President’s Diary

My dear fellow Manila Rotarians,

Last week was filled with important meetings and activities that help us continue our mission of serving and making a positive impact in our community. I'd like to take this opportunity to give you all an overview of the activities and meetings I attended.

RC Manila Weekly Membership Meeting (Thursday, 9 March 2023)

Last week's Weekly Membership Meeting was another successful and exciting meeting, not only because it was a face-to-face gathering but also due to the presence of Honorable Enrique Manalo, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, as our Guest of Honor and Speaker.

With me welcoming Honorable Enrique Manalo, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, at the lobby of New World Makati Hotel were DGN Jackie Rodriguez, Dir. Johnny Chotrani, Dir. Hans Palacios, Asst. Sec Mike Albaña, Program Chairman PD Amading Valdez and Rtn. Ray Davis

Yours truly informing the Manila Rotarians of our Club’s undertakings during the "President's Time"

Organizational Meeting of Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) (Thursday, 9 March 2023, 2:30 p.m.)

We had the RYLA Organizational Meeting last Thursday at the Ballroom of the New World Makati Hotel to discuss RYLA 2023 which was held on March 11 and 12, 2023. Present at the meeting were VP Reggie Yu, Dir. Albert Alday, Grant Chairman Aries Balanay and STAR Rtn. Paul Koh MD.

Wake of Mrs. Pilar Vasquez, Mother of Rtn. Junjie Vazquez (Thursday, 9 March 2023)

VP Reggie Yu, Dir Albert Alday, Grant Chair/STAR Rtn. Aries Balanay and STAR Rtn. Paul Koh and I went to the wake of Mrs. Pilar Vasquez, mother of Rtn. Junjie Vazquez, at The Heritage Chapel in Taguig City.

Organizational Meeting of Alay Lakad (Friday, 10 March 2023)

I attended the organizational meeting of Alay Lakad via Zoom last Friday, March 10. Present at the meeting were Alay Lakad President / RCM PP Frank Evaristo, PDG John Siy of Lions International 301 A4, and Jojo Domingo of DPWH.

RYLA 2023 (Saturday and Sunday, 11 and 12 March 2023)

The Rotary Club of Manila proudly hosted the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) 2023 held last weekend, March 11 and 12, at the Selah Garden and Selah Pods Hotel in Pasay City. An unprecedented 127 young delegates from 41 Rotary Clubs attended the one-and-a-half-day training camp for future community leaders.

The participants had a stimulating and enriching time of training, lecture sessions and activities with the theme, "Imagining Tomorrow's Leaders".

Meeting of Alay Lakad Board of Trustees (Tuesday, 14 March 2023)

I hosted the Alay Lakad Board of Trustees Meeting led by Pres. Frank Evaristo, VP John Siy, Dir. John Guidotong, Dir. Tutchi Tutica, Dir. Augusto Chua, Dir. Joe Redoblado and Dir. Ryan Ferdinand Callanta.

Also in attendance were Alay Lakad Foundation, Inc. (ALFI) PDG Anson Ong and his wife, Mrs. Consuelo Ong of Lions Club District 308A4, Dr. Teruko Haga from Japan and Ms. Lilia Torres of GSP.

Alay Lakay 2023 is tentatively scheduled on June 4, 2023.

It has been an honor and a privilege to witness the events of this past week as our Club continues to empower young leaders in their journey towards making positive contributions to society. Through such initiatives, we can continue inspiring more people every day to become agents of change.

As president, I am proud of all that RC Manila has achieved throughout these few days and look forward with great anticipation for what lies ahead.

Together, let us keep on creating a more meaningful and lasting impact in our community.

Yours in Rotary Service, Pres. Hermie Esguerra