President’s Corner

Dear Fellow Manila Rotarians,

Last week, Ombudsman Samuel Martires shared the mantra of his office as he anchored the talk on corruption in public office being a result of how one practices his or her religious beliefs which kept all of us engaged in his talk.

The centennial celebration is just more than a month from now. Towards this end, meetings with various clusters have become more and more frequent to ensure the success of our culminating activities.

The Angels in Rendu Art Exhibit takes place on June 15, 2019 at the Art Pavillion of the LRI Design Plaza in Makati City where 100% of the proceeds will go to the Hospicio de San Jose Cerebral Palsy Center.

A Salubong Fiesta awaits attendees on June 20, 2019 as it promises to be a Welcome Party of all welcome parties with no less than Rotary International President Mark Maloney as Guest of Honotr. This will be at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Attire is Filipiniana Casual.

“A Legacy of Rotary Service” happens on June 21, 2019 at the PICC in Pasay City. We are vigorously campaigning for more attendees. To this end, I have likewise sought the help of DGE Liza Elorde to echo this to her Champion District Governor classmates who will, in turn, convince their respective Champion Presidents to attend. PP Francis Juico, who is in charge of invitations, is likewise exhausting all means to reach Rotarian attendees from all over the archipelago and beyond our shores.

The event promises to be an affair to remember with the mass induction of District Governors-Elect and Presidents-Elect, a unique Rotary Forum, a Centennial Chorale Competition, The Rotary Club of Manila Centennial Awards Nationwide Contest For the Most Outstanding Service Projects and an evening with the highest official of the land, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Lara Maigue, the Ryan Cayabyab Singers and Marcy David and his Band will spice up an evening of celebration. The Rotary Club of Manila Centennial Awards Nationwide Contest For the Most Outstanding Service Projects is now in the evaluation stage by a distinguished panel of judges.

The Centennial Gala Night is gaining ground with the increase in donations for this event from all of you as Chair VPE/PAT Hermie Esguerra is likewise in talks with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for the minting of Centennial Commemorative Coins. World class entertainers for this gala are already in place as this promises to be an affair to remember.

A memorandum of agreement has just been signed last week for the centennial edition of the Tower Awards. PP Benny Laguesma, Mr. Marcel Van Mierlo (General Manager and Regional Vice President of New World Makati Hotel), DE/Dir. Bobby Joseph and I signed the documents during our luncheon meeting last week.

Rotary’s Heart for Little Angels continues to touch more lives through the close monitoring of Rtn. Zdenek Jankovsky. The Centennial Commemorative Stamps are still on sale. This issues of stamps are definitely valuable mementos we would not want to miss.

The Rotary Club of Manila Educational Assistance Program continues to attract more and more benefactors. On this note, I would like to earnestly appeal for more benefactors for us to make more dreams of better lives come true.

Today, we welcome one of the most sought after realtors, Mr. David Leechiu, as he gives us his forecast on the real estate sector of our country. Without doubt, all these are colossal undertakings which need the earnest of efforts 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 in our daily lives and make these last minute preparations for the centennial be worth a legacy for the next one hundred years.

The Best Song Composition in the Rotary Club of Manila Centennial Chorale Competition has already been chosen. This song will be sung by the five Grand Finalists during the Centennial Celebration of the Rotary Club of Manila and the Rotary Movement in the Philippines and in Asia on June 21, 2019.