From Courtroom to Community

Securing an impressive 85% of the total votes cast, Atty. Raoul Chicano Creencia was elected as the 106th President of the Rotary Club of Manila. This momentous occasion, held during the 10th Weekly Membership Meeting on September 26, 2024, marks the beginning of a new chapter for the esteemed organization, as Atty. Creencia prepares to formally assume the presidency on July 1, 2025.

A titan of law and governance, Atty. Creencia’s journey began in 1996 with the founding of CCV Law Firm, where he melded passion with purpose. His academic pursuits at the University of Santo Tomas and San Beda University laid the groundwork for a career characterized by legal brilliance and unwavering commitment to public service. From teaching Constitutional Law to guiding government corporations through complex legal mazes, his expertise spans civil litigation and corporate advisory, illuminating the paths of countless professionals and institutions alike.

As he embarks on this new role within the Rotary Club, The Balita sat down into an enlightening question-and-answer session with the new President-Elect, exploring his vision for the club, the values that guide him, and the lessons drawn from a life steeped in law and leadership. Join us as we uncover the man behind the title, whose dedication to community service reflects the Rotary ethos, promising to steer Manila’s Rotary Club toward new horizons.

The Balita: Reflecting on your career and experiences, what specific events or influences have shaped your commitment to Rotary, and how do these experiences inform your leadership style as you prepare to take on this role?

PE Raoul: The personal journey that I wish to focus on is the one I experienced in the past two years. After my admission to the Club in November 2021, exciting times ensued in the succeeding years. I served the Club in those two years as Board Legal Adviser, The Balita Editor-in-Chief, and WASH Committee Chair. However, the challenges, and later disillusionment, made me ponder and ask myself: Is this Club worth my time? Should I continue and soldier on? I thankfully realized that there are many positive things in RCM far outweighs the things I found saddening. Indeed, the good were worth fighting for, and worth staying on — the friendships and sense of brotherhood, the feeling of fulfillment in completing a community project, the overall joy of serving, and the opportunity to share Rotary’s values and virtues. All these, coupled by the inspiring words and gestures from the senior members of the Club influenced and strengthened my commitment to stay and serve. In fact, after saying “no” last year, I decided to say “yes” to serving as a Director. But as fate would have it, I became a President-Elect.

Rotary is a sublime setting to serve others and make friends. As a lawyer, I happily note that it was actually an attorney who formed the Rotary Club of Chicago in 1905 to enable professionals with diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and form strong, meaningful, and lifelong friendships. I hope my law career and active involvement in various pursuits over the years (since my college years) would enable me to effectively serve as President — promoting the interest of the members, and articulating the RCM’s collective thinking and wisdom. I also hope that my experience as BLA, WASH Committee Chair, and The Balita Editor-in-Chief from 2022-2024, as well as my current role as RCM Board Adviser and RCMFI Board Legal Adviser will make me better prepared to take on my new role next Rotary year.

The Balita: As you step into the presidency, what is your ultimate vision for the Rotary Club of Manila? How do you intend to align your initiatives with both the club's historic values and the evolving needs of our community?

PE Raoul: I do not think my current thoughts regarding RCM can qualify as a “grand vision”. In fact, to be candid, I have not yet really put together my vision for RY 2025-2026. This is something that I wish to formulate together with the fine gentlemen of the incoming Board. With that said, I personally envision a Rotary Club of Manila with an unblemished prestige, with its legacy preserved, and with all members proudly united and waving the RCM brand. I believe that all initiatives and projects should be anchored on and draw inspiration from the club’s historic values. Our history, values and mission should inspire us in pursuing projects that have transformational impact.

The Balita: Considering the pressing social issues facing our communities, what innovative programs do you plan to introduce, and how will you ensure they resonate with both current and potential members?

PE Raoul: We must constantly find new and innovative ways, as well as adopt best practices to make the club most effective in fulfilling its mission, and in implementing impactful projects for the benefit of the community. For one, the club can start from the basics, close to home. This means improving the systems and procedures in the office, to enable our secretariat to further its ability to support the various activities of the club. Secondly, strengthening existing partnerships and creating more alliances will be key in sustaining all current projects, and launching new ones. As I see it, the club already has a healthy mix of legacy and institutional projects, complemented by several other worthy undertakings whose need and relevance come to fore only in the course of the Rotary year. The key, therefore, is to strategically allocate time and resources, manpower and volunteers, to implement each project seamlessly and in the best way possible.

