President's Diary

Dear Fellow Manila Rotarians,

It's been another exciting, productive week for the Rotary Club of Manila. I'm happy to keep you all informed on what's happening within our club, and what meetings and events I attended during the past seven days. So without further ado, let's get started.

Meeting with Punlaan School Management Team

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Punlaan Foundation Chair Alvin Ampil and I met with the Punlaan School management team: Anne Marie "Manam" Jacinto, Directress; Ma. Theresa Nabatar, Vice Director (who will succeed Manam Jacinto as Directress when she retires on September 15, 2022); Filipinas de Guzman, Vice Director for Student Affairs; M. Margarita A. Cadiente, Vice Director for Academics; and Jo Anne Domingo, Executive Assistant.

Punlaan School is a vocational-technical and senior high school institution that offers scholarship programs for underprivileged young women. Specializing in hospitality and culinary arts, the school is accredited by the Department of Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Tourism (DOT). Punlaan School is owned and operated by the Foundation for Professional Training, Inc. (FPTI), a non-stock, non-profit organization. The school’s funding comes from voluntary donations from the government, private sectors and private individuals.

The school was founded in 1975 and has not upgraded its facilities significantly until recently. A new multi-story building is under construction and will be completed in November 2022. The new building will allow the school to accommodate more students and offer new courses. This School Year 2022-2023, out of 177 students who applied, only 115 enrolled while only 91 pushed through with schooling. The Management Team informed us that each student's total tuition for a two-year course is PHP 120,000. They will provide us with the cost breakdown as well as other important details about the school for the benefit of prospective donors.

Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) President/Rtn. Art Lopez is searching for new employees/on-the-job trainees and is interested to partner with Punlaan School. PHOA will execute a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Rotary Club of Manila and Punlaan School.

Our next course of action:

1. Draft a tripartite MOA between Punlaan, RCM and PHOA.

2. Identify students to be awarded scholarships so that the existing funds can be released and allocated.

3. Award the scholarships to the students in a simple program. (Meet the scholars in person and document the event.)

4. Invite more Manila Rotarians to get involved in the Punlaan Program.

To date, PVP Farid Schoucair, Rtn. Lance Tan and Rtn. Rami Chahwan have agreed to join the program.

Technical Preparation for the Weekly Membership Meeting

Wednesday, August 17, 2022, 6:00 p.m.

Together with Asst. Sec. Mike Albaña, we oversaw the technical preparation for the weekly membership meeting last Thursday, August 18, 2022 at the Conrad Manila.

RC Manila Weekly Membership Meeting and Induction of RI President-Elect Gordon R. McInally as RCM Honorary Member

Thursday, August 18, 2022, 12:30pm

During last week’s Membership Meeting, we made history as it was the first time a Rotary Club of Manila President inducted a Rotary International President-Elect as an honorary member of the Club. It was an honor for us to read this message from RIPE Gordon McInally.

Rotary Club of Pasay Southeast Charter Anniversary and Handover & Induction Ceremonies

Thursday, August 18, 2022

I attended the 14th Charter Anniversary and 15th Handover and Induction Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Pasay Southeast at Heritage Hotel. It was a phenomenal night as I witnessed the induction of Phenomenal Leader President Thelma Dulfo Daquiag.

Rotary Club of Bacoor Induction Ceremony

Friday, August 19, 2022

I attended the Rotary Club of Bacoor’s 29th Induction Ceremony and witnessed the Signing of the Sisterhood Agreement among RC Bacoor, RC Dasmarinas Cavite, RC Muntinlupa Business District, RC Bacoor, RC Imus and RC Chinatown Manila.

RI District 3810 New Members and New Club Orientation

Saturday, August 20, 2022 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

RI District 3810 conducted New Members and New Club Orientation last Saturday, August 20, 2022 and it was attended by the proposed Rotary Club members, Rotary Club of Phenomenal Dentists and Rotary Club of Abra de Ilog proposed by Rotary Club of Manila. Other proposed new clubs include Rotary Club of Amazing Manila, Rotary Club of Cavite Uptown and Rotary Club of Cavite Premier. RC Manila members who attended the initial segment of the orientation were Membership Director Jujut Enriquez, Member/PD Art Lopez and STAR Rtn. Aries Balanay.

Rotary Club of Manila Premier 6th Handover and 7th Induction Ceremonies

Saturday, August 20, 2022, 6:30 p.m.

I attended the 6th Induction and 7th Handover Ceremonies of Rotary Club of Manila Premier at the Flash Grand Ballroom at Elorde Sports Complex in Parañaque City.

It was a fun gathering with the ‘70s theme.

RC Cavite East 44th Induction

Monday, August 22, 2022

I attended the Rotary Club of Cavite East’s 44th Induction held last Monday, August 22, 2022 at Fynn Boutique Hotel in Bacoor City, Cavite.

Second Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday, August 23, 2022 4:00 p.m.

We had our second Regular Board Meeting last Tuesday, August 23, 2022 via Zoom. In the meeting with me were VP Reggie Yu, Dir. Hans Palacios, Dir. Albert Alday (not in photo), Dir. Raffy Alunan, Dir. Johnny Chotrani, Dir. Tony Lopez, RCManila Foundation Chairman/PD Pepo Nunez, RCManila Foundation President/PT Lito Sibayan, Sec. Edwin Hernandez, Treas. Karlo Castro, Asst. Sec. Mike Albaña and SAA Jason Bogovich.

It was a busy week for me, attending meetings and events within our Club and with different Rotary clubs. I am excited with our partnership with Punlaan School and help provide scholarships for deserving students. With the new multi-story building under construction, Punlaan School is poised for growth, and I look forward to seeing more Manila Rotarians get involved in this worthwhile project. Until next week, my brothers in RCM!

Very truly yours, Herminio “Hermie” Esguerra, Phenomenal Leader President