President's Corner

Last week, Senator Migz Zubiri laid down for us his very realistic and very much achievable legislative plans and advocacies for change to be effected in our country. Articulate and determined, he gave his bold but innovative solutions to ease traffic along EDSA which has been hounding commuters day in and day out. Indeed, our country needs people like him for us to feel the change we want to have in this nation of ours. On this note, I wish to thank VPE/VP Babe Romualdez for temporarily taking over my chores of calling the meeting to order and overseeing last week’s luncheon meeting.

As for updates within our club, in behalf of the Jhocson and Ocampo families, I wish to thank each and everyone of you who sent their condolences and visited the wake of my dearly departed mother last week. It was so heartwarming to know that many Manila Rotarians paid their last respects to my late mother. Rest assured, these acts of kindness of yours will not go unrecognized as I will forever hold these packets of kindness and care close to my heart.

On a brighter note, I am proud to announce the appointment of our very own IPD Amading Valdez as Chair of the Social Security System. Indeed, this is another feather added to the cap of the Rotary Club of Manila, the First in Asia.

Updates from around the district include the attendance of many Manila Rotarians at the District Mooncake Festival hosted by the Rotary Chinatown Manila and where our club was likewise a major co-host last September 16, 2016 at the Golden Bay Seafood Restaurant along Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City while on the same day, CoS/IPSDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo likewise attended the Induction Ceremonies of Club Officers of the Rotary Club of Ermita Manila at the Casino Español in Manila. The next day, September 17, 2016, DGN Rudy Bediones, PDG/PP Vince Carlos and IPDG Obet Pagdangan attended the 5th Charter Anniversary and Handover Ceremonies of the Rotaract Club of Chinatown Manila at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in Pasay City. The following day, September 18, 2016, CoS/IPSDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo attended the funeral of my classmate, the late ASP Hospicia Sy of the Rotary Club of Hiyas ng Maynila in Dumaguete together with DG Ernesto Yuyek. Three days later, September 21, 2016, CoS/IPSDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo and DCoS/SDG/Dir. Albert Alday attended the Governor’s Visit of the Rotary Club of Pasay at the Midas Hotel and Casino in Pasay City.

Today, we welcome our very own Secretary Carlos “Sonny” G. Dominguez, III of the Department of Finance, Republic of the Philippines as he speaks on the advocacies and plans of his department towards effecting change in the country. 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.