President's Corner

Last week, our very own PD John Cenica, cosmetic surgeon par excellence, gave a very informative talk on Health and Wellness with former Viva Hotbabes and now, Calatagan Vice Mayor Andrea del Rosario adding that needed spice to perk up our Thursday luncheon meeting through her song numbers which brought the house down.

As for updates within our club, I wish to remind each and everyone of you of the coming elections for the next leaders of our club. The elections will be held on September 1, 2016 and we need to achieve a quorum for the results to be valid so please participate.

On a different note, I wish to exhort each and everyone of you to participate in the ALAY LAKAD 2016 with the theme, ALAY LAKAD – MAY PAGASA ANG KABATAAN on September 4, 2016. This committee is chaired by DCoS/SDG/Dir. Albert Alday and co-chaired by Rtn. Dong Benedicto. Those who will be participating should signify their intention to do so as soon as possible with our Secretariat together with your t-shirt size as shirts will be provided free of charge courtesy of the ALAY LAKAD Committee. Meeting time is 5:30 am and meeting place is at the Planetarium in Manila. Breakfast at the Manila Hotel awaits participants to this activity which is one of the acitivities mandated by the district.

Updates from around the district include the attendance of CoS/IPSDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo, and DCoS/SDG/Dir. Albert Alday at the Governor's Visit and the 25th Induction and 24th Handover Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Paco Manila last August 19, 2016 at the Century Seafood Restaurant in Manila where my classmate, ASP Emedy Panti was inducted as President for Rotary Year 2016-2017.

The following day, August 20, 2016, IPDG/PP Obet Pagdanganan attended the 24th Handover and Induction Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Bacoor at the Casa Ladrillo in Imus, Cavite where ASP Ariel Asinas was inducted as President for Rotary Year 2016-2017.

Two days later, August 22, 2016, IPDG/PP Obet Pagdanganan, DGN/IPCoS/PP Rudy Bediones, SDG/IPAG/PP Frank Evaristo, IPP Ebot Tan and Rtn. Paquito Tankiang attended the 14th Induction and Handover Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Makati Poblacion at the Forbes Park Pavillion in Makati City where Rtn. Paquito's daughter, ASP Evangeline Manotok was inducted as President for Rotary Year 2016-2017.

The day after, August 23, 2016, IPDG/PP Obet Pagdanganan, PDG/PP Vince Carlos, DGN/IPCoS/PP Rudy Bediones, CoS/IPSDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo, DCoS/SDG/Dir. Albert Alday and I attended the 20th Induction and Handover Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Silang at the Ceremonial Hall of the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Newport City, Pasay where ASP Elvira Gan Fernandez was inducted as President for Rotary Year 2016-2017 while PNP Chief P/Dir.Gen. Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, who was the Guest of Honor, was inducted as Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of Silang. This event also coincided with the induction of officers of the Solid Cavite which is led by its Chair, ASP Elvira Gan Fernandez.

This coming Saturday, August 27, 2016, our club is the co-host of the District 3810 Sergeant-At-Arms Seminar at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City where the Rotary Club of Pasay Harrison is the host club. It will run from 8:00am to 1:00pm.

Today, we deviate a bit from Philippine politics as we delve on the Syria Crisis where our very own Director, the Hon. Issam Eldebs, the Consul General Ad Hominem of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Republic of the Philippines, will grace our luncheon meeting and talk on this issue. I look forward to your cooperation as we endeavor to make our stars shine this Rotary Year 2016-2017 through meaningful projects and fellowships that will strengthen the bonds of Asia's First Rotary Club.