President's Diary

Dear fellow Manila Rotarians,

Thank you all for another great week of service to our community. This week's highlight was the district-wide Polio Vaccination Project called "Sabayang Patak", which is in line with World Polio Day on October 24. Rotary International District 3810, headed by our District Governor Joyce Ambray, led the simultaneous polio vaccination activities in Cavite, Pasay, Manila and Occidental Mindoro. Here's a rundown of all the activities and events I attended this week.

District Governor’s Visit to the Rotary Club of Manila South — Thursday, October 20, 2022, 4:00 p.m.

I was invited as an observer at the District Governor's visit to the Rotary Club of Manila South. I delivered a message and shared how we, at the Rotary Club of Manila, conduct our Weekly Membership Meeting. I also invited them to a joint club virtual membership meeting today, October 27.

9th Handover and Induction Ceremonies of Rotary Club of Pasay Metro Sunrise — Thursday, October 20, 2022, 5:00 p.m.

I was honored to attend the 9th Handover and Induction Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Pasay Metro Sunrise held on October 20 in Casa Ibarra, SM Mall of Asia.

Fourth Regular Monthly Board Meeting — Friday, 21 October 2022

We had our fourth regular monthly Board meeting last Friday, October 21 via Zoom. Present at the meeting were IPP Chito Zaldarriaga, VP/VPE Reggie Yu, PE/Dir. Raffy Alunan, Dir. Jujut Enriquez, DE/Asst. Secretary Mike Albaña and Executive Secretary Anna Kun Toledo.

World End Polio Day: “Sabayang Patak” Campaign in Imus, Pasay, Manila and Occidental Mindoro — Monday, October 24, 2022

Rotary International has been on a mission to get rid of polio once and for all. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. Rotary has donated over $2 billion towards this cause, including matching funds from the Gates Foundation; not to mention all the countless volunteer hours since launching the polio eradication program.

Last Monday, October 24, we continued our efforts in eradicating polio as we celebrate World Polio Day. We vaccinated children in three communities—first in Imus, Cavite at 9 a.m., then at Barangay 165 in Malibay Plaza, Pasay City at 1:00 p.m., and finally in Baseco Compound, Manila at 4:00 p.m.

Department of Health Director Dr. Eric Tayag, who is also Past President and incumbent RI District 3810 Senior Deputy Governor for District COVID-19 Adviser and Chairperson for the Mental Health program, accompanied us in the vaccination sites. VP Reggie Yu, Dir. Albert Alday, DE/Asst. Secretary Mike Albaña, and STAR Rtn. Aries Balanay joined us in Malibay Plaza. We were also graced by the presence of Pasay City Mayor Emily-Calixto Rubiano and FG Egay Rubiano.

The Rotary Clubs of Abra de Ilog, Mamburao and Lubang Islands in Occidental Mindoro also administered oral polio vaccinations to their respective communities alongside the mayors and health officials to vaccinate children as part of the Sabayang Patak campaign, which is a District 3810-Manila, Pasay, Cavite and Occidental Mindoro campaign. Altogether, we have successfully vaccinated around 1,000 children.

Ending polio is a daunting task, but it's one that we're committed to accomplish until every child is vaccinated. We are this close to ending polio. It was a tiring but ultimately fulfilling day of Service Above Self as we continue our fight against the disease. It was great to see the Rotary Club of Manila taking part in the campaign. With your help, we are one step closer to making history and achieving a world free from polio.

Areas of Focus achieved: Disease Prevention and Treatment and Maternal and Child Care

After the whole day of activities, the Rotarians and medical team went to Aristocrat Restaurant in Roxas Boulevard for a fellowship dinner. Also, in celebration of the End Polio Awareness Campaign, the Rotary Club of Manila has joined the other clubs in District 3810 in installing END POLIO NOW tarpaulins along Roxas Boulevard. The tarpaulins are on display until October 30, 2022.

It has been an eventful week for me as president of the Rotary Club of Manila. As always, I am grateful for all that we have experienced and accomplished this past week and am looking forward to continuing our work in service of our communities.

Yours in Rotary Service,

Pres. Hermie Esguerra