President’s Corner

Today is very special day! This is a day to welcome an old friend to our friendly club, a friend who has been a pillar in the economic world and as such, has helped many people, companies and countries solve their economic problems and create a stable, peaceful and good life. Welcome, professor and doctor, Bernie Villegas.

We shared many events last week and prominent among them, was the fireside chat at the Union Bank with the Chairman who is our member, Justo “Tito” Ortiz, Jr. That was an informative and happy meeting. Archit, we should have more of this! Maybe we can think of an interesting topic for the next one in November.

We capped the night with a splendid and magnificent singing performance of our World Famous Singing Sensations who made us proud. There was GOOD looking Teddy “Sumatra” Ocampo, Rudy “Louie Armstrong” Bediones, Oscar “Hari Ng Kundiman” del Rosario, Caloy “the singing Doctor” Buendia and Thad “the one and only” Liamzon. They sang their hearts out. They were all terrific! I never thought that these guys were so fantastic and amazing. Even the members of the Elks Club were stunned. They never expected to hear such great voices and witness such a fantastic show. That challenge for repeat is on the table. And we shall not back down.

Next week, we have a very interesting speaker. He is the most renowned Gemologist, Harry Owen, from the Gemological Institute of America. He will speak on the history, the complexities, and all other interesting facets of diamonds, ruby and other important facts of the jewelry trade. This is something interesting and something different.

I welcome all our friends from different clubs who are attending our meeting today, most especially, my classmates and townmates, Von Valdepeñas and Walter Buenaventura.

Best, Jackie