Updates on the Centennial Celebration

Rotary Club of Manila Centennial Chorale Competition

This concept of BLA Amading Valdez targets the youth who will be called upon to serve in the next 100 years. The resulting musical composition from this competition may trigger a national consciousness for service and sacrifice for country and humanity. It will be the lasting legacy of our club. It is just appropriate albeit a necessity that this musical competition be the centerpiece of the culminating centennial celebration to be held on June 21, 2019. This competition will be open to all high school students in cooperation with DepEd and qualified out-of-school youth in cooperation with DILG.

A Legacy of Rotary Service

This activity aims to recognize Rotarians and clubs from all over the Philippines for their noteworthy projects. The highlight of the evening would be the induction of the District Governors-Elect and the Presidents-Elect by the Rotary International President-Elect.

Centennial Gala Night

This is the culminating activity of the centennial of the Rotary Club of Manila and the Rotary movement in the Philippines and in Asia in an evening of nostalgia and congeniality uniting Rotarians from different parts of the archipelago which will be graced by the presence of Rotary International President-Elect Mark Maloney.

The Rotary Club of Manila Centennial Awards

The much coveted awards given to the most deserving clubs from the ten Rotary districts in the Philippines as their “Rotary Success Stories” take centerstage.

Save Manila Bay

SAVE MANILA BAY is a centennial project initiated by the Manila Yacht Club and the Rotary Club of Manila in support of the initiatives of DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu in collaboration with the DILG and DOT together with other government agencies through waste management, segregation and desiltation.

Updates on the Centennial Celebration: Latest Updates

President Susing Pineda, PDG Obet Pagdanganan and DE/BLA Amading Valdez held a meeting regarding the tokens for the Centennial Celebration last May 2, 2019 at The Lounge of the New World Makati Hotel in Makati City.

An Inter-Agency Coordination Meeting on the Centennial of the Rotary Club of Manila was held last May 3, 2019 at the IPT Board Room, NAIA 1, Pasay City. Present were PDG Alex Cureg, PP Francis Juico, Club Secretary Alvin Lacambacal and Dir. Issam Eldebs.

Centennial Gala Celebration Chairman VPE/PAT Hermie Esguerra, DE/Dir Caloy Reyes together with ES Anna Toledo held a meeting last May 6, 2019 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, East Avenue, Quezon City with BSP Senior Deputy Governor Dahlia Luna, Ma. Cecilia Santos (Managing Director, Currency Production Sub-Sector) and Mr. Carlo Luis T. De Leon (Bank Officer II, Mint and Refinery Operations Department) regarding the project of minting a commemorative coin for the Centennial Celebration to be given during the Centennial Gala Night. The three of them posed before the portrait of Bangko Sentral Governor Benjamin “Ben” Diokno (Rotary Club of Manila Past Vice President).

A Legacy of Rotary Service

The Centennial Steering Committee held a meeting last May 8, 2019 at the Committee Room, Manila Polo Club. Discussion points focused on the Program for “A Legacy of Rotary Service”, Chorale Competition, Roundtable Discussion, Souvenir Program and Budget Review.

Rotary Club of Manila Centennial Chorale Competition: Latest Update

The Rotary Club of Manila Centennial Chorale Competition Committee represented by Chairman PP Teddy Ocampo and Co-Chair DE/BLA Amading Valdez held a meeting with DepEd representatives Dr. Leila Arreola, Mr. Jayson Tadeo and Mr. Ronald Baldos last May 6, 2019 at the 4th Floor, BLD Conference Room, DepEd Complex, Pasig City. Discussions focused on the final list of chorale group participants so as to include the Regional Directors of each area and pianist in the initial matrix, revision of the June 21, 2019 Program following DepEd’s requirements and write up on the Chorale Competition.

The Lyrics of the Best Song Composition in the Chorale Competition

LYRICS: THIS IS OUR PLEDGE (Himig Rotarian). Lyrics by: Catherine Bancod. Music by: Fr. Ernest Raymund Simeon.

Fountain of wisdom and love, source of inspiration. Rotary Club you build you protect you bring. You strengthen those who are weak. You enlighten and give peace and understanding. You strengthen those who are weak. You give hope. God bless you, Rotary Club Great. For you are God’s instrument of grace. You have taught us fight for our dreams and live in honesty and truth. This is our pledge to build a better world. Formed from the vision to serve, those who are in need. Rotary club you give hope to all by your overflowing kindness! Build lives of the lost, you empower and inspire! God bless you, Rotary club Great. For you are God’s instrument of grace. You have taught us fight for our dreams and live in honesty and truth. This is our pledge to build a better world. God bless you, Rotary club Great. For you are God’s instrument of grace. You have taught us fight for our dreams and live in honesty and truth. This is our pledge to build a better world…….. Build a better world……

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 Asia on June 21, 2019.

