President's Diary

Dear fellow Manila Rotarians,

Last week was another momentous one for the Rotary Club of Manila. We continued our Pasig Clean-up project by holding a turnover ceremony of the floating trash barriers to Pasig River Coordinating and Management Office (PRCMO). The barriers are installed in various estuaries in the area to help catch and collect trash. This is a big step closer to our goal of making the river clean again. Here's a recap of all the activities, events and meetings that I attended.

42nd Handover and 43rd Induction Ceremonies of RC Bagumbayan-Manila — Thursday, 3 November 2022, 4:30 p.m.

I happily attended the 42nd Handover and 43rd Induction Ceremonies of RC Bagumbayan-Manila last Thursday at East Ocean Palace Restaurant, Aseana Business Park in Parañaque City.

First Friday Mass — Friday, 4 November 2022

Manila Rotarians attended the First Friday Mas that was officiated by Rev. Fr. Jayson Andaya, Provincial Superior of the Oblates of St. Joseph. With me at the virtual mass were Rtn. Willie Pelino (Mass Commentator), PDG Obet Pagdanganan, PDG Rudy Bediones, PDG Alex Cureg, Centennial Pres. Susing Pineda, PP Frank Evaristo, AT JP Garcia (led the Novena Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus), PD Issam Eldebs, PD Ner Lonzaga, PD Oscar del Rosario Jr., PDSAA Tony Lopa, PT Chito Tagaysay, PAS Henry Go (led the Intercessory Prayer), PAS Joel Valdes, Rtn. Alvin Ampil (First reading and Responsorial Psalm), Rtn. Joel Talampas, Rtn. Jed Dayang, STAR Rtn. Ben Ibuyan, Rtn. Anton Mauricio, Rtn. Noel Tanglao, STAR Rtn. Ben Ibuyan, STAR Rtn. Aries Balanay, Rtn. Romy Nones, Rtn. Rami Chahwan, STAR Rtn. Emman dela Cruz, and STAR Rtn. Miguel Lazaro (led the prayer of Oratio Imperata).

Inspection of Floating Trash Barriers to be Installed at Pasig River — Saturday, 5 November 2022, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

With Save Pasig River Chair Junjie Vazquez and Director-in-Charge Hans Palacios, we inspected the 395 pieces of floating trash barriers for readiness at the Lawton Manila site. The floating trash barriers are designed to prevent the trash from flowing into the river.

Rotary International (RI) and United Nations (UN) Partnership Celebration — Saturday, 5 November 2022

RI District 3810 celebrated its partnership with United Nations, and I was happy to be part of the celebration as RCM President. The event, which was hosted by the Rotary Club of San Marcelino, led by PLP Domarie Suniga, was held at the Grand Ballroom, New Coast Hotel Manila.

Technical Inspection of the Ongoing WASH Project — Sunday, 6 November 2022, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

We conducted a technical inspection of the mobile drinking water distribution system (a WASH project) last Sunday, November 6, at Esguerra Farms. Present were Officers of RC Paco Manila: PLP Theodore Tan, PP Mon Yupangco and PP Roland De Guzman. Also in attendance were RI District 3810 Governor Joyce Michelle L. Ambray and District COS Ramil Roxas. The technical design, engineering and supply of water tank with 1,500-liter capacity of potable water was an undertaking of Rotary Club of Manila, initiated by Rotary Club of Paco and Rotary Club of Hawaii.

Turnover Ceremony of Floating Trash Barriers and Pasig River Tour — Tuesday, 8 November 2022, 7:00 a.m.

We formally turned over 395 floating trash barriers to PRCMO last Tuesday, November 8, at the Lawton Ferry Station. The trash barriers were received by Dr. Joan A. Lagunda, DENR Assistant Secretary for Administration and Legislative Affairs and Concurrent OIC Executive Director, PRCMO.

Also present at the turnover ceremony were DGN Jackie Rodriguez, PDG Alex Cureg, Dir. Hans Palacios, Dir. Johnny Chotrani, Save Pasig River Chair Junjie Vazquez, Dir. Albert Alday, VP Reggie Yu, STAR Rtn. Emman dela Cruz, PD John Cenica, PAS Henry Go, STAR Rtn. Aries Balanay and RID 3810 team.

After the turnover ceremony, we had a tour of the Pasig River from Lawton to Napindan to Guadalupe for the ceremonial installation of floating trash barriers.

Trash barriers were put in place to prevent the garbage from flowing into the Pasig River.

I am looking forward to seeing more progress in our projects that will help improve our community. Thank you once again, my fellow Manila Rotarians, for all your support.

Yours in Rotary service,

Pres. Hermie Esguerra