President’s Corner

Dear Colleagues in RCM,

Good afternoon, fellow Rotarians. Welcome to our 44th Weekly Membership Meeting. Today, we greet everyone, “Happy Philippine Independence Day!” In celebration of our Independence, we are awarding notable publishers, radio and television networks for their advocacy of Press Freedom. We thank their leaders who brought news and public affairs to 110 million Filipinos despite the pandemic.

I thank our Chairman Dean Amado Valdez and his team who are responsible for today's Pro Patria Journalism Awards 2021 event. Dean Valdez, who has his own law firm, is a regular contributor to The Philippine Star and had a regular radio program in DZMM of ABS-CBN. Dean Valdez is often relied upon to share his views on notable cases and events. His manuscript, entitled, "That a Man dies ignorant, who has capacity for knowledge, is Tragedy," was recently accepted by a publishing house in the United Kingdom and will be released to the global market in a few months.

We started celebrating the 2021 Virtual International Convention, happening from the 12th to 16th of this month, and it is better than ever. The event opened more innovative opportunities through learning and engagement with the Family of Rotary members from around the world.

I have enjoyed contributing to the growth of the Rotary Movement in the country and abroad since 1999 when I was invited by a friend to join the Rotary Club of Manila, the First Rotary Club in Asia, established in June 1919. It was in 1999 when I was requested by Manila Rotarian and lawyer Atty. Antonio Oposa, Jr., supported by Manila Rotarian Atty. Beda Fajardo, to host a lunch since the Regional Trial Court judge will be given the firsthand ocular and water quality inspection of the water quality of Manila Bay as a case was filed against the Philippine Government to clean up and save Manila Bay from further environmental destruction. The Mandamus order was given to the Supreme Court in 2008.

After 10 years of inaction, last November 17, 2018, I invited the media as Commodore of Manila Yacht Club and Director of the Rotary Club of Manila. Through the media, we called the attention of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary and 13 government agencies to clean up Manila Bay. Last December 15, 2018, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu took the challenge and pledged to clean up Manila Bay in a television interview. We met with the Secretary last January 11 and 12, 2019 at the Manila Yacht Club, then last January 17, 2019, we met with the heads of government agencies and Metro Manila mayors, and they had a strategic action plan for implementation.

Last January 27, 2019, over 5,000 government employees, Manila Yacht Club employees and boat owners, Rotary Club of Manila and other members of Rotary Clubs, Network of Independent Travel Agencies, Manila Interline Club and many others marched from the Quirino Grand Stand to Luneta Park up to the Bay Walk area to mark the start of the Clean-Up Manila Bay project. Today, the cleanup continues. Thanks to DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu and other officials of government agencies who have been involved in this momentous project.

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