Manila Rotarians Host Successful DISTAS 2016

The Rotary Club of Manila, the First in Asia, hosted a jampacked District Training Assembly 2016 (DISTAS 2016) last May 7, 2016 at the Philippine Trade Training Center on the corner of Sen. Gil. J. Puyat Avenue and Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City. Registration of delegates started as early as 7:00 am and despite, the miting de avance of the different candidates for the May 9, 2016 polls, Rotarians from around the district trooped in throngs just to be able to attend the Rotary International mandated activity.

The event began with DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan calling to order the DISTAS 2016 followed by a touching invocation by ISDG/AG/IPP Frank Evaristo with the Sonata Band doing a soulful rendition of “The Prayer”. All Star PE/VP Teddy Ocampo literally brought the house down with a one of a kind Welcome Remarks which literally sent the Rotary Club of Manila brand all the way to the rafters. IDCoS/ISDG/DE/IPS Albert Alday, thereafter, made a brief but grand introduction of DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan before the District Governor delivered his message while ICoS/SDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo, one of the emcees of the event, briefly introduced Rotary International Director Guiller Tumangan. RID Guiller Tumangan praised the achievements of our very own District Governor as District 3810 is now seventh (7th) in the world in terms of net membership gains.

DGE Ernesto Yuyek, for his part, focused on the celebration of the 100 years of the Rotary Foundation while PDG Jun Aniag of District 3770 talked on attracting and holding quality members. The highlight of the event was the Keynote Address of a foreign Rotarian Speaker in the person of Dato’ Dr. Siva Ananthan of District 3300 who got the crowd in awe with his animated style of delivering his message across that every Rotarian is a miracle and a hero to mankind. Another interesting portion to note was the launching of the One Rotary Card, a privilege card which is free to all District 3810 Rotarians, by Rtn. Randy Rivera of the Rotary Club of Sta Ana.

During the breakout sessions in the afternoon, our very own IDCoS/ISDG/DE/IPS Albert Alday led the training of the sessions for the Club Treasurers. The All Star event, attended by Manila Rotarians DG/PP Obet Pagdanganan, DGND/CoS/PP Rudy Bediones, ICoS/SDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo, IDCoS/ISDG/DE/IPS Albert Alday, ISDG/AG/IPP Frank Evaristo, PE/VP Teddy Ocampo, DE Art Lopez, Dir. Oca del Rosario, Rtn. Hermie Esguerra and STAR Rtn. John Emyl Eugenio, lived up to its billing as it was attended by no less than several Past District Governors, namely, PDG Sonny Ventura, PDG Johnny Aruego, PDG Rosie Go, PDG Edgardo Tumangan, IDRFC/PDG Edmond Aguilar.

The training would not have been possible without the wisdom of Incoming District Trainer PDG Karen Tamayo who immensely helped in carefully choosing the speakers and trainers who would best harness the innate potentials of incoming club leaders of our district as well as the immense assistance lent by the dynamic Rotary Club of Manila staff supported by the ADSEC of the district.