President's Corner

Dear Fellow Manila Rotarians,

Last week’s general membership luncheon meeting had the National Water Resources Board’s (the “NWRB”) Dr. Sevillo D. David, Jr. inform us of the steps being undertaken to soften the impact of the strong El Niño phenomenon that we are experiencing this year and discuss the future of our water supply in the country, particularly in Metro Manila. He explained the jurisdiction, functions, and powers of the NWRB and how critical it is to correctly and properly allocate our scarce water resources among its many uses - from domestic use in our homes and offices, to use in agriculture and power generation. Also, he explained the plans and efforts being put in place to find and develop a new and adequate source for raw water needed to service our growing needs, especially in the National Capital Region.

On news within our Club, I wish to announce that, as the October brew of merry making seeps in, one of the most awaited fellowship activities of the Rotary Club of Manila, the RCM Oktoberfest, will take place this year at the German Club on Tuesday, 20 October 2015, at 7pm, starting with the very popular Happy Hour. This annual event will be hosted by the German members of our Club, namely, PSAA Gunter Matschuch (who is the Chair of the RCM Oktoberfest Committee), His Excellency Rtn. Thomas Ossowski (who is the German Ambassador to the Philippines), Rtn. Bodo Goerlich (who is the President of the Philippine-German Chamber of Commerce), Rtn. Uwe Hesse, Rtn. Henning Karcher, Rtn. Klaus Muller, and Rtn. Horst Kessler Von Sprengeisen, and will be co-hosted by the other European members of our Club, namely, Rtn. Mikael Avellan and PD Knud Hedeager. Don’t miss this once-in-the-year event, as this promises to be another evening of fun, fellowship, and camaraderie. Please make sure not to miss the delectable German dishes and the overflowing beer that will be served.

On news from around the District, last 9 October 2015, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan, CoS/PP Rudy Bediones, and I attended the Induction and Handover Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Pasay Harrison at the Turf Room of the Manila Polo Club in Makati City, where WCP Jessica Lugtu was inducted as Club President, right after the club’s Governor’s Visit. Five days later, on 14 October 2015, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan and CoS/PP Rudy Bediones attended the Induction and Handover Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Manila South at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City, where WCP Jannett Concepcion-Valdes was inducted as Club President.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that our very own candidate for District 3810 Governor Nominee, CoS/PP Rudy Bediones, will be elected as District Governor Nominee this Rotary Year, so that he will become the District Governor in Rotary Year 2018-2019 and lead the centennial celebration of our Club, and that of Rotary in the Philippines and Asia, in that Rotary Year.

Today, we shall have Carlos Jericho Petilla, Former Secretary of the Department of Energy, Republic of the Philippines, and a Liberal Party Senatorial aspirant, as our Guest Honor and Speaker. He is expected to enlighten us on his many advocacies, including the development of renewable energy, as he prepares to run for a Senatorial seat in 2016. Please take an active part in the discussions with our guest Speaker today and continue to actively support our Club’s programs and projects this year.

Mabuhay ang Rotary Club of Manila!