President’s Corner

The 2015 Journalism Awards was, definitely, a box office hit! On its nineteenth (19th) year of staging what media circles regard as one of the most prestigious award-giving bodies, the Journalism Awards has not lost even a bit, its luster, as it continues to be one of Rotary Club of Manila’s shining moments both on print and on the air. With a powerful attendance of more than 150 guests, 66 regular members of Asia’s First Rotary Club and 2 honorary members, the annual event which gave recognition to the most outstanding media practitioners in the tri-media, i.e., print, television and radio as well as certain special awards, easily lived up to its billing as the most anticipated event of the year with a full house of media coverage that definitely worked to our club’s public image as media mileage and exposure of our club were definitely in the high heavens with no less than the woman of the hour, the Honorable Grace Poe, Senator of the Republic of the Philippines, as the event’s Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker. With post event exposures of our club the following day in television giants, ABS-CBN 2 and GMA 7 as well as in various newspapers and radio stations from where the winners emanated, the image of the Rotary Club of Manila as an icon of service to the nation reigned supreme.

On this note, congratulations are in order for Journalism Awards Committee Chair Rtn. Babe Romualdez, Journalism Awards Committee Co-Chair PVP Fausto Preysler and members, Dir. Susing Pineda, PD Jimmie Policarpio, Rtn. Art Lopez, Rtn. Pepe Rodriguez and Rtn. Farid Schoucair. This event was under the directorship of AG/IPP Rudy Bediones (Vocational Service Group), the District 3810 Incoming Chief of Staff of DGE Obet Pagdanganan. Kudos to the Journalism Awards Team for a job well done.

On news within our club and around the district, last Tuesday, June 16, 2015, I attended the 150 years celebration of the Hospicio de San Jose together with VP Teddy Ocampo, PD Phil Ong and Hon./PSAA Fred Lim (former Mayor of Manila), the Chairman of the Elderly and Special Children Committee where we exchanged pleasantries with the people who attended this important event. Last Wednesday, June 17, 2015, I attended the the Rotary Street Children Foundation Thanksgiving and Handover Ceremonies together with our DG Edmond Aguilar and my fellow Best Class Presidents who attended in full force at this event held at the Tuloy sa Don Bosco in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Next Thursday, June 25, 2015, road to Rotary 2015-2015 finally sees its end with the staging of my final meeting as President of Asia’s First Rotary Club at the McKinley Hall of the Manila Polo Club in Makati City. Dubbed as the VALEDICTORY AND YEAR-END AWARDS PRESENTATION, due recognition will be given to club members who have performed outstandingly during the Rotary Year 2014-2015 in consonance with the year’s theme, “Light Up Rotary”. In particular, the most outstanding Rotarians of the club who were instrumental in laying down the objectives, plans and programs as well as accomplishing the respective goals in service to the various communities as inspired by the Rotary spirit of “Service Above Self” will be justly rewarded.

As an added feature to the swan song of this year’s administration, our club will raffle off some valuable prizes such as two (2) PAL Manila-Hong Kong-Manila tickets, one (1) overnight accommodation for two at a Deluxe Room with Buffet Breakfast for two at the New World Makati Hotel, one (1) buffet lunch or dinner for two at Cafe 1228 of the New World Makati Hotel, three (3) overnight accommodation for two at a Deluxe Room of the Fersal Hotel, three (3) gift certificates for a Double Room accommodation at Microtel and four (4) bottles of red wine. Strict rules regarding physical presence of the drawn winner applies. Otherwise, the same will be re-drawn so as to give chances for other club members to win. Likewise, only members of the Rotary Club of Manila are entitled to win at the raffle.

Today, our club shall have retired Major General Jose T. Almonte, former National Security Adviser and former Director-General of the National Security Council of the Republic of the Philippines during the administration of our Rotary Club of Manila Honorary Member, the former President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Fidel “Eddie” V. Ramos who will be our special guest in a joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Forbes Park led by Best Class President John Tiong. Let’s give a warm welcome to our esteemed guest of honor and speaker and I encourage all to participate in the remaining activities of our club as we give the remaining days of this Rotary year, the final kick it deserves.