President's Corner

Dear Fellow Manila Rotarians,

Last week, we were given a glimpse of the investment prospects when Mr. William Lawton, VII, Chief Executive Officer of Seagate Global Group of Investment Companies, who focused his talk on "The Financial System as a Tool for Supporting Sustainable Economic Growth".

The Centennial Celebration preparations are now in the detailed stages. The meetings are now focused on the events themselves. We already hired a Public Relations Manager to handle the publicity of our Centennial Celebration. We have likewise sought the services of a professional event organizer and the contract is in now in the final stages of review. The logistics of the culminating events are primary concerns we need to immediately address to ensure the success of our centennial.

The Save Manila Bay project launching is all over the papers with an almost half page Manila Bulletin coverage last February 10, 2019. This is good publicity for our club's participation in this project led by Manila Yacht Club Commodore/DE/Dir. Bobby Joseph. The project, "A Legacy of Rotary Service", is now on its campaign and logistic stages. Our meeting yesterday, February 13, 2019, focused on Online Registration, Rotary Protocols, Round Table Discussion, Foreign Rotary Delegates and Pre-Contract Signing of Event Organizer. A thorough campaign is in the works to ensure the success of the event.

The Rotary Club of Manila Centennial Chorale Competition will be having a meeting on February 15, 2019 at the Tower Club to discuss adjustments in the criteria of the Grand Finals Competition and prizes.

The Centennial Commemorative Stamps are still on sale. I wish to appeal to all of you to secure this once in a lifetime memorabilia while supply lasts. Your support to this endeavor will certainly go a long way in funding our centennial culminating activities.

The Rotary Club of Manila Educational Assistance Program is in need of more benefactors for us to mold the future of this nation. Your sponsorship will go a long way in making a student's dream of a better life for his or her family come true. Likewise, I earnestly appeal for your remittance of your centennial donation as our centennial culminating activities are just around the corner. Our centennial is a shared responsibility amongst all of us as we all look forward to a ending a year long centennial celebration with a bang.

Today, we welcome Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Director-General of NEDA, as he gives us what to expect in 2019 for the Philippine economy.

No doubt, all these are colossal undertakings which need our undivided attention in furtherance of Service Above Self. Indeed, great things in Rotary are never done by a single individual, but, by a team of Rotarians, moving together towards a common goal.

Under ONE CENTURY, towards ONE MISSION and in furtherance of ONE ROTARY, the best is yet to come. Let us all BE THE INSPIRATION as we embrace Rotary as part of our everyday lives.