President’s Corner

Last week, Senator Antonio Trillanes, IV, gave all of us an eye opener into the leanings of the administration and its implications on the future of our country including an eavesdrop into the Chinese occupancy of the West Philippine Seas and his role there.

As for updates within our club, after the grieving one after the other over members who have left for the Great Beyond, we now find joy in the appointments of two of our brethren in our club to Ambassadorial posts abroad, namely, VPE/VP Babe Romualdez as Special Envoy to the United States of America and SDG/IPAG/PP Frank Evaristo as Philippine Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. These two appointments are definitely added feathers to our cap as we approach the centennial of our storied club.

Updates from around the district include the attendance of CoS/IPSDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo at the Governor’s Visit of the Rotary Club of Pasay Friedens held last October 27, 2016 at the Philippine Navy Officers Club in Taguig City.

A day later, October 28, 2016, I attended the Halloween Event for Special Children at the Hospicio de San Jose together with Committee Chairman of Special Children PD Philip Ong, Co-Chair Rtn. Ray Davis and RCM Exec Sec Anna Toledo. Dance numbers were performed by National University students from the College of Education, Arts and Sciences. Song numbers were rendered by Singer May Banawa.

Still on the same day, CoS/IPSDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo attended the Governor’s Visit of the Rotary Club of Kawit Kalayaan at the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies in Manila while DGN Rudy Bediones and I attended the Induction and Handover Ceremonies of the Rotaract Club of De La Salle University Manila at the Hotel Benilde in Manila. Right after that, DGN Rudy Bediones proceeded to the First Class Presidents Fellowship at Music Bank in Pasay City.

The following day of October 29, 2016, Rtn. Tong Payumo and I were interviewed by Ms. Cicile Alvarez and Belinda Olivares Cunanan on DZRH regarding drug problems in education and also talked about our to visit Fazenda da Esperanza rehab center in Masbate for drug addicts managed by Brazilian Sisters. Towards the evening, IPDG Obet Pagdanganan, DGN Rudy Bediones and DE/SAA Lance Masters attended the District 3810 Halloween at PPA in Manila where our Lance won Second Place for his costume.

Two days later, October 31, 2016, DGN Rudy Bediones together with some former district officers surprised DGE Emmanuel “Loy” Cosico at his residence on the occasion of his birthday.

Today, as we return from the long weekend, we welcome the His Excellency Franz Jessen, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of the Philippines, as he enlightens us on Philippines-Europe relations.

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.