President's Corner

Happy Easter, Fellow Rotarians!

We thank the Lord for keeping us safe during this pandemic. The strain is very contagious, but the sting may not be as deadly. The anticipated surge we are experiencing in the NCR has brought much pressure due to lack of quarantine facilities and overworked frontliners. Many hospitals are turning down patients because of the surge in demand. Most of us, Rotarians, have suffered business setbacks, deaths and further losses in our companies’ coffers. We pray for God’s intervention to heal those affected with CoVid-19 and comfort their families. We also pray for a dramatic decline in the number of CoVid cases in our country and across the globe.

The economy should open, and the campaign for proper physical distancing and use of face mask as well as face shield should be strictly encouraged. We need exact data on CoVid cases, heart attacks, cancer, diabetes and influenza.

On the one hand, many businesses thrive via online marketing. Some logistics companies, pandemic accessories, testing kits, health products, as well as small farms around the NCR are successfully navigating the CoVid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, many companies are hurting. Businesses in the transportation and tourism industries, condominium developments, restaurants, bars, hotel and resorts, airlines, shipping, malls, convention centers, and other travel and tourism-related sectors are experiencing huge losses.

“Donations, both cash and in kind, have dwindled because of the continuous lockdown. Hospicio de San Jose is in bad shape,” as reported by Sister Corrie. We have been helping Hospicio de San Jose for years, and we have to continue supporting them. Chairman Ray Davis, who has taken over, is seeking support from RCM to consider raising some funds regularly. This year alone, I donated Php 200,000 from my company. I am willing to donate another Php 50,000 just to start the fund raising. Chairman Ray Davis has pledged Php 20,000. I also sent a message to DG Odie Tarriela if we can help Hospicio de San Jose on the district level, as no other organization can support it.

May I suggest our members to get support from their friends and other institutions whom they can influence, to help unburden our members. We will campaign to ask our Star Rotarians for some contributions. Many are in dire need. We have to go out of our way to help and serve. That is what Rotary is all about, Service Above Self for God’s glory.

Your Board has been active through Zoom during this lockdown. We are raising funds, looking for new projects, and inviting more leaders in various industries to join us. Our total members have reached 226 Rotarians, as of today. We have pledges of over 12 more members for recruitment. We will continue to increase our members until June.

Thank you and enjoy the program we have prepared. All the best and Happy Easter!

Your Servant, President Robert “Bobby” Lim Joseph, Jr., President RY 2020-2021 (101st President)