President's Corner

Dear Fellow Manila Rotarians,

As is traditional, we had the Hon. Amando M. Tetangco, Jr., Chairman of the Monetary Board and Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (“BSP”), as our Guest of Honor and Speaker in our first luncheon general membership meeting for the year last 7 January 2016, in a joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Forbes Park. Governor Tetangco impressed the crowd with his sterling review of the important economic events in 2015 and his views as to how these relate to his bold predictions for the Philippine economy in 2016. Indeed, the BSP Governor never fails to charm many a Philippine businessman, as we had a full house during last Thursday’s luncheon meeting.

On news within our Club as they relate to District affairs, the DISCON 2016 Committee is now working in full swing, as its sub-committees begin the painstaking work of organizing a District Conference to remember. The Committee has been meeting almost every Thursday since last year to prepare for this big event, which is traditionally hosted by the club of the incumbent District Governor. Many Manila Rotarians have been tapped for this event and many more are encouraged to help in making this event, so to speak, RCM’s finest moment in Rotary Year 2015-2016. The deal has been sealed with the historic Manila Hotel to have it as the venue for the DISCON in 2016, with all the concessions put in place through the help of our very own Manila Rtn. Ricky Yap, who has given much of his time and effort in finding ways to come up with a proposal acceptable for our Club.

Today, the Annual Meeting of the members of the Sagip Kabataan Foundation, Inc. will be held to elect the new set of its Board of Trustees, who will serve from January 2016 to December 2016. The Foundation helps children cared for at the Asilo de San Vicente de Paul in Manila.

On news from around the District, except for the help being extended by different District Officers in connection with the preparations for the upcoming DISCON 2016, it’s been a relatively quiet week for district activities.

Today, our Guest of Honor and Speaker is the popular Presidential candidate, the Hon. Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte, Mayor of the City of Davao, who will present his platform of government in his bid for the highest office in the land. We will have a joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Makati and the Rotary Club of Makati North, which will be held at the Main Lounge of the Manila Polo Club due to the expected large number of Rotarians and guests who will be attending. This is definitely a luncheon membership meeting to look forward to.

Please actively participate in the program and continue to support all of the programs and activities of your Club. Mabuhay ang Rotary Club of Manila!