The Balita: With the declining membership numbers and polarization among members, what strategies will you employ to foster a sense of unity and belonging, while also attracting new members who share Rotary's ideals?

PE Raoul: There is no doubt that RCM draws its strength from its members. As the country’s premier club, there is an imperative to have a membership profile befitting its status as Asia’s First. Getting quality members begins with proper vetting, and this screening should first be undertaken by the RCMer inviting a prospective member. Our Membership Committee should then make a thorough process of judiciously determining the fitness of the applicant. Once applicants are favorably considered, I think it would be good to have them undergo a short (at least half day) customized orientation program to make them fully aware and truly understand their duties and responsibilities as Manila Rotarians. The attendance in this orientation can be a precondition to the final approval of their membership and the taking of their oath.

Once we successfully swear in a new member, we need to keep them engaged by giving them every opportunity to meaningfully participate in RCM activities. Indeed, we must talk to our Star Rotarians, understand their passions, and know how to make them enjoy Rotary. Through this, we can increase satisfaction and engagement, paving the route to success. Classification talks must be constantly imbedded in our weekly meetings, as this will give our new members a unique platform to say “hello”.

Moreover, I note that RCM currently deals with Rotaractors in our various projects. I believe we should consider the Rotaract Clubs as a pool of potential RCMers. To begin with, these Rotaractors have been immersed in Rotary values and activities. They are also energetic and passionate. They want to do good. Rotaractors are the Rotary of the future, as they say. And what better way to have them morph into full-fledged Rotarians than to actually invite them to RCM at the appropriate time.

The Balita: Many members express a growing preference for fellowship activities over community service projects. How do you plan to strike a balance between these aspects, ensuring that the club remains relevant while fulfilling its service mission?

PE Raoul: RCM is a membership organization AND a service organization. It's not either/or. As a membership organization, we must foster friendships through fellowship activities. As a service organization, we need to be out there together doing service. Indeed, rendering service becomes more enjoyable when we do it with friends and buddies; hence, the need to strengthen our fraternal bond through meaningful fellowships and other activities such as poker and golf. Fellowship is key, I think, in ensuring our club’s strength and in retaining members. When I made a decision to stay, among the factors that influenced me was the friendships already forged. I saw a lot of truly respectable members – all dedicated volunteers and positive contributors to the overall welfare of the club. There was also the inspiring example of our veteran members who, for decades, have served the club with passion and dedication. Hence, the Rotary journey of all members must be made more meaningful and enjoyable through a healthy combination of bonding and fun activities, on the one hand, and rendering service, on the other. We should all help steer RCM to become a fun club to be in. We should make everyone, especially the new ones, feel welcomed.

The Balita: In light of the challenges Rotary faces regarding its perceived relevance in today’s society, what specific measures will you take to modernize the club’s image and engage with a broader audience?

PE Raoul: We definitely need to get better at social media. For one, we need improve our website. Aside from mainstream media that we have been able to tap, our club also needs to more effectively access social media and use it to improve our public image. I also believe the communities we serve must be made to understand what Rotary is. This is why I think that whenever we roll out a project in a community, we must have a Rotary “hour” or “session” with them, just talking about Rotary – what we do (aside from the project that we are about to implement), and why we need their participation and collaboration.

The Balita: As you develop new initiatives, what frameworks will you put in place to assess the long-term sustainability and impact of these projects on the communities we serve?

PE Raoul: As a project implementor, we know that our RCM project is not really complete until we have evaluated its outcomes, measured its successes, and reflected on its challenges. This is a must and indeed useful for future projects, or similar other projects to be undertaken in other areas. It is imperative that the goals we set for our project is guided by the community's objectives and by the immediate results and short-term effects that we are seeking. As I mentioned earlier, we need to continue working with our partners for the sustainability of our projects. Through these partnerships, we will be able to benefit from their expertise and resources that will sustain the project, increase its impact, and expand our reach.

