Message from Pres. Herminio S. Esguerra

Honorable Alexander G. Gesmundo, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines

Distinguished legal luminaries

My dear fellow Manila Rotarians,

It is my pleasure to welcome you all to our 35th Weekly Membership Meeting, which promises to be a truly special occasion. We are honored to have with us today a distinguished guest of honor and speaker, the Honorable Alexander G. Gesmundo, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. We are also pleased to welcome many legal luminaries in attendance.

The relevance of this meeting for Manila Rotarians is clear: as members of a service organization dedicated to making a positive impact in our communities, we have a responsibility to stay informed about the issues that affect our country. The legal system plays a critical role in shaping our society and upholding our fundamental rights and freedoms, and as such, it is essential that we engage with it thoughtfully and constructively.

Today's speaker is uniquely qualified to shed light on the workings of the Philippine justice system and the challenges that it faces. Chief Justice Gesmundo has dedicated his career to upholding the rule of law and ensuring access to justice for all Filipinos. His insights will be invaluable as we seek to better understand the legal landscape and identify ways in which we can contribute to the well-being of our communities.

I encourage all of you to participate actively in today's meeting, to ask thoughtful questions, and to engage in constructive dialogue. Let us use this opportunity to deepen our understanding of the legal system, and to explore ways in which we can work together to make a positive impact in our community and our country.

To my fellow Manila Rotarians, as we gather today for our Weekly Membership Meeting, I want to remind everyone that there are only 2.5 months left in Rotary Year 2022-2023 under my leadership. Let's make the most out of it by continuing to live up to our Rotary values and actively engaging in our community projects.

I am pleased to announce that our Digitalization of RCM Library Project is well underway. This initiative aims to securely archive all the historic documents, records and library materials of the 104-year-old Rotary Club of Manila, the first Rotary Club in Asia.

Another important project that we are currently working on is the Pasig River Clean-up and Rehabilitation Project, which is our flagship project. After successfully installing floating trash barriers in November 2022, our next step is to secure a Global Grant Project to purchase an aquatic trash skimmer vessel. This will enable to collect the trapped floating trash and contribute to the restoration of the Pasig River ecosystem.

Among the many projects that our Club has implemented, I am proud to report that our Global Grant Rotary Vision Care project is almost complete. The project has successfully provided eyeglasses to a vast majority of the intended beneficiaries-- students, teachers and non-teaching personnel of 15 public schools in Manila. The club's dedicated team has persevered in achieving its goal of improving the quality of life of these individuals through better vision. We remain committed to fulfilling our mission of providing accessible and essential healthcare services to underserved communities.

In addition, we are excited to share that we will be playing our Four-Way Test infomercial/advocacy campaign in major cinemas and on social media. This will help us to promote our Rotary values and encourage ethical decision-making in our community.

Our upcoming Cleft Lip/Palate Medical Mission at the Sta. Ana Hospital, in partnership with Operation Smile Philippines, the Manila City Government and other foreign Rotary Clubs, will benefit about 60 indigent children. We are honored to be a part of this life-changing project.

We have other exciting projects in the pipeline, including The Outstanding Workers of the Republic (TOWER) Awards on May 25 and Journalism Awards on June 15. These initiatives will help us recognize and celebrate excellence in various fields and promote positive change in our community and our country.

Lastly, I would like to remind everyone about the RID 3810 District Convention (DISCON) which will be held on April 22-23, 2023. The DISCON is the last major event of the district for this Rotary Year where Rotarians from all the four areas are expected to gather in the spirit of fellowship, learning and fun.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support and dedication to the Rotary Club of Manila. Meanwhile, I look forward to a productive and meaningful 35th Weekly Membership Meeting.

Yours in Rotary Service,

Herminio S. Esguerra, President, Rotary Club of Manila