President's Corner

Greetings to my fellow RCM members! On to the Second (2nd) quarter of the year 2022! As we face another milestone, we are likewise navigating through our beloved club’s hallmark projects as we head towards the last three months of my term as Life Changing President, the TOWER Awards, the Tourism Awards, and of course, the Journalism Awards. We also are encouraging participation in the DISCON scheduled for April 22-23, 2022 at OKADA Manila in Parañaque City. We should at least have one table for the Rotary Club of Manila!

We had a great Weekly Membership Meeting last week with DGND Jackie Rodriguez awarding the Rotary Club of Manila Jorge B. Vargas Athlete of the Year Award to Hidilyn Diaz, the awards of which was started last year. We also saw Circle of Centennial Rotary Clubs Chairman PD Nick Locsin appointing the three (3) new Ambassadors of Goodwill, namely, PAS Joel Valdes, STAR Rtn. JB Pallasigue and STAR Rtn. Teddy Tee Jr. who were all presented last week. I was really impressed with my good friend STAR Rtn. Junjie Vasquez’s Classification Talk. Kudos to you STAR Rtn. Junjie Vasquez!

Last Monday, we had our Eighth (8th) Special Board Meeting wherein we approved a fundraising project being initiated by the founding Chairman of Dana Asia. Dana Powers has invited the Rotary Club of Manila to be part of this remarkable project of which the club will be the recipient of funds from his efforts. He is an avid biker and has plans to cover 3,000 kilometers in Australia. The club’s role in this is to properly manage the funds that he will be raising and turning over to us.

We also embarked on a new alliance with the group of STAR Rtn. Raoul Creencia. They have this group of surgeons who have banded together to provide free surgery for indigent patients.

We have an interesting meeting today: 1. Presentation by the Committee of TOWER (The Outstanding Workers of the Republic) Awards for RY 2021-2022 by: Committee Chairman PP Jesus “Susing” Pineda Jr. (Centennial President) 2. Induction of New Rotarian Jose Ma. I. Sarasola II, President, Allegiance Cargo Advantage, Inc., Classification: Business Services – Freight Forwarding, Proposer: PE/PVP Hermie Esguerra 3. Past President’s Time featuring PP Francis Juico

So let’s sit back and enjoy the program! Cheers!

Humbly yours in Rotary, FSZ

Felix Francisco S. Zaldarriaga, President RY 2021-2022