President's Diary

Dear fellow Manila Rotarians,

I am happy to share that we had another productive week since our last membership meeting. It shows in the number of events and meetings that we were able to attend as a club. Here is a rundown of what we have been up to for the past seven days:

First Friday Novena Mass

Friday, October 7, 2022

We're all grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the First Friday Novena Mass last Friday via Zoom, officiated by Rev. Fr. Larry Tan. Other Manila Rotarians who attended were PE/Dir. Raffy Alunan, VP Reggie Yu (who led the Novena Prayer for the Sacred Heart of Jesus), Dir. Hans Palacios, Dir. Albert Alday (who led the Intercessory Prayer), PDG Obet Pagdanganan, PDG Rudy Bediones, PP Boy Guevara, PP Francis Juico (who led the Prayer of the Faithful), PP Fran Evaristo, PD Oscar del Rosario Sr., PAS Joel Valdes, Rtn. Romy Nones, PT Chito Tagaysay, PDSAA Tony Lopa, Rtn. Ronald Martinez (who led the Prayer for Spiritual Communion), Rtn. Noel Tanglao (who read the First Reading and Responsorial Psalm), Rtn. Willie Pelino, Rtn. Joel Talampas, STAR Rtn. Richard Everingham, STAR Rtn. Alvin Ampil and STAR Rtn. Aries Balanay (who led the prayer of Oratio Imperata).

Partnership Meeting for Cleft Project

Monday, October 10, 2022, 9:00 a.m.

We had a partnership meeting with Operation Smile Philippines and Sta. Ana Hospital in the City of Manila for the Cleft Project on October 10 via Zoom. Also present during the partnership meeting were VP Reggie Yu, PD John Cutter (Project Chairman), PD Nick Locsin (Chairman, International PD Amading Valdez (also Chairman of Programs Committee), PD John Cutter (Chairman, Disease Prevention and Treatment - Cleft Project), PAS Joel Valdez (Ambassador of RCM to Rotary Club of San Francisco, USA), and Mr. Carlos Valdes; Operation Smile Philippines Executive Director Emiliano Romano, EA Zachary John de Leon Fontanilla; Sta. Ana Hospital in Manila - Dr. Grace Padilla (Director); Dr. Farah Margarita Aure (OIC Asst. Director), Dr. Francis Ojeda, MD (Head, Ambulatory Surgical Clinic), and Dr. Antonieta Solis, MD.

District International Relations

Monday, October 10, 2022

RID 3810 DG Joyce Ambray and I met with PDG Jong Yeol Lee (RID 3630 Chair, District Rotary Foundation), RID 3810 Sr. Deputy Gov. Jhay Jang and Rtn. Reina Kim (spouse of SDG Jhay Jang) from the Rotary Club of Manila Binondo Prime of RID 3810.

Meeting with the Department of Education

Monday, October 10, 2022, 2:00 p.m.

We had an online meeting last Monday with the Department of Education (DepEd) on Anti-Bullying townhall meeting. With me at the meeting from the Rotary Club of Manila were VP Reggie Yu, PE/Dir. Raffy Alunan (Director-in-Charge for Community Service and Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee Chairman), Vice-Chair PD Issam Eldebs and SAA Nagi Zeitouni, and STAR Rtn. Aries Balanay; and from DepEd, Dir. Edel Carag and Ms. Sabina Canlas de Castro.

RCM Board of Directors and Officers Fellowship Lunch

Tuesday, October 11, 2022, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, I had the honor of hosting lunch at China Blue, Conrad Hotel in Pasay City for our Board of Directors and Officers. District Governor Joyce Ambray came and shared an inspiring message with us all. She was accompanied by Senior Deputy Governor Belle Chua. Present during the Board fellowship lunch were VP Reggie Yu, PE/Dir. Raffy Alunan, Directors Hans Palacios, Johnny Chotrani, Albert Alday and Jujut Enriquez, Sec. Edwin Hernandez, Board Legal Adviser Raoul Creencia, Asst. Treas. PJ Garcia and Asst. Sec. Mike Albaña.

Meeting on the Chartering of a Prospective Rotaract Club

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

I had a meeting at the C Lounge of Conrad Manila in Pasay City with the Rotaract Committee of our club led by Chairman DE/AS Mike Albaña, Director-in-Charge VP Reggie Yu, DE/Dir. Albert Alday and Mr. JP Dacuycuy on the chartering of a prospective Rotaract club.

Monthly District Meeting of Rotary District 3810

Also on Tuesday, I attended the Monthly District Meeting of Rotary District 3810 and during this meeting, I met with prospective members of the proposed Rotary Club of Kalintaan in Occidental Mindoro which our club will likewise be chartering. Those who were part of the meeting were Membership Growth and Development SDG Eric Candidato, SDG/SAG/DE/Dir. Albert Alday and Occidental Mindoro DAD Melvin Parcia.

Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Manila was recognized as TOP 3 in Annual Fund Program PER CAPITA of US$ 230.77 for the month of September 2022.

RCM Sponsors 2 Rotaractors to PROCON 2023

We are happy to sponsor two Rotaractors from the Rotaract Club of De La Salle University (RAC DLSU) to the Pilipinas Rotaract Convention (PROCON) 2023. The convention will be held on February 24 to 26, 2023 at Royce Hotel, Clark Freeport, Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

It's been a busy week. It's clear that we're doing something right and I'm excited to see what else we can achieve in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you once again, my fellow Manila Rotarians, for your support and dedication to the Rotary Club of Manila.

Yours in Rotary Service,

Pres. Hermie Esguerra