President's Corner

Dear Fellow Manila Rotarians,

While I was out of the country last week, our joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Makati and the Rotary Club of Makati North set a record of sorts in terms of attendance. We had, as our Guest of Honor and Speaker, the Honorable Mayor of the City of Davao and Presidential candidate, Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte. Indeed, Mayor Digong Duterte did not fail to captivate his audience with his unorthodox ways of discussing his platform of government, while displaying his colorful political character. He was dressed very casually, reflecting his very practical and down-to-earth ways and attitude. Many were mesmerized, and many were left in awe, as he easily switched from discussing serious matters, to sharing funny anecdotes, without batting an eyelash. He is very effective in getting his simple message across to the electorate and the masses.

On news within our Club, the DISCON 2016 Committee continues to meet on a weekly basis to progress the arrangements for the 2016 DISCON, including those that involve room accommodations for VIP’s, venue, exhibition booths, and the souvenir program. I encourage each and every Manila Rotarian to help in whatever way he can in order to enable us to meet the targeted funds needed to cover the expenses for the event we are required to host as the home club of the District Governor.

Last Thursday, we had the Annual Meeting of the Sagip Kabataan Foundation, Inc. (the “SKFI”). The following is the list of the newly elected members of the Board of Trustees of the SKFI, who will serve from January 2016 to December 2016:

1. Chairman - Pres. Eusebio V. Tan

2. President - PD Abraham F. Pascual

3. Trustee - DG Roberto M. Pagdanganan

4. Trustee - DGN Rodolfo P. Bediones

5. Trustee - IPP Frank A. Evaristo

6. Trustee - PE/VP Teodoro J. Ocampo

7. Trustee - PP Bienvenido E. Laguesma

8. Trustee - PT James G. Chua

9. Trustee - DE Albert S. Alday

10. Trustee - PD Reinerio C. Lonzaga

11. Trustee - PD Beda G. Fajardo

12. Trustee - PDG Juanito Ventura

On news from around the District, together with my fellow World Class Presidents, I have been busy preparing for our District 3810 Mid-Year Review meeting, which will be held from 22-24 January 2016 in Baguio City. During the event, each Club President is expected to report on his/her club’s accomplishments during the first semester of Rotary Year 2015-2016. With the help of our Secretariat, I am confident that our Club will be able to submit a Mid-Year Report that will thoroughly cover all of our Club’s accomplishments and activities during the period in review.

Today, we will have as our Guest of Honor and Speaker, Dr. Mahar Mangahas, Social Weather Stations (“SWS”) President, who will share his insights, thoughts, and opinions with us with respect to the country’s current political atmosphere preparatory to the holding of the forthcoming national and local elections this May and the various surveys that have been conducted by SWS and the other survey-taking companies. At the request of Director Bobby Joseph, who will be out of town today and who will consequently not be around for our meeting today, ISDG/AG/IPP Frank Evaristo will be in charge of handling the raffle for today’s luncheon meeting.

Please continue to actively participate in and support all of the activities, projects, and programs of our Rotary Club, the first Rotary Club in Asia and in the Philippines. Mabuhay ang Rotary Club of Manila!