’t understand why a worthy project would be scrapped simply because some adults were remiss in their job. Subsequently, I was informed that because of my argument, SCAW would be resumed under my guidance and leadership. Being a busy practitioner and professor of Medicine, I told him that I may not be able to do a good job. Mr. Dryden countered: "Why should a worthy project be stopped just because some adults were unwilling." After Mr. Dryden agreed to include two other people in the committee, we continued undertaking the project year after year.
Linda: Dr. Torres, what fond memories do you treasure of Mr. Dryden?
Dr. Torres: I have countless memories of Mr. Dryden that I treasure. All of them underscore his intense passion for what he is doing. What excites me is his unending commitment to his vision of seeing children spend a good night’s rest. As a matter of fact, he always told me, "There is nothing more peaceful than a sleeping child."
Linda: Are there any stories and anecdotes that are fresh in your memory that you would like to share with us?
Dr. Torres:
- He is a Kiwanian and every year during Kiwanis conventions that I attend and which he also attended without telling me beforehand, he would always surprise me with a phone call saying, "Why haven’t you come for breakfast?" During breakfast, he would keep me updated about SCAW matters and sometimes he would take me along with him to different possible sources of funding.
- He would always kid about the colour of my suits calling them funeral grey, trying to tell me that I should wear bright coloured suits like he did.
- When he received the World Service Medal of Kiwanis in Seattle in 1988, I was with him. He was on stage and I was at the foot of the stage. He was speechless and in tears and so was I and I kept yelling at him words that I thought he should say. Of course, he never heard me.
- Another incident that shows the character of the Man that I so admire and respect was when his worn-out leather briefcase fell apart and he wanted me to have it repaired. I told him the repairman refused to touch such an old briefcase. He insisted that he wanted it repaired. I bought him a similar bag and put the old bag inside, and he said, "This is not my bag!" I never won the argument so I gave him his old briefcase back and he returned the new bag to me.
- There are often instances that established the quality of this Man one of which is, he would send me clippings of cartoons made about him. He also sent me many letters which were never dated and here is a sample of one of his letters.
- On his last trip to the Philippines, he said to me, "I don’t think I will be able to come here again." He refused to use the wheelchair.
- I thought of him as a very close friend. Our relationship would be that of a father to son, or brother to brother, and his passing away is a great loss to me.
The last time I came to Toronto was in 1988. Rolly and I came to meet him dressed in silk and Murray was dressed in Barong Tagalog, the Filipino national shirt. I though maybe he was trying to tell me something. - Another incident was lunch at a Country Club in Toronto. They would not let me in because I was not wearing a suit. Mr. Dryden was so embarrassed and flabbergasted so I asked the waiter if I could borrow a tie and a jacket which was oversized. At dinner we went over the draft of one of his books.
April 27, 2006.
Linda Taiajbee
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