President’s Corner

Dear Fellow Manila Rotarians,

Last week, Rep. Leni Robredo discussed with us her activities, plans, and programs, particularly those which involve the Third District of Camarines Sur, and how she tries to carry on the advocacies of her late husband, former Mayor and DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo. She also shared with us some information about her family and her three daughters. After her speech, Dir. Bobby Joseph and an anonymous member of our Club donated a substantial amount for Rep. Robredo to use for the upliftment of the communities in her district. She invited our Club’s members to visit her district to enable us to see for ourselves the actual situation in the affected communities and how the donations will be able to help improve the lives of the residents in such communities.

On news within our Club, we now have a new set of Directors for RY 2016-2017 led by President Elect Teodoro “Teddy’ Ocampo, who is, incidentally, our current Vice President and the President of National University. The other Directors for RY 2016-2017 are Babe Romualdez (who will sit as Vice President), Bobby Joseph, Albert S. Alday, Susing Pineda, Chito Zaldarriaga, Art Lopez, Issam Eldebs, and I will sit in as Immediate Past President. To the new Directors of our Club, my heartfelt congratulations and the best of luck during the next Rotary Year. To the members of our the Committee on Elections (COMELEC) under the leadership of AG/IPP Frank Evaristo and Co-Chairmen, SDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo and PP Francis Juico, kudos on a job well done in ensuring clean, honest, and orderly elections.

On another matter, I would like to ask for your prayers for the speedy recovery of PS Gus Fajardo, Co-Chairman of our World Famous Music Chorale, who suffered a stroke last 13 September 2015 and was rushed to Medical City on that same day. I understand he is currently recuperating.

Last Saturday, 12 September 2015, I together with PE/VP Teddy Ocampo, AS/PD Alvin Lacambacal, and Rtn. Caloy Reyes attended the 56th Anniversary and 57th Induction Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Caloocan, one of our daughter clubs which was established in 1959 and now belongs to RI District 3800, at The Bayleaf in Intramuros, Manila. BIR Commissioner Kim S. Henares was the Special Guest and Speaker and the District Governor and other officers of District 3800 were present.

On news from around the District, last 10 September 2015, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan, CoS/PP Rudy Bediones, SDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo, and I attended the 32nd Charter Anniversary and 33rd Induction and Handover Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Manila San Miguel at the Legend Seafood Restaurant in Pasay City, where WCP Ernesto “Ernie” S. Ochoa was inducted as Club President.

The following day, 11 September 2015, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan, CoS/PP Rudy Bediones, and I attended the Induction and Handover Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Paco at Tamayo’s Catering in Intramuros, Manila, where WCP Ebenezer “Ben” Cordova was inducted as Club President.

The next day, 12 September 2015, members of our very own Rotaract clubs attended the New Generations Conference 2015 hosted by the Rotary Club of Manila Centennial, which we co-hosted, at the Universidad de Manila in the City of Manila.

Today, we deviate from our usual interest in current events, as we set aside some time to get inspired by our Guest Speaker, Dr. Onofre Pagsanghan, more popularly known as “Pagsi” to the myriad of Ateneans whose lives he has touched, as he tells his inspiring story of molding the minds of high school students and his devotion to the field of education. Please actively participate in our program for today and continue to support all of our Club’s activities and programs.

Mabuhay ang Rotary Club of Manila!