President’s Corner

Dear Fellow Manila Rotarians,

At last week’s membership luncheon meeting, Star Rotarian Jack Rodriguez provided us with a very personal and intimate story of the life of Harry Stonehill and, in so doing, also gave us a glimpse of his own very colorful life. All RCM members in attendance were listening very quietly and intently to the very interesting story of the lives of both Harry Stonehill and Star Rotarian Jack Rodriguez.

On news within our Club, last 10 November 2015, one of the most awaited fellowship parties of the Rotary Club of Manila, the Oktoberfest, the annual event hosted by the German members of our Club, namely, PSAA Gunter Matschuck (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 other European members of our Club, namely, Rtn. Mikael Avellan and PD Knud Hedeager, was finally held at the German Club, with a big throng of Manila Rotarians in attendance. As expected, all took turns in savoring the sumptuous German dishes and overflowing beer which was served, amid the singing of German songs to complete the traditional event. To our fellow Manila Rotarians who hosted the event, our deepest gratitude for your generosity and congratulations for a job well done.

On news from around the District, last 5 November 2015, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan and DGND/CoS/PP Rudy Bediones were on hand to greet the foreign delegates who arrived to attend the 2015 Manila Rotary Institute. Rotarian dignitaries from twenty-three (23) countries around the globe trooped to the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila to attend the affair. Two days later, on 7 November 2015, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan, DGND/CoS/PP Rudy Bediones, Dir. Oca del Rosario, Dir. Issam Eldebs, IDCoS/ISDG/DE/IPS Albert Alday, and PVP Lance Masters attended the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) Breakfast Reunion at the Boracay Room of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, where many RLI alumni were in attendance. Two days later, on 9 November 2015, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan, DGND/CoS/PP Rudy Bediones, AG/IPP Frank Evaristo (Chairman of the Best Class Presidents), and ICoS/SDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo (Chairman of the Presidents 101) attended the Past Presidents Council (PPC) Fellowship party with the theme, “Groovin 70’s”, at the Golden Bay Seafood Restaurant along Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.

Today, we shall have famous election lawyer and senior citizens’ rights advocate, Atty. Romulo “Romy” Macalintal, as our Guest of Honor and Speaker in a joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Forbes Park and the Rotary Club of Makati North. We expect Romy to enlighten us on the rights of senior citizens in the Philippines, which many of us may not be aware of, and on some issues involved in our elections. Please actively participate in the program and continue supporting our Club’s activities and projects.

Mabuhay ang Rotary Club of Manila!