Rotary’s Heart for Little Angels

Meeting with National Children’s Hospital to discuss next phase of cooperation with the Rotary Club of Manila.

Visiting beneficiary Chris Visande after his surgery in National Children’s Hospital. Committee members also donated to the family funds for purchase of the flight tickets back to Cagayan de Oro so that he does not need to go for more than 2 days on the boat, considering he had just undergone heart surgery.

One of the beneficiaries, Andrew, celebrated his 9th birthday last week. He had his open heart surgery in PGH last March 2019.

Centennial Commemorative Stamps

By virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 413, signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, “declaring 01 July 2018 to 30 June 2019, as the “Year for the Celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Manila and the Rotary Movement in the Philippines and in Asia, the Rotary Club of Manila, First in Asia, will celebrate this milestone achievement of 100 Years of Rotary Service to the Community, a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, during its Centennial Rotary Year 2018-2019, its centennial birth anniversary being this June 1, 2019.

One of the Centennial Projects of the Rotary Club of Manila is the issuance of a limited edition Centennial Commemorative Stamp in collaboration with the Philippine Postal Corporation. This is a once-in-a-lifetime memorabilia which is guaranteed to last generations such that it becomes collector’s item. Below is the Rotary Club of Manila Centennial Stamps Package (3 Sets) for your selection, reservation and payment. All payments shall be made through Ms. Devann Abayon, RCM Centennial Committee Project Coordinator, the proceeds of which shall go to the Club’s Centennial Funds:

TOWER Awards

PP Benny Laguesma, President Susing Pineda, Mr. Marcel Van Mierlo (General Manager and Regional Vice President of New World Makati Hotel) and DE/Dir. Bobby Joseph signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the TOWER AWARDS last May 2, 2019 at the Ballroom of the New World Makati Hotel in Makati City.

RCM TOWER Awards Project 2019 Memorandum of Understanding Signing with New World Makati Hotel. Rotary Club of Manila Centennial Pres. Susing Pineda and New World Makati Hotel Regional Vice Pres. And Gen. Manager Mr. Marcel Van Mierlo as principal signatories to the TOWER Awards Project 2019, with witnesses: Dir.-in-Charge Bobby Joseph and TOWER Awards Project Chairman PP Benny Laguesma.

Rotary Club of Manila Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

DE/BLA Amading Valdez and Rtn. Celso Abastillas handed their check donations for REAP last May 2, 2019 to President Susing Pineda. President Susing Pineda conveys his earnest appeal for more benefactors for the project.

Centennial Gala Night: Latest Update

Dear Fellow RCM members,

Good News.... I wish to thank PP Boy Guevara, our Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee for the Centennial Celebration for facilitating the donation of Toyota Motors Corporation through Rtn. Naoto Tago for cash donation in the amount of Php 1,000,000.00 plus one (1 )Toyota Vios, worth Php 735,000.00. The total donation of Php 1,735,000.00 will be divided for use by the Centennial Celebration (June 21, 2019) and the Centennial Gala Celebration (June 22, 2019) or an estimate amount of Php 867,500.00 for each event. Thank you too to Rtn. Naoto Tago. Our sincere acknowledgement to the contributions and pledges of the following:

Please keep that eternal flame burning. This is our celebration ! In behalf of the Centennial Gala team, I thank you all for your generous support to our Club. Yours in Rotary, VPE/PAT Hermie Esguerra, Chairman, Centennial Gala Celebrations

A Letter from the President

Dear Fellow RCMers,

As you well know, our Centennial Year is upon us. In the past few years leading up to the present, your club leadership has planned and prepared several projects and events befitting this milestone in the history of our prestigious club. During the Town Hall Meeting last August 9, 2018, these activities were presented and broadly discussed. The responses of our members afterwards were inspiring. They want to do their share in making our centennial celebrations truly memorable, not only for RCMers but also to all Rotarians of the Philippines and of Asia.

Indeed, in various district functions recently, other Rotarians from all over the country have also expressed their enthusiasm in joining us in the celebration of 100 years of the Rotary movement in this part of the world. They are just waiting, in their own words, for the Rotary Club of Manila to lead them. It is it time therefore, for us to take the challenge of leading our fellow Rotarians. And for us to do this effectively, the participation of each RCM member is needed.

Attached is the list of our centennial committees and their projects. Also provided is the Program of Activities for the Centennial Week. I urge you to volunteer your participation in any of the activities. Together, we can attain greater achievements for our club! Please indicate the committee(s) / event(s) that you are joining.

Yours in Rotary, Pres. Susing Pineda