President's New Year Message

My dear fellow Manila Rotarians and guests, happy new year! Greetings to all of you as we bid farewell to 2022 and excitedly welcome 2023. It has been an incredible journey so far, and I have no doubt that each one of us cannot wait for what lies ahead in this brand new year! The turn of a new year is always an exciting and hopeful time. It marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, full of possibilities and opportunities.

Speaking of the "new year," I would like to share with you a story about this period of the year:

One day, a teacher was strolling down the hallways of her school. She was suddenly mesmerized by all of the captivating New Year's decorations on each classroom wall. An overwhelming sense of serenity filled the air and as soon as she entered her own classroom, she noticed a group of students with vibrantly colored envelopes in their hands. The teacher was curious and asked them what they were doing. The students explained that each of them had written a letter to a stranger, wishing them a wonderful New Year ahead. They intended to post these letters in the mailboxes of random people throughout their town as an act of kindness and hope. The teacher smiled at her students and thought to herself, "What a wonderful way to start the year."

It is stories like this that reminds us how powerful small acts of kindness can be. As Rotary members, we are in a unique position to make positive change and inspire others with our words and actions. We now have the chance to make this year even better than the last. Let us make it our mission to spread joy and help build a better world. As Rotarians, let us use this renewed sense of purpose to be more dedicated and committed to our mission: “Service Above Self”. Let us strive to make a positive difference in our community through our actions – no matter how big or small.

As we ring in the new year, let us reflect on the accomplishments of our club over the past year and look ahead to what 2023 has in store. 2022 has been a challenging year for many of us; however, despite these difficulties, I am proud of all that we have achieved as a club. From helping clean up the Pasig River by installing floating trash barriers to helping communities affected by calamities across the country, we have continued to show our spirit of service. Our members have also exemplified Rotary's core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion through our various activities, meetings, and initiatives.

As President of the Rotary Club of Manila, I thank you all for your hard work and dedication throughout this past year. The challenges we faced only served to make us stronger and more resilient as a club. As we move into 2023, let us face it with optimism and dedication to our mission. Let us be inspired by our successes of the past and use them as a platform for our future endeavors. With each kind deed we do, let us make a positive impact in our community and in the world.

This new year presents us with an opportunity to strengthen our club even further. We must continue to focus on promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies, and supporting the environment. By working together collectively towards these goals, our impact will be far greater than any one individual can make alone. Let us work together and grow together as a T.E.A.M. (together everyone achieves more). I am confident that if all of us come together as one unified force with the same vision to solve problems and address community needs, then 2023 will be another successful year for the Rotary Club of Manila.

Let us make this New Year count by committing ourselves to helping those in need while building genuine connections within our community. This New Year’s message is an invitation for each member of the Rotary Club of Manila to reflect on what unites us and how collective action can create real change in both small and large ways. Let us continue striving toward a brighter future by engaging with each other through meaningful conversations and actions that support our goals within the organization. Together, let us make 2023 a year marked by unity and progress!

My heartfelt wishes go out to each one of you this new year – may your dreams come true and may you be blessed with great health, happiness, and success! As your president, I wish you all a Phenomenal 2023! Let's make 2023 shine brighter than ever!

Yours in Rotary Service,

Pres. Hermie Esguerra