The Balita: How do you envision leveraging partnerships with other organizations to enhance the effectiveness of your initiatives, and what role do these partnerships play in overcoming challenges?

PE Raoul: Forming strategic partnerships with local businesses, academic institutions, and other non-government organizations, as I already said, bring complementary skills, knowledge, and the ability to create something really valuable. I believe that partnerships strengthen our club and enhance our ability to serve. It also diversifies our resources and impact. I believe that our partners look up to RCM as a worthy partner. Indeed, the quality of our membership bring immense value to these partnerships. Our club’s secret strength is our social capital, which is our membership. To further increase our value in these partnerships, we must consciously bring in additional quality members and position ourselves to convene, to influence decision-makers, and to amplify the voices of the unheard. This, too, is the power of the Rotary brand, and it is up to us to optimize its use.

Speaking of partnerships, it is worth noting that most of our institutional programs are actually through our long-established partnerships, which I believe must be nurtured. We must also be ready to forge new ones. In this regard, Chairman John Cutter, Director-Elect/Sergeant-at-Arms Jason Bogovich and I are currently hammering the details of RCM’s partnership with Abbot Laboratories to pursue an impactful project aimed at curbing and addressing malnutrition among children. The Memorandum of Understanding with Abbot is scheduled to be signed during our October 24 GMM.

The Balita: In a time of increasing polarization, how will you actively promote diversity and inclusion within the club, and why do you believe this is critical for fostering a collaborative environment?

PE Raoul: While I believe that there is a need to discuss and re-examine the club’s current all-male set-up, I also recognize that this is both a serious and sensitive matter to tackle. Therefore, timing is key. I believe that Manila Rotarians will soon frankly and objectively discuss this matter.

The Balita: As you consider the legacy you wish to leave, how do you envision the Rotary Club of Manila evolving in the next decade, and what steps will you take to ensure that future leaders are equipped to navigate the challenges ahead?

PE Raoul: In the next decade, I envision a Rotary Club that is able to cherish its past, respect its time-honored traditions, while at the same time bravely embracing new practices, and adopting the ways and thinking of a new generation of Rotarian leaders. The world is evolving, and so must our club. We must be adaptable. However, the endearing and enduring motto of “Service Above Self” as well as the “The Four-Way Test” must remain constant, today and in the years to come.

The Balita: Given the myriad challenges facing the Rotary Club of Manila, what specific strategies will you implement to regain or reassert its position as the most prestigious Rotary Club in the country? How do you plan to communicate this renewed vision to both current and potential members?

PE Raoul: There is a need for an urgent realization and action. Indisputably, being the First in Asia is RCM’s superpower, which no other Club can claim or take away. However, this legacy and prestige can easily be severely eroded and buried in a cacophony of barbs, chaotic mixture of missteps, and mindless conflicts. We know that this is unhealthy, and we also know that we need to close ranks if we want to preserve our stature as the country’s premier club. We should not lose sight of why and how RCM became the biggest and most prestigious Rotary Club in the country. We simply must do things right, and do the right things. We must not allow ourselves to be blinded or distracted by the spotlight or klieg light; we must instead remain true to the simplicity and beauty of the candle glow. In other words, we need to go back to basics. We must move on and march ahead as responsible Rotarians — buoyed by a common desire to serve and to make RCM the best it can be. We have quality membership. We have our elders and past presidents ready to guide and assist. I am convinced that with everybody’s readiness to lend a helping hand, we can do this.

The Balita: As a career litigation lawyer, how will you apply your legal expertise and skills in negotiation, conflict resolution, and advocacy to navigate the complexities of leadership within the Rotary Club? In what ways do you see these skills benefiting the club’s initiatives and member interactions?

PE Raoul: Being a lawyer will certainly help in amicably resolving disputes and disagreements. Hopefully, I will not be spending too much time on these matters. I think I speak for the entire incoming Board when I say that we wish to devote our energies towards successfully accomplishing, hand in hand with all our RCM brothers, our Rotarian mission to render service above self; and through this self-effacing and noble exercise, be able to jointly preserve and solidify the prestige of Asia’s First — our very own Rotary Club of Manila.