District Governor Emma Martinez Nava, PHF is the 20th governor of District 3850. She is also 3850’s second female district governor.

Governor Ems brings to the District 33 years of experience in Rotary service to her club and the district. She was a Charter Member of the Rotary Anns of the Rotary Club of Iloilo City, where she actively functioned either as director, vice president, or president.  

Ems hails from the well-known Martinez clan of Malabon. She completed her grade school, high school, and A.B. Economics at Maryknoll College (now Miriam College) in Quezon City. It was in Metro Manila where she met a university student who would be her future husband, Oscar.

After getting married, the Nava couple decided to raise their family in Iloilo City where gainful employment and business opportunities abound. For the next 16 years, Ems worked as office manager of RJL Martinez Fishing Corp. and the Western Visayas Shipbuilding and Repair Co., Inc.

As a licensed real estate broker, Ems is a unit manager of a real estate development corporation while heading some family businesses. She is president of EOS Property Holdings, Inc., treasurer of Lemon Tree Enterprises and Paradise Island Multi Resources.

She is also chairperson of the board of trustees of Tayben Woodland Foundation, Inc. DG Ems is treasurer of the annual city government’s Committee for Christmas Décor that is responsible in sourcing lanterns that inmates design and construct to brighten the city during the Yuletide Season.

All in the Family

The Navas are, by choice and dedication, a Rotary Family.

Oscar “Oca” Caram Nava Jr., PHF, a businessman and sportsman, is a Charter Member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Iloilo City. He was District 3850 Governor in RY 1997-98.   

Oca and Ems, as a couple, is a major contributor to The Rotary Foundation.

All four of their children are Paul Harris Fellows. Pia Angela, PHF is a past club secretary of RC Central Iloilo City, former president of the Interact Club of Metro Iloilo, a Rotex to RI District 7260 in Long Island, NY. Pia finished her AB Mass Communications degree at Assumption College in San Lorenzo Village, Makati City.

Oscar Reuben, PHF is an Industrial Design graduate of De La Salle University – College of Saint Benilde. He had his senior high school year as a Rotex to District 6670 in Ohio. Amanda Joanna, PHF, is a Production Design graduate also of De La Salle University - College of Saint Benilde. She was a Rotex to District 7750 in Clemson, South Carolina. Not to be outdone by her siblings, Alyssa, the youngest, is going to District 7910 in Needham, Massachusetts. Alyssa Maria, PHF, just graduated from high school at Assumption, Iloilo.

Service to Rotary

Like any club executive, then President Ems saw to fruition vital projects that touched the lives of children and generally the socially and economically challenged communities in the City and Province of Iloilo.

Governor Ems is particularly proud of the club’s water impounding project in a depressed Barangay in Janiuay, Iloilo that is home to a small community of Aetas (“Ati”) and the literacy program for these indigenous persons that inspired the active involvement of the Special Education Students Association (SPEDSA) headquartered at the West Visayas State University. Totally sold to the idea of service the Rotary way, the Ati elders welcomed their formation into the Janiuaynon Aetas Rotary Village Corps.

From the early 1990s all the way to this new century, Governor Ems has had the honor of having the trust of district governors who asked her to head important subcommittees and committees. Even before becoming club president, Ems already co-chaired the Panay Partner in Service of the District Rotary Foundation. She chaired the TRF Alumni Subcommittee for five straight years from 1998 to 2003 and again in RY 2006-07 when she was able to organize the Rotary Foundation Alumni Associations of Panay. She served as ADG under District Governor Philip “Phil” Abello and District Secretary under District Governor Benjamin “Boy” Jarantilla.

In RY 2004-05, Governor Ems was head of District Extension and chair of the Rotary Youth Exchange Committee the following Rotary Year. In RY 2005-2006, DG Eric Laviña Jr. chose her to lead the GSE Team bound for India.

Service as District Governor

DG Emma’s service work is cut out for the coming Rotary Year 2008-2009. She is not alone. With her family and her team and the support of the past district governors, club officers, and Rotarians, RI District 3850 will Make Dreams Real.