President's Corner

Dear Fellow Manila Rotarians,

After a hiatus of one week on account of the 30th Anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, we are back in the service of Rotary.

The other week, we were given a glimpse of the foreign investment climate in the country by no less than Philippine Economic Zone Authority (“PEZA”) Director-General Lilia de Lima, who gave us a rundown of how efficient her office operates. Foreign investors, especially Japanese investors, have nothing but praises for her leadership, which spans a long period under the administration of four Philippine Presidents. One cannot but conclude that she must be doing a great job at ensuring the highest level of efficiency of service at the PEZA, which results in more investments for our country and more employment opportunities for Filipino workers.

On news within our Club, your DISCON 2016 Committee continues to meet on a weekly basis to update the arrangements for the required accommodations, venue function rooms, booths, and souvenir program, as the event date fast approaches. I urge each and every Manila Rotarian to help in any way you can so that we can meet the target revenue collection needed to cover the expenses for the event our Club is mandated to host, being the home club of the current District Governor. More importantly, I exhort each of you to register for the DISCON and to show our full support to our Past President, DG Obet Pagdanganan, in the most significant event of his reign as District Governor of District 3810. We should all go out of our way, even how busy we all are, to “hold the banner of the Rotary Club of Manila up high”.

On news from around the District, last 2 February 2016, Rtn. Caloy Reyes and Rtn. Leo Peter Gonzales attended the Rotary Leadership Institute (“RLI”) Seminar hosted by the Rotary Club of Pasay EDSA at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Rtn. Caloy completed the RLI III and, thus, graduated from the RLI programs, while Rtn. Peter completed RLI II. Our very own DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan, who is also part of the RLI faculty and, in his capacity as head of the District, was on hand to open the RLI and award the certificates.

Four days later, on 24 February 2016, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan and DGND/CoS/PP Rudy Bediones attended the District 3810 Rotary Alumni Fellowship night at the Golden Fortune Seafood Restaurant along T.M. Kalaw in Manila. Two days later, on 26 February 2016, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan, DGND/CoS/PP Rudy Bediones, and ICoS/SDG/PP Cesar Ubadlo attended the Governor’s Visit of the Rotary Club of Pasay Friedens at the Philippine Navy Golf Club in Taguig City. A day later, on 27 February 2016, DGND/CoS/PP Rudy Bediones and I attended the practice session for the dance presentation of the World Class Presidents at the Governor’s Ball during the DISCON 2016, while ICoS Cesar Ubaldo and IDCoS/ISDG/DE/IPS Albert Alday attended the Punky February All Star Presidents-Elect Fellowship at the Marina Bay East Clubhouse in Parañaque City. Two days later, on 29 February 2016, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan and DGND/CoS/PP Rudy Bediones attended the 32nd Charter Anniversary Celebration of the Rotary Club of Uptown Manila at the Great Eastern Hotel-Aberdeen Court in Quezon City.

Today, we welcome our Guest of Honor and Speaker, Hon. Antonio F. Trillanes, IV, Senator of the Republic of the Philippines, who will present his legislative advocacies and his platform of government in his bid for the Vice Presidency, the second highest government office in the land. Please actively participate in our program and engage our Guest of Honor and Speaker in a lively discussion. Please also submit to Anna Toledo or to me the name of at least one (1) good recruit for membership into our Club. We need to boost our membership numbers and strengthen our Club. Mabuhay ang Rotary Club of Manila!