President Raffy Alunan’s Opening Remarks

Good afternoon fellow RCMers. Thank you for being here. Today, we will discuss the health of our club and our brotherhood. In preparation for this meeting, the EXCOM and Council of Past Presidents were consulted. A health check questionnaire was also circulated weeks ago to feel the pulse of the membership.

To set the mood, let’s direct our attention to this song I’d like to play for you. I invite everyone to sing-a-long to energize ourselves with the WFC at the lead. (Play video “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”)

Thank you for that. That song tugs my heart and speaks to me that life is short. Instead of wasting time fighting each other, we should spend our precious time developing loving relationships. Because we’re brothers.

Let’s refresh our memories. Rotary started with the vision of one man – Paul Harris – who formed the Rotary Club of Chicago in 1905, to enable professionals with diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and from meaningful, lifelong friendships. Over time, Rotary’s reach and vision gradually extended to humanitarian service. That’s what Roger Pinneo and Leon Lambert set out to do in 1919 to organize the Rotary Club of Manila, first in Asia, and the only Philippine club for 13 years. We are therefore and inter-generational club of men that band together for camaraderie and connectivity at the service of humanity. In short, we’re a brotherhood, a band of brothers.

But we’re not just, in the ordinary sense, a collection of men. We’re supposedly the elite that the Rotary community in the look up to for leadership by example. We’re the beacon on the hill that they look to for them to find their bearings. We’re supposed to be a select group of people imbued with intrinsic qualities such as maturity, character, personality, high intellect, wealth, power, special skills and experience, who are more constructive to society than other organizations.

However, from the time I joined RCM in 2016, I detected disturbing dynamics affecting our brotherhood that persists. Our high sense of humanitarian service and achievements are being obstructed by petty in-fighting, toxic griping and whining over personal agendas. That unbecoming conduct, though limited to what I believe is a handful, is destabilizing RCM. It’s the reverse of service above self. It’s polarizing us. It’s subverting the principles of Rotary. If unchecked, it could turn into an insurgency that could fatally split the Club.

At my induction last July, I emphasized on Unity, Solidarity and Teamwork as the foundations for our brotherhood. I received assurances of your support. In reality, there’s much to be desired. For some, my message held sway. For others, personal divisions remain as toxic as ever. For most, apathy seems to have set in. it’s reflected in low attendance rates; back seat driving; sniping and timidity. That’s truly alarming and we must put an end to it now, not later. Now with a keen sense of urgency.

If we’re truly elite, we ought to know that a club or brotherhood is only as good, or bad, as its members. Our club’s worth is the sum total of what we, as individual members, do right AND wrong. Our image and reputation are shaped by what we think, say and do. But even the elite can be forgetful. We need to reboot. So, here we are to assess if we’re living up to the 4-Way test and our oath of membership: “… to abide by, follow and uphold, all the provisions of the Constitution and By-laws of Rotary International and my club; and fulfill to the best of my ability all the duties and responsibilities of my membership.”

I end with this music video sung by the group Brotherhood of Man. The song is entitled “United we stand, divided we fall.” If you know the lyrics, sing it with gusto! (Play video)

Thank you. Back to Edwin and Raoul.