President’s Corner

Last week, Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Jr. of the Department of Foreign Affairs gave Manila Rotarians, visiting Rotarians and guests who were present, his two cents on the perceived “shaky” relations of our nation with foreign countries.

As for updates within our club, I would like to ask you to continue storming the heavens for our fellow Manila Rotarian Sonny Arevalo who is still in a coma at the Medical City. It is our fervent wish that he be saved and his life be extended so he could still enjoy many happy moments with us.

This coming October 19, 2016, I wish to invite each and everyone of you to attend our annual Oktoberfest Fellowship to be hosted by our German and other European Manila Rotarians at the German Club in Makati City. As with recent years, this has proven to be the most attended gathering of almost any Rotary year as Manila Rotarians click their mugs full of beer with each other over a sumptuous feast of German delicacies composed of different types of sausages, pork knuckles and the like in what promises to be a rowdy affair to foster camaraderie among Rotarians of Asia’s First Rotary Club.

Updates from around the district include the attendance of IPDG Obet Pagdanganan, DGN Rudy Bediones, CoS/IPSDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo and I attended the JEPROCS (Joint Efforts of Pasay Rotary Clubs) Induction and Handover Ceremonies last October 10, 2016 at the Le Pavillon in Metro Park, Pasay City. The next day, October 11, 2016, CoS/IPSDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo attended the Governor’s Visit while he joined IPDG Obet Pagdanganan, DGN Rudy Bediones and I at the Induction and Handover Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Manila South at the Astoria Hotel, Ortigas Center, Pasig City where my classmate, ASP Cecilia Larita was inducted as President for Rotary Year 2016-2017. The following day, October 6, 2016, CoS/IPSDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo attended the Governor’s Visit while he was joined by IPDG Obet Pagdanganan and DGN Rudy Bediones at the Induction of the Rotary Club of Cavite Aguinaldo at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Imus, Cavite where my classmate, ASP Edwin Aborque was inducted as President for Rotary Year 2016-2017.

Today, we welcome His Excellency Ephraim Ben Matityau, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of Israel to the Philippines, as he speaks on the wonders of his country, the Land of Milk and Honey, also known as the Promised Land, and all the sceneries there.

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.