President's Corner

ALAY LAKAD remains our turf. And the Filipino out-of-school youth have every reason to rejoice. During the general assembly of the Board of Directors of the Alay Lakad Foundation, Inc. which is now on its 45th year, last April 24, 2015 at the Philippine National Police Headquarters and modesty aside, I was re-elected as President of the Alay Lakad Foundation, Inc. Its mandate is to provide educational assistance, skills training and livelihood programs to thousands of out-of-school youth through the annual fund raising walk-for-a-cause held every first Sunday of September.

The walk is led by the four (4) big civic organizations, namely, Rotary, Jaycees, Lions with the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the Metro Manila Development Authority, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, the Girl Scouts of the Philippines as well as other government agencies with H.E. Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, President of the Republic, as honorary member. This coming Rotary Year, our very own DGE/PP Obet Pagdanganan will be a member of the Board of the foundation and Rotary Club of Manila South PP Ricky Valdez will be Rotary Alay Lakad Chairman. Meanwhile, I am both honored and humbled by my re-election to head this foundation, knowing that its main objective is for a worthy cause. On this note, I would like to express my deepest gratitude and sincere appreciation to those who have supported me and I am deeply inspired to continue doing the same for the benefit of our out-of-school youth.

It is worthy to note that the last walk chaired by Lions District Governor Marissa Sy generated a total donation of Php 661,150.00 of which a total of Php 156,000.00 came from Rotary District 3810 led by District Governor Edmond Aguilar and of which Php 60,000.00 came from our very own club through the leadership of our club's Alay Lakad Chairman Club Secretary Albert Alday.

On news within our club, our sister club, the Rotary Club of Singapore, is extending an invitation for us to attend their 81st Installation, Induction Ceremonies and Fellowship Dinner on June 26, 2015 at the Tower Ballroom of the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore and this will be led by their Best Class President Alan Tan. With respect to this event, i am pleased to note that PD Ed Lee and Daffodil will be attending this momentous occasion. For those who will join them, please get in touch with our International Service Director Susing Pineda.

On a sad note, our club prays and extends our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the recent deadly earthquake that struck Kathmandu, Nepal which has claimed the lives of some 4,000 individuals and which has triggered an avalanche at the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest.

On a brighter note, I wish to convey my sincerest thanks and profound gratitude to fellow Rotarians and friends who offered prayers for the speedy recovery of PP Boy Guevara's Ann, Monette, who has swiftly and completely recovered and is not resting at her home. Indeed, strong faith and prayers are the keys to overcome adversity. Really, "God is Good All The Time."

Today, we shall have Mr. Jaime J. Bautista, President and Chief Operating Officer of Philippine Airlines, as Guest of Honor and Speaker, in a joint meeting of our club, the Rotary Club of Manila and the Rotary Club of Makati West led by Best Class President A.P. Bartolome, son of our PP Archit Bartolome. Let us all give him a warm welcome and lend him our undivided attention as it will surely be a very interesting and interactive fellowship meeting. Hence, let us give the winding up stages of our Rotary Year 2014-2015 one final kick as we participate in all the activities of Rotary.