President's Corner

Dear Fellow Manila Rotarians,

Last week, we had as our Guest of Honor and Speaker, female neurologist Dr. Corina Maria Socorro Azores-Macalintal, at our joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Manuel Roxas Manila. Dr. Macalintal gave us an enlightening talk on how our brain works and how to heal and protect it without drugs. The open forum conducted after the talk was very interesting to our members present, and our Guest Speaker was flooded with loads of questions, many of which involved illnesses of the elderly, like alzheimer’s disease. The important lesson learned was that, when one retires, one should not completely stop mental and physical activity. Doing so, would start a quick deterioration of one’s mental and physical health. It is important to always keep one’s self active mentally and physically, especially when one becomes old.

On news within our Club and around the District, it is with great pride that I wish to inform all of you that DISCON 2016, which was held last 1 and 2 April 2016 at the Manila Hotel and which was hosted by our Club, was an overwhelming success! The event was an extravaganza to remember, as Rotarians from around the District and also from other countries, including Thai and Japanese Rotarians (including those from our sister club, the Rotary Club of Osaka East, as well as the District Governor of District 2820) obviously thoroughly enjoyed the proceedings, especially the dance numbers presented by District Governor/PP Roberto “Obet” Pagdanganan and the District Executive Committee, as well as the dance numbers presented by the World Class Presidents from our District.

The event began with a bang, as our World Famous Chorale brought the house down with their rendition of our National Anthem and the singing of the brand new District 3810 Hymn, which was a brainchild of DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan and composed by PE/VP Teddy Ocampo. In his State of the District Address, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan was emphatic in noting the membership increase in District 3810, which he mentioned was the highest in Zone 7 of Rotary International. RID Guiller Tumangan was quick to point out that our District had the highest membership in both Zones 7 and 8.

The Governor’s Ball which followed had very colorful theme presentations and was participated in by all the World Class Presidents. The atmosphere turned romantic when Mr. Crooner, Arthur Manuntag, serenaded the Rotarians during dinner, after which a trio composed of our very own DGND/PP Rudy Bediones, PDG Raffy Garcia, and Mr. Manuntag rendered a great song number to the delight of the crowd. RIPR and RID Sawaolak Rattanavich, who was very passionate during her speech earlier in the afternoon, gamely danced to the tune of the music being played. Then the current and past District Governors and District Officers were joined by all the WCP’s in a cotillion de honor to cap the evening.

The next day, DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan and RIPR RID Sawaolak Rattanavich shuttled from the Champagne Room to the Roma Salon for the Breakfast for the World Class Presidents and the Breakfast for the All Star Presidents, where they shared words of wisdom with the World Class Presidents and the All Star Presidents. The business meeting conducted later on in the morning was ably chaired by PP Benny Laguesma, and resulted in very important resolutions passed by the electors.

In the afternoon of the second day, a touching presentation of the projects of each of the clubs in the different areas of District 3810 was given in the form of a song that best depicted their respective projects. Subsequently, there was a pitch for attendance and participation at the RI Convention in Seoul, Korea, called “On to Korea”. Then, ICoS Cesar Ubaldo introduced DGE Ernesto Yuyek and, after his brief address, the All Star Presidents (which included our very own PE/VP Teddy Ocampo) sang the song, “Rotary Serving Humanity” to the tune of “Heal The World”, which served as a fitting finale to DISCON 2016. DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan thanked everyone who contributed to the success of DISCON 2016.

In the evening of 2 April 2016, PDG Vince Carlos and Dir. Susing Pineda hosted dinner for the visiting Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Osaka East and, the next morning, the visiting Rotarians were hosted to a round of golf by PD Nick Locsin at the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club.

Today, we welcome as our Guest of Honor and Speaker, Hon. Manuel “Lolong” Lazaro, PHILCONSA Chairman, who will give us his fearless views on the coming elections and the legal and other burning issues of the day.

Please continue to actively participate in and support all of our Club’s plans, programs, and activities during the remainder of this Rotary Year. Most importantly, please recommend at least one good recruit to beef up our Club’s membership. Mabuhay ang Rotary Club of Manila!