President's Corner

Greetings RCM brothers!

I regret to inform you that our DDCC/IPP Bobby Joseph has left us for the Great Beyond. His unorthodox ways of leadership in challenging the status quo will always be his lasting legacy. He has touched many lives with his outpouring of generosity even as he has battled a lingering illness for more than two decades. We will sorely miss him in our club as his congenial ways have endeared him to many. Rest now in God’s eternal embrace, DDCC/IPP Bobby, as you have graduated from this earthly life with flying colors for a job well done. Additionally, we implore the Almighty to give strength and comfort for Ida, Robi, Ralph and the rest of the family for them to stay strong during this time of bereavement. Let us pray for the eternal repose of his soul. That is really the best thing we can do at this point.

We had a very interesting talk delivered by our very own BSP Governor/Monetary Board Chairman/DOF Secretary Designate PVP Ben Diokno last week. Thankfully, he was able to present to us his assessment and road map for the coming period under the new administration. There was no better moderator than our PAS Joel Valdes whose wizardry in finance and the economy was the perfect “pairing” to lead the meeting with our honored guest speaker.

BSP Governor/Monetary Board Chairman/DOF Secretary Designate PVP Ben Diokno agreed to hold a dialogue with the Rotary Club of Manila. PAS Joel Valdes, RCManila Foundation, Inc. Chairman and Programs Committee Chairman PE/PVP Hermie Esguerra and yours truly will present an unsolicited “out-of-the-box” strategy paper on how to help our government pull out of this debt crisis within rapid, but manageable timelines.

Today, we are in the day that we all look forward to as one of the hallmark events of our club is taking place – the Journalism Awards. A lot of effort and energy have been put behind the culmination of this annual event under the chairmanship of Dir. Amading Valdez and his team, Co-Chairman PP Frank Evaristo, ISDG/ISAG/DE/Dir. Albert Alday, IPD Celso Abastillas, PD Art Lopez, DE Tony Lopez, Rtn. John Emyl Eugenio, RCManila Foundation, Inc. Chairman and Rotary Club of Manila Programs Committee Chairman PE/PVP Hermie Esguerra and yours truly.

This year’s awards go deeper than just our own choices for the best awardees (from our POVs) but also much valued inputs and suggestions selection from the practitioners themselves! Many out of our local practitioners have long been unrecognized but are truly deserving.

We will be meeting today on a blended or hybrid mode because this program is just too important not to have all our members experience this. I hope we are all able to participate either live or digitally in this much awaited Journalism Awards. Additionally, we will be streaming this live on Facebook and YouTube.

Finally, I will once again make the final fervent appeals and reminders for all of us to be a Paul Harris Fellow and for Everyone to Bring One! Let us conclude this Rotary Year on a high note guys!!! See you all very soon!!! May God Bless us all!

Humbly yours in Rotary, FSZ