Our Destiny. Our Legacy. Rotary.

THERE are nights that simply mark time. And then there are nights that mark history.

Such was the evening of July 3, 2025, when the Grand Ballroom of Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque City shimmered in stately elegance, brimming not only with tradition but with transformation. Beneath cascading chandeliers and surrounded by the gleam of crystal and camaraderie, the Rotary Club of Manila, Asia’s oldest and most storied Rotary club, commemorated its 106th founding anniversary — a milestone measured not by the passage of years, but by the depth and breadth of its enduring service to humanity.

But this celebration of more than 300 guests and Rotarians was not merely a look backward; it was a gaze forward — bold, purposeful, and deeply stirring. Alongside the homage to a century of legacy came the solemn Induction of the Club’s new Board of Directors and Officers, as well as those of the RCManila Foundation, Inc. It was a night when torches were passed — not with resignation, but with resolve; a night when duty met destiny, and legacy welcomed leadership anew.

As the luminaries of public service, business, and civic life converged — from senators and secretaries to past presidents, pillars of philanthropy, and promising young Rotarians — the evening unfolded with pageantry and promise. But at its heart pulsed something deeper: an invisible but powerful thread of purpose, that unmistakable Rotary creed of Service Above Self.

The highlight of the evening came in a moment as moving as it was historic. For the first time, the Rotary Club of Manila’s World-Famous Music Chorale performed the Club’s newly minted theme song, “Our Destiny. Our Legacy. Rotary,” composed by no less than President Raoul Creencia himself. With its stirring lyrics and hair-raising orchestral arrangement, the anthem punctuated the end of President Raoul’s inaugural address and electrified the ballroom with its resounding call to unity and service. The audience rose to their feet in a spontaneous, thunderous ovation — not only in applause, but in affirmation of the vision it carried.

Yet the evening was not only marked by grandeur and gravitas, but also by grace. Later in the program, in a touching and tender moment that captured the soul of the occasion, President Raoul was serenaded once again by the Chorale — this time, with the timeless 1936 Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields ballad, “The Way You Look Tonight.” As he shared a dance with his wife, Atty. Mylene Marcia-Creencia, the room melted into quiet awe and delight, a scene so evocative it seemed to belong more to cinema than ceremony — an affirmation not only of service and leadership, but of love and partnership.

This was not a celebration for celebration’s sake. It was a reaffirmation — of purpose, of promise, of people who choose every day to serve not for applause, but for impact. As past glories were remembered and new banners were raised, the spirit of the evening made one thing clear: the legacy of the Rotary Club of Manila is not only alive — it is evolving.

This is the story of that night — a night not merely of transition, but of transformation. A night where songs were sung, vows renewed, and futures forged. A night where hearts beat not only with pride in the past, but with passion for the future. A night that reminds us who we are — and calls us ever more deeply to who we are meant to be.

This is the story of Our Destiny. Our Legacy. Rotary.

A New President at the Helm

As the ceremony reached its solemn crescendo, Atty. Raoul C. Creencia — inducted as the 106th President of Asia’s first and most storied Rotary Club — delivered a stirring inaugural address impromptu. With poetic cadence and oratorical clarity, President Raoul reminded the gathered Rotarians why they do what they do.

“Why are we in Rotary?” he asked, inviting each one to reflect not just on the what of their work, but on the why of their calling. He declared that this year’s guiding theme — “Our Destiny. Our Legacy. Rotary.” — is not mere wordplay, but the philosophical compass of the Club's service journey.

“Destiny is not about fate — it is about purpose,” he declared. “Legacy is not just what we leave behind — it is how we live our lives every day.” His message resonated deeply with Rotarians, old and new alike.

He spoke of partnerships forged and renewed, including memoranda of understanding with institutions such as the Anti-Red Tape Authority, Philippine Red Cross, JCI Manila, DUALTech, and more — each a brick in the edifice of collective impact. Two new sister clubs — Rotary Club of Lipa South and RC Kandaya — were also welcomed into RCM’s expanding network of fellowship.

He urged unity — not as a rhetorical flourish, but as Rotary’s necessary lifeblood. “Disunity,” he warned, “is anathema to Rotary.”

And as the evening closed, he unveiled an original anthem — a composition entitled “Destiny. Legacy. Rotary.” — performed by the world-famous RCM Chorale, encapsulating the spirit of this new chapter.

The Chairman’s Legacy

Equally compelling was the address of RCMFI Chairman Alexander “Alex” Cureg, who succeeded past chairman Reggie Yu. Cureg shared his heartfelt commitment to not only continuing the Foundation’s mission but elevating it with a visionary proposal — the creation of an RCMFI Legacy Endowment Fund.

“This fund,” he said, “will make our Foundation more sustainable and responsive… better equipped to meet the demands of the Rotary Club of Manila.”

Leading by example, Chairman Alex and his wife Anna pledged ₱500,000 to launch the Fund, matched by a ₱500,000 donation from Past Chair Lito Sibayan. Other early contributors included Rtn. John Simon, Past Directors Philip Ong and Ner Lonzaga, and Rotarians Hermie Esguerra, Boy Guevarra, and Willie Peliño — all demonstrating the deep well of generosity that defines RCM’s culture of giving.

Chairman Cureg closed his speech with two iconic exhortations: JFK’s “Ask not what your country can do for you…” and Gandhi’s “Be the change you want to see in the world.” With these timeless words, he beckoned every Rotarian to look inward — and then to act outward.

A Statesman’s Charge

When Former DFA Secretary and RCM Past President Alberto “Bert” G. Romulo stood to deliver the keynote message and conduct the formal charging of officers, the ballroom hushed. Here stood a man whose life has mirrored the Rotary ideal — a man of diplomacy, integrity, and steadfast leadership.

He honored the Club’s historic achievements and called its current leaders to be worthy heirs to a century