President’s Corner

Tim Cahill once said that “a journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” No wonder our club, the Rotary Club of Manila, the First in Asia, each year recognizes acquaintances in the tourism industry who have made travelling a pleasant experience for each and every explorer of new frontiers. And today, we reward them for their exemplary contribution to the development of Philippine Toursim under the stewardship of Dir. Bobby Joseph, a foremost icon in the travel industry, through the 11th Annual Rotary Club of Manila Tourism Awards where ten (10) personalities/entities who have immensely shaped the face of the Philippine Tourism will be justly awarded for a job well done as our club lauds their achievements in their respective fields of endeavor after having undergone a rigorous pre-screening and final selection process under the leadership of Dir. Bobby Joseph. On this note, I congratulate all the awardees as this momentous event marks a celebration of true excellence and commitment by these tourism industry catalysts who have played major roles in helping our country in becoming a world class tourist destination in Asia.

On news within our club, I attended the Remedios Circle Re-development Committee Meeting chaired by PDG Alex Cureg and co-chaired by Rtn. Hermie Esguerra last Thursday, May 7, 2015 after our club luncheon meeting. During the meeting, concrete plans and programs were drawn which would likewise entail a substantial seed fund towards the project’s realization.

On news around the district, I attended the Rotary International District 3810 Public Relations Group Coordination Meeting for the incoming Rotary Year 2015-2016, the year in which our very own DGE/PP Obet Pagdanganan will sit as District Governor, last May 7, 2015 at the Aloha Hotel along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. Among the attendees aside from myself who is also the district’s Public Relations and Communications Officer were Incoming District Rotaract Representative John Alexiz Tan, Incoming District Secretary Dolly Uanang, DGE Obet Pagdanganan, Senior Deputy Governor for Public Relations Arlene Velez, GML Contributor President Nominee Cecilia Larita, Cavite A Area PR Past President Sallie Lacson, Incoming Rotaract Public Relations Chair Joshua Abayde, Manila B Area PR Past President Marlene Lantin, GML Circulation Manager Past President Liza Khan, Cavite B Area PR Past President Doll Cada, District Webmaster Past President Mark Eugene Tan, Assistant Governor/Immediate Past President and Incoming Chief of Staff Rudy Bediones and Internet Communications Group and GML Editor-In-Chief Past President Charlie Chua.

Last May 12, 2015, I attended the Rotary Assistant Governor Manila Area Meeting with our very own DGE/PP Obet Pagdanganan at the Copacabana Hotel in Pasay City as I was recently appointed Assistant Governor for the Manila Area clubs for the Incoming Rotary Year 2015-2016. Hence, my hands will still be full even after my term as President of the club ends as I will still be serving as part of the Board of Directors in my capacity as Immediate Past President as well as President of the Alay Lakad Foundation, Inc. where I was recently re-elected for a another 2-year term.

Next Thursday, May 21, 2015, The Standard – Defining The News will be hosting our lunch at the Manila Polo Club as arranged by our Program Committee Co-Chair and Journalism Awards Chairman Rtn. Babe Romualdez. This means that we will be treated to a free lunch for the first time during my term as President as there will be a forum on territorial issues regarding the West Philippine Seas where there will be guest speakers enlightening us on the pro’s and con’s. To this, our club expresses our sincerest thanks and profound gratitude to the host and to Rtn. Babe Romualdez for making this possible.

On this note, 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.