President’s Corner

Greetings Fellow RCM members!

Today is another milestone day as we hold our first ever hybrid Membership Meeting at the Conrad Hotel and via Zoom. We had our Mid-Year review last week capped off with a town hall meeting with the members. Based on the number of questions that were still waiting to be asked, it would seem that a part two of the town hall open forum would be welcome since we seemed to run out of time.

We lost a good man and Past President of our club, Cesar Ubaldo, RCM President, RY 2005-2006. I was not really close to the man, but I remember during the Centennial Night Celebration in 2019, we found ourselves waiting in the room reserved for the World Famous Music Chorale. I remember him being a gentle, perceptive and kind man. For some reason, I have etched that short conversation in my mind. With that brief interface we had about his profession and experience with Rotary, what surfaced was the quality of a man he was. I had instant affinity to his persona. He will truly be missed.

We are due to vote for the Jorge B. Vargas Athlete of the Year Award. This year, we have a good slate of candidates that we, the members, should be voting on. We are going to be awarding this on March 10, 2022. We have Mark Magsayo (Professional Boxer), Carlo Biado (Billiards), Carlos Yulo (Gymnastics), E.J. Obiena (Athletics - Pole Vault), Nonito Donaire Jr. (Professional Boxing) and, of course, our country’s first ever Olympics Gold Medalist Hidilyn Diaz (Weightlifting) so be ready with your choice based on the criteria set by our Chairman of the Jorge B. Vargas Athlete of the Year Award Committee. On March 10, 2022, we are also giving out the Carlos P. Romulo Ambassador of the Year Award to our selected awardee!

Today, we shall have with us someone who will share his knowledge and expertise about the magnificent bamboo! Our Guest of Honor and speaker today is Dr. Burkhand Kiehne, a German/Canadian inventor. So let’s enjoy the meeting as we all continue to stay safe! God bless us all!

Humbly yours in Rotary,

FSZ Felix Francisco S. Zaldarriaga, President RY 2021-2022