President's Corner

Last week, our very own Board Legal Adviser PD Amading Valdez, the Chairman of the Board of the Social Security System (SSS), enlightened us on the burning issue of the proposed Php 2,000 monthly increase in pension. This has been a hotly contested issue where there seems to be many sides to the same coin. We are very fortunate that he was able to shed light on this matter of paramount concern.

As for update within our club, we are still in the process of gathering Manila Rotarians to attend the 60th Anniversary of our sister club, the Rotary Club of Osaka East this coming May 27, 2017. For more details, please coordinate with our Secretariat.

Updates from around the district include my successful delivery of my Midyear Report at the Midyear Review of District 3810 held at the Royce Hotel and Casino, Clark, Pampanga last January 21-22, 2017 where our very own District 3810 Executive Commitee members, CoS/IPSDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo and SDG/DCoS/Dir. Albert Alday served as members of the panel.

Two days later, January 24, 2017, many members of the Rotary Club of Manila which included PDG Vince Carlos, IPDG Obet Pagdanganan, DGN Rudy Bediones, CoS/IPSDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo, SDG/DCoS/Dir. Albert Alday, SDG/IPAG/PP Frank Evaristo, Dir. Susing Pineda, Dir. Issam Eldebs, DE/SAA Lance Masters, PD Nick Locsin, PT Jim Chua, Rtn. Nilo Aventura, Rtn. Jun Aventura, Rtn. Gani Macatoman and I attended the District 3810 Chinese New Year hosted by the Rotary Club of Manila Metro led by ASP James Tan at the Golden Bay Seafood Restaurant in Pasay City.

The following day, January 25, 2017, CoS/IPSDG/PP Cesar Ubaldo and I attended the Induction and Handover Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Malate Prime at Camp Crame in Quezon City where my classmate, Police Chief Superintendent Pablo Francisco Balagtas was inducted as President for Rotary Year 2016-2017.

Today, we welcome our District Governor Ernesto "Ernest" Yuyek and his All Star Executive Committee for his Governor's Visit at our club as well as our very own Director, Hon. Issam Eldebs, Consul General Ad Hominem of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Republic of the Philippines, as he tackles the burning issues surrounding Syria and how they affect world affairs.

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.