Testimonial Fellowship

Brief Synopsis of the Testimonial Fellowship - Sec Alvin Lacambacal

The Fellowship Committee wish to thank the members' support which led to the successful staging of the Testimonial Fellowship held last Thursday September 14, 2017, to honor our Past Vice President Babe Romualdez, who will soon be presenting his credential to the government of United States of America, as Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States of America.

54 active members attended, together with PDG Tony Rufino, Honorary Members - Ambassador Jan Top Christensen of Denmark, Ambassador Ephraim Ben Matityau of Israel. Also present was Amb. John Holmes of Canada. We received a total of Php 27,500 as subsidized registration fee from the 54 members. The Board allocated Php 50,000 from the Fellowship Fund.

The Board is thankful to Fellowship Chairman Hermie Esguerra for his organizational acumen, leading to the successful launching of fellowship event and a well organized Testimonial Fellowship to honor PVP Babe Romualdez, Ambassador designate of the Philippines to the United States of America, to honor the newly elected members of the Centennial Board and to recognize the September birthday celebrants of the week.

The Board acknowledges with thanks the generosity of Chair Hermie Esguerra for donating Php 35,000.00 to cover the entertainers' professional fees and the over the limit consumable cost for the use of the Rouge Bar; Rtn Jason Ong donated 5 bottles of Johnny Walter Black, to Pres. Jimmie Policarpio for donating one lechon and to Rtn Farid Schoucair for extending free corkage for the lechon, 4 bottles of wines and 2 bottles of spirited drinks.

The Board regretfully accepted the resignation of VP Babe Romualdez from the Board while he remains a full fledged RCM member. The Board subsequently elected Dir. Art Lopez to fill in the vacant board seat and to take over the committees- Program, Balita, PR/Media, and House. Dir. Chito Zaldarriage will act as the sole Vice President.

Manila Rotarians led by President Jimmie Policarpio together with his Board of Directors and Officers as well as our Honorary Members came in full force last September 14, 2017 to celebrate the gains of Asia's First Rotary Club. A three-in-one fellowship if you may, the event served as a testimonial for VP Babe Romualdez on his appointment as Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United States of America, as testimonial and likewise presentation of the newly-elected Centennial Board of Directors led by PE/Dir. Susing Pineda as well as a Birthday Fellowship for September-born members of our club.

The night was oozing with camaraderie and bantering as the event likewise served as an opportunity to rekindle old ties between fellow Manila Rotarians as they took turns in belting their favorite song together with the lounge singers who served as the perfect ingredients to an evening of nostalgia complete with delectable cocktail delights as only the Rouge Bar of the New World Makati Hotel could undertake. It, indeed, was an evening and an event to remember as the Fellowship Committee headed by PAT Hermie Esguerra made sure that everyone present that evening had a great time reminiscing the good old days of fun and laughter for which the Rotary Club of Manila was definitely known for. A master showman in his own right, PAT Hermie definitely knows the perfect blend to throw that perfect party everyone would be raving about.

Depths of gratitude are likewise in order for PAT Hermie Esguerra for having provided the entertainers, Rtn. Jason Ong for having donated five (5) bottles of Johnnie Walker Black Label, President Jimmie Policarpio for having donated one (1) lechon and Rtn. Farid Schoucair for having extended free corkages for the lechon, four (4) bottles of wine and two (2) bottles of spirits to make the fun-filled event a memorable one with fifty-four (54) active members in attendance.

The evening ended with Manila Rotarians clamoring for more of this type of fellowship. We definitely haven't seen the last of this as President Jimmie Policarpio promised to foster more of these fellowships as his fellow Manila Rotarians deserve only the best.