President’s Corner

Greetings, my brother in Rotary!

As we are fast approaching the last quarter of the year, signs of normalcy slowly manifest in the crowds one sees in the streets, the traffic increasing and the commercial establishments weaving their way back into the mainstream. Let us continue to all be vigilant in spite of all these new welcome, but potentially perilous developments.

We thank Rtn. Kenji Mori from the Rotary Club Kuzuha! Our dear Japanese friend has graciously donated P100,000 for the T.R.E.E.S. Program headed by DDCC/PP Jackie Rodriguez. We truly appreciate it. I thank also all the members who have contributed to The Rotary Foundation and have become our newest Paul Harris Fellows, namely, DE Tony Lopez, Rtn. Marvin Taylor-Dormond, PDG Alex Cureg and Rotary Ann Anna Cureg. Other contributors are DDCC/IPP Bobby Joseph (US$ 5,000), and VP Henning Karcher. Thanks to all of you! May I again urge everyone to please be part of our call, "Every RCM member, Be a Paul Harris Fellow".

The vaccination enhancement project, "We Vax As One", spearheaded by RCManila Foundation, Inc. Chairman and Programs Committee Chairman PE/PVP Hermie Esguerra, tapping MMDA to join forces with the Philippine Dental Association (through the cooperation of DGE Joyce Ambray) is finally underway. The lack of vaccines was further exacerbated by the lack of medical personnel who were accredited and willing to do the task of vaccination. This project will improve the vaccination velocity in the Greater Manila area as several dentists are now certified and can pierce away at our Metro Manila citizenry.

We had a special board meeting last October 26, 2021 to finally ratify the Financial Statements for RY 2020-2021. Kudos to IT/IPT Karlo Castro for having managed our finances so well in the previous Rotary Year.

I was recently invited as a Guest Speaker last October 23, 2021 for an International Webinar in which our club was an event partner together with the Metro Manila Jaycee Senate, ASEAN-India Business Council, JCI Senate Makati and JCI Makati on "The Role of Business and Non-Governmental Organizations in Rebuilding a Post Pandemic Nation". I shared the dynamics of Rotary International in general and the ongoing initiatives of our club, specifically. Apart from the livelihood projects, we have on the plate and the ones in the pipeline, I shared with them our vision of helping our countrymen decide intelligently who to pick as our next President. Our efforts in featuring our Presidential candidates in our weekly meetings culminating in a national debate among the candidates was well received. This gives us more impetus to start programming this event of national importance.

Good news! Dir. Thad Liamzon, as of this writing, is now preparing to head home. He will continue his rehabilitation in the safety of his "home sweet home". Let us all continue praying for him and all our other Rotarian brothers who need healing (PP Babes Reyes, VP Henning Karcher, PP Cesar Ubaldo, STAR Rtn. Anton Mauricio and STAR Rtn. Ralph Joseph). Also, our utmost condolences go to the family of PDG Oscar "Oskie" de Venecia, brother of Former House Speaker Rtn. Joe de Venecia.

Our speaker today is most relevant. Our kids and/or grandkids are invariably anxious about returning to the classroom setting as restrictions are being calibrated accordingly. Let us hear from our beloved DepEd Secretary Briones what is going on in that front. And by the way… boys, let us all please behave, bring and clasp your two hands in front of your desks as we pay attention to one of the highest school officials in the land! God bless us all!

Humbly yours in Rotary, FSZ Felix Francisco S. Zaldarriaga President RY 2021-2022