President’s Corner

Dear Fellow Manila Rotarians,

Last week, His Excellency Igor Anatolyevich Khovaev, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary I Class of the Russian Federation to the Republic of the Philippines, enlightened us on the present state of Russia-Philippine relations. Likewise, we all exercised our rights of suffrage as we elected our Board of Directors for RY 2019-2020 last week. Congratulations to President-Elect Jackie Rodriguez, Vice President-Elect Hermie Esguerra, Director-Elect Raffy Alunan, Director-Elect Caloy Reyes, Director-Elect Nicky Villaseñor, Director-Elect Albert Alday, Director-Elect Amading Valdez and Director-Elect Bobby Joseph! A depth of gratitude likewise goes to the COMELEC chaired by IPP Jimmie Policarpio, Vice Chair PP Benny Laguesma and Member PP Francis Juico as well as to the Board of Canvassers with PP Teddy Ocampo as Team Leader and members AT Ner Lonzaga, AS Rene Policarpio, PD Knud Hedeager, PT Jun Follosco, Rtn. Manny Blanco and Rtn. Karl Leung for the smooth and orderly conduct of the elections.

On the centennial projects front, I wish to thank all Manila Rotarians led by Chair Rtn. Celso Abastillas and Co-Chair DE/BLA Amading Valdez who participated in the successful Joint Tree Planting Project of the Rotary Club of Manila and Parañaque City under the Seeds for Change by Rotary Club of Manila held last September 28, 2018 at the roundabout of Okada Road and J.W. Diokno Extension in Parañaque City where representatives from the DENR, the city of Parañaque as well as officials from the different hotels took part in the project. In particular, I wish to thank DENR Conservation and Development Division Chief Forester Ms. Aida Esguerra, OIC NCR Regional Director Ms. Gwendolyn Bambalan, City Environment and Natural Resources Office Head Mr. Bernardo Amurao, Solaire Resort and Casino Executive Director for Security Mr. Michael Ray Aquino, Solaire Resort and Casino Vice President for Housekeeping Ms. Ma. Milagros Ermita representing COO Thomas Arasi, Resorts World Manila Director for Legal Services Atty. Walter Mactal, Resorts World Manila Director for Tax/Legal Compliance Atty. Michiko Rizza Oi-Daquil, Rotary Club of Padre Burgos CP Naomi Licuanan-Lachica, Aseana Special Projects Head Mr. Emmanuel Melencion, Aseana Administrative Assistant Ms. Shermalyn Lim, Belle Corporation Manager for Integrated Resorts Mr. Ram Edward Tardaguela, Okada Manila’s Mr. Jomer Perez, Okada Manila President Mr. Kenji Sugiyama, City of Dreams Vice President for Hotels and Food and Beverage Mr. Michael Ziemer, City of Dreams Vice President for Public Relations Ms. Charisse Chuidian and City Environment and Natural Resources Office’s Engr. Tere Quiogue who all took part and contributed to the success of the project.

With respect to the TOWER Awards, Chair PP Benny Laguesma has extended the deadline for submission of nominations from September 30, 2018 to October 30, 2018 in response to numerous requests from companies. This will give us more nominees to choose from and ensure that only the best would reap the recognition.

On the district level, I wish to thank all Manila Rotarians who joined me in attending the District 3810 24th Mid-Autumn Mooncake Fellowship hosted by the Rotary Club of Chinatown Manila last September 29, 2018 at the Golden Bay Seafood Restaurant in Pasay City where we were treated to a sumptuous Chinese feast with all the excitement of the mooncake dice game. Likewise, I wish to invite everyone to attend the District 3810 Basic Rotary Course hosted by our daughter club, the Rotary Club of Tondo, on October 6, 2018 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm at the Aloha Hotel in Manila. Further, I wish to invite everyone to join the District Halloween Party hosted by the Rotary Club of Pasay Metro Sunrise on October 20, 2018, Multi-Purpose Hall, 7/F Philippine Ports Authority Main Office in Manila.

On the fellowship front, I wish to thank PE/Dir. Jackie Rodriguez for treating all Manila Rotarians last September 27, 2018 at the Elks Club in Makati City after our luncheon meeting on the occasion of his victory. Likewise, I wish to invite everyone to our Oktoberfest 2018 hosted by our German and other European members of our club on October 17, 2018, 7:00 pm at the German Club in Makati City. Further, I would also like to invite you to the Hospicio Halloween Party on October 25, 2018 at the Hospicio de San Jose in Manila.

On the international relations front, I wish to invite all Manila Rotarians to attend the 49th Anniversary Fund Raising Ball of the Rotary Club of Kowloon East in Hongkong and the 70th Charter Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Taipei as these are unique venues for us to rekindle sisterhood ties while taking the opportunity to invite them to attend our centennial culmination activities.

Today, we are delighted to have Former US Senator James Webb, Jr. in our luncheon meeting where we are joined by many Rotary clubs and other organizations. Many well-known personalities have confirmed their attendance. Let us all do our share in making this centennial a Rotary Year to remember as I exhort everyone to participate in our centennial projects. Great things in Rotary are never the works of a single individual, but, by a team of Rotarians working together towards a common goal. This is a colossal undertaking necessitating colossal efforts. Indeed, the best is yet to come. In ONE CENTURY ONE MISSION ONE ROTARY, I remain.