President's Corner

Dear Fellow Manila Rotarians,

Last week, Liberal Party Senatorial candidate and former Secretary of the Department of Energy, Carlos Jericho “Icot” L. Petilla, our Guest of Honor and Speaker at our regular Thursday luncheon membership meeting, shared with us updated information about the demands and sources of energy in our country today, as well as his thoughts on the development and use of renewable sources of energy in the Philippines. His presentation was very timely in the light of the recently announced planned power outages in Metro Manila and elsewhere and the El Niño phenomenon that will affect our country this year. Many of our members who are involved in the power industry engaged Secretary Petilla in a lively exchange of ideas.

On news within our Club, I wish to announce that one of the most awaited fellowship parties of the Rotary Club of Manila every Rotary Year, the Oktoberfest, which was originally planned to be held on October 20 this year, and which is to be hosted by the German members of our Club, namely, PSAA Gunter Matschuch (who is the Chair of the RCM Oktoberfest), 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 co-hosted by the other European members of our Club, namely, Rtn. Mikael Avellan and PD Knud Hedeager, had to be postponed to a later date, due to the onslaught of Super Typhoon Lando. The new date of our Club’s Oktoberfest for 2015 will be announced later.

I would like to remind all members to please help in the recruitment of new members into our Club. I request all of you to please identify at least one good candidate for invitation as member into our Club. Please inform Ms. Anna Toledo of our Secretariat of the name(s) of your proposed candidates so that our Membership and Classification Committees can process the recommendations. The sooner we get your recommendations, the better.

On news from around the District, last 15 October 2015, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan and CoS/PP Rudy Bediones attended the 24th Induction and Handover Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Imus at the Leighton Hall, Lancaster City, in Imus, Cavite, where WCP Jocielyn “Jelyn” Laosantos was inducted as Club President. Two days later, 18 October 2015, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan, CoS/PP Rudy Bediones, IDCoS/ISDG/DE/IPS Albert Alday, and Rtn. Nicky Villaseñor attended the District 3810 Vocational Seminar with the theme, “Made To Make A Difference”, at the New World Manila Bay Hotel. On that same evening, there were simultaneous events: DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan, CoS/PP Rudy Bediones, AG/IPP Frank Evaristo, and PVP Lance Masters attended the Induction and Handover Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of San Marcelino at the YWCA MANILA, where WCP Ronald Remulla was inducted as Club President, while IDCoS/ISDG/DE/IPS Albert Alday, who is our Club’s Rotaract Chair, attended the Induction and Handover Ceremonies of the Rotaract Club of De La Salle University Manila, where he administered the oath of office to the club’s new officers and delivered an inspirational message.

Last 21 October 2015, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan and CoS/PP Rudy Bediones attended the Induction and handover Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Mabini, Manila, at the Le Park, Metropolitan Park in Pasay City, where WCP Mona Lisa “Mona” T. Argana was inducted as Club President.

Moreover, the elections for RI District 3810’s District Governor Nominee (the “DGN”) is underway, with two candidates vying for the position: PP Liza Elorde of RC Manila 101, and our very own CoS/PP Rudy Bediones. Let us all wish CoS/PP Rudy all the best. If Cos/PP Rudy wins as DGN this year, he will become the District Governor of our RI District in Rotary Year 2018-2019 when our Club and Rotary will celebrate our centennial anniversary in the Philippines.

Today, we shall have Mr. Arthur P. Tugade, President and Chief Executive Officer of Clark Development Corporation, as our Guest Honor and Speaker. He is expected to enlighten us on developments in Clark, including its planned conversion into a “green” city, as well as the business climate in that part of Pampanga. Please actively engage Mr. Tugade in a lively discussion. Please continue actively participating and supporting our Club’s activities and projects.

Mabuhay ang Rotary Club of Manila!