President's Diary

My dear fellow Manila Rotarians,

I am now in Occidental Mindoro as part of my duty as President of the Rotary Club of Manila, the sponsoring club of the Rotary Club of Abra de Ilog Central, where I called to order the Charter Presentation and Induction Ceremony last Monday, February 27. I am proud to be a part of the remarkable group of 35 Phenomenal Leader Presidents and District 3810 Officers who are participating in the Occidental Mindoro Community Service Caravan. This 5-day event, which began on Monday and will conclude this Friday, March 3rd, consists of dental missions, vaccinations for public health initiatives, Governor's Visits and Club Inductions, as well opportunities for valuable fellowship experiences. I see this as an essential part of our role as the premier club in RI District 3810.

Considering this, I am uncertain if I will be able to attend and preside over our virtual 29th Weekly Membership Meeting; it all depends on how strong the internet connection is. Meanwhile, I am happy to share with you all the activities and events I attended during the past two weeks.

Meeting of Members Attending the 53rd Charter Anniversary

Monday, 20 February 2023

RC Manila members attending the 53rd Charter Anniversary to be held from March 5 to 7, 2023 had a meeting on February 20. With me at the meeting were PE/Dir. Raffy Alunan, Treas. Karlo Castro, BLA Raoul Creencia, PDG Vince Carlos, PD Nick Locsin, PD Noy Benedicto, STAR Rtn. Billy Andal, STAR Rtn. Paul Koh, STAR Rtn. Mike Roxas, PDSAA Ferdie Co and Rtn. JB Pallasigue.

Governor’s Visit at the Rotary Club of Manila 101

Tuesday, 21 February 2023

I attended the Governor’s Visit at the Rotary Club of Manila 101 (PLP Maria Paz Calaguian-Mejia) on February 21 at the Philippine Red Cross.

Turning Over of Sympathy Fund to Syria through the Consulate of Syria

Thursday, 23 February 2023

I led the RCM officers and members in turning over the PHP 114,000.00 sympathy fund for the earthquake victims in Syria through Consulate of Syria’s Consul General/Past Dir. Issam Eldebs

With me at the Consulate of Syria were PDG Obet Pagdanganan, Dir. Johnny Chotrani, SAA Nagi Zeitouni, Rtn. Rami Chahwan, RCMFI Board Legal Adviser Jordan Pizarras and Trustee PD Oscar del Rosario Sr.

RCMFI Board Legal Adviser Jordan Pizarras presented his personal donation to Syria through Consul General/PD Mohammed Issam Eldebs.

Turning Over of Sympathy Fund to Türkiye through the Embassy of Türkiye in the Philippines

Thursday, 23 February 2023

Together wih PDG Obet Pagdanganan, VP Reggie Yu, Dir. Johnny Chotrani, SAA Nagi Zeitouni and PD Oscar del Rosario, we presented the sympathy fund donated by RCM members to His Excellency Niyazi Evren Akyol, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Türkiye to the Philippines.

6th Regular Board Meeting

Thursday, 23 February 2023, 2:30 p.m.

We had our 6th Regular Board Meeting last Thursday, February 23. With me at the meeting were VP Reggie Yu, PE/Dir. Raffy Alunan, Dir. Hans Palacios, Dir. Albert Alday, Sec. Edwin Hernandez, Treas. Karlo Castro, Board Legal Adviser Raoul Creencia and Asst. Treas. PJ Garcia.

District 3810 Meeting for the Month of February

Thursday, 23 February 2023, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

I attended the District 3810 monthly meeting last Thursday, February 23, presided by RI District 3810 DG Joyce Michelle Ambray and attended by Phenomenal Leader Presidents and District Officers. During the meeting, I presented the Four-Way Test Video of the Rotary Club of Manila. VP Reggie Yu presented the upcoming District Event – RYLA 2022-2023 (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards), which will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Manila on March 11-12, 2023.

Friday Prayer and Turning Over of Donations to the Newly Constructed Masjid Al-Hidaya in Taguig City

Friday, 24 February 2023, 11:00 a.m.

The Rotary Club of Manila recently made a concerted effort to promote the Area of Focus: Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention by providing four ceiling fans and six carpets for praying to Masjid Al-Hidaya, a new mosque in Taguig City. This donation helps make the mosque more comfortable for our 120 Muslim brothers and sisters. A testimony to our club's commitment to cultivating harmony, all Muslim members of RCM are also invited to visit and pray at the mosque.

On February 24, we attended their Holy Friday Prayer service. During this special occasion, I was delighted to contribute Php 100,000 for buying the construction materials needed to finish the mosque. PD Issam Eldebs also donated a Holy Quran. The next step we are taking is to help them raise enough funds to complete the construction of the mosque.

RCM is delighted to support Masjid Al-Hidaya in providing a safe and welcoming place of worship. We hope that this gesture serves as a reminder of Rotary’s commitment to creating a more peaceful world, one step at a time. We are proud to be helping Masjid Al-Hidaya in its mission to spread the message of peace and understanding among Filipinos and Muslims in our country and around the world. Together, we can make a positive difference in the world by working toward peace, understanding, and inclusion.

PD Issam Eldebs (Chairman, Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee), Rtn. Rami Chahwan and I attended the Holy Friday Prayer service at Masjid Al-Hidaya. The Imam of Masjid Al-Hidayah gifted me with an essential compass to accurately point toward the Qibla (the direction in which Muslims stand before Allah to offer their daily prayers). The gift also featured a set of prayer beads and several meaningful quotes from the Holy Quran.

Occidental Mindoro Community Service Caravan

27 February to 3 March 2023

Day 1: 27 February 2023

Our team of 35 Phenomenal Leader Presidents and District 3810 Officers were warmly welcomed by the Rotary Club of Abra de Ilog Central. We made a courtesy visit to the local government of the Municipality of Abra de Ilog. This photo was taken at the office of Abra de Ilog Vice Mayor Orlando “Boyet” Quito.

Our group, led by DG Joyce Ambray, had the privilege of unveiling the Four-Way Test Marker in Abra de Ilog.

We then went to the Ministries without Borders to distribute the 30 wheelchairs donated by Phenomenal Leader President Jun Francis Pasion of RC Pasay CyberCity.

We also distributed the eyeglasses that I donated to the local residents. It was a meaningful moment to witness the joy of the people we were able to touch through our service.

We went to Katutubo Village in Balete, Abra De Ilog to distribute the toilet bowls donated by PP Arsenic Ong of RC Downtown Manila.

DG Joyce Ambray teaching the locals proper bathing etiquette and hygiene

In the evening, we held the Charter presentation of Rotary Club of Abra de Ilog Central under District Governor Joyce Ambray's guidance. I was honored to preside over the historic occasion as a new daughter club of the Rotary Club of Manila came into being, an event that will be remembered by all who attended.

Day 2: 28 February 2023

9:30 a.m. to 10:45am We had the unveiling of the 4-Way Test Marker of RC Mamburao Central.

11:15 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. I obliged to the live interview by Kang Bina, 104.1 Bambi FM local radio station in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro. We had a quick lunch at Thalia's Events Place.

12:30 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. We had a meeting with the teachers and caretakers at Mamburao Central School and distributed essential goods to 54 children with learners’ disability at the SPED Center.

2:52 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. We distributed the donation of solar power lights, vitamins, hygiene kits, lice removal shampoo, clothes, slippers, food packs and rice, and installed the Jetmatic pump in Karyandangan Elementary School in Barangay Tangkalan.

5:15 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. We distributed the eyeglasses, wheelchair and pneumonia vaccines at Mamburao Central School.

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. I attended the Governor’s Visit to RC Mamburao Central.

9:00 p.m. (Feb 28) to 12:30 a.m. (March 1) I attended the Rotary Club of Mamburao Central Handover and Induction Ceremonies, an event that lasted past midnight. I also donated Php 75,000 to help finance some of the projects of RC Mamburao Central.

I would like to share with you our itinerary for Day 3 and Day 4 of the Community Service Caravan.

Day 3: 1 March 2023

7:00 a.m. Breakfast in Windmill resort

8:00 a.m. Leave for San Jose

11:00 a.m. Lunch at Grandiya

12:30 p.m. Check in at Sikatuna or Season's Hotel

1:30 p.m. Dispensing of eyeglasses (100), pneumonia vaccines (100) and solar lights (12) at San Jose National High School

3pm to 5pm One-on-one and Governor's Visit at RC San Jose Downtown, RC San Jose Tamaraw and RC Sablayan Metro at Divine Word College Conference room

5:00 p.m. Back to hotel

6:00 p.m. Induction of 4 Rotary Clubs at Divine Word Gymnasium

Day 4: 2-3 March 2023

7:00 am 8:00 am 8:00 am 12:00 noon 3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 1:00 a.m. 4:00 a.m. 6:00 a.m.

Breakfast at Sikatuna or Season's Hotel and check out, load in bus

Island hopping c/o PP Ciony

Dental care services

Healthy Lunch at Sikatuna

PLP One on One with DG GV of RC San Jose

Induction and fellowship, attire: luau

Back to Abra

To Batangas

Batangas to Aloha hotel

Drop off at Aloha hotel, Roxas Blvd.

The clubs of Occidental Mindoro’s needs and requests:

RC Abra de Ilog Central

1. Eyeglasses – 130 pieces at Php500 each (donated by yours truly)

2. Toilet bowls – 15 pieces (sponsored by PP Arsenic Ong of RC Downtown Manila)

3. Construction cost of toilets - 15 pieces x Php 3,000 each = Php 49,000 (paid by DG Joyce Ambray)

4. Used clothing – DES Mark Tan, SDG Michelle Khader

5. Solar light systems – 6 sets at Php 3,000 each (2 by PLP Ann Tria of RC Lubang Island and PLP Emelie Pagtakhan of RC Hiyas ng Bacoor

6. Street lights – 5 pieces at Php 5,000 each

7. Hygiene kits – 100 packs (from AS Ana Villegas of RC San Marcelino Manila)

8. Pneumonia vaccines – 100 pieces (by DOH through USec Eric Tayag of RC Manila 101)

9. Lisa shampoo sachets (by DES Mark Tan)

10. Wheelchairs – 30 pieces (donated by PLP Jun Pasion of RC Cybercity)

RC Mamburao

1. Eyeglasses – 60 pieces at Php 500 each (donated by yours truly)

2. Solar light systems – 24 sets at Php 3,000 each (Php 50,000 donated by PLP Jun Pasion of RC Cybercity)

3. Hygiene kits – 60 packs (from DES Mark Tan)

4. Lunch treat for SPED students – Php 15,000

5. Pneumonia vaccines- 200 pieces (by DOH through USec Eric Tayag of RC Manila 101)

6. Lice shampoo sachets (by DES Mark Tan)

7. Wheelchairs - 2 pieces (donated by SDG MaryMei Rodrigo)

RC San Jose, RC San Joe Tamaraw and RC San Jose Central

1. Eyeglasses – 100 pieces at Php 500 each (donated by yours truly)

2. Solar light systems – 6 sets at Php 3,000 each

3. Hygiene kits – 200 packs (60 by AS Osang Blanco of RC Tondo Metro)

4. Pneumonia vaccines – 100 pieces (by DOH through Usec Eric Tayag of RC Manila 101)

5. Wheelchairs - 2 pieces (donated by SDG MaryMei Rodrigo)

6. Groceries and Rice (donated by SDG MaryMei Rodrigo)

D3810

1. Bus – Php 126,000 (sponsored by DG Joyce Ambray)

2. Used clothing (PLPs and Officers)

3. Hotel with breakfast (Rotary way)

4. Bus breakfast (by DG Joyce Ambray)

5. Dengue kits and medicines (SDG Michelle Khader)

6. Eyeglasses - worth Php 300,000 (by yours truly)

As the President of the Rotary Club of Manila, it has been a privilege to be able to represent our club in various activities and events. It is my hope that through these service projects and initiatives, we make meaningful contributions toward improving people’s lives both locally and globally. Let us continue working together for humanity, as there is still much work left ahead of us as leaders in Service Above Self. Thank you for your continued support.

Yours in Rotary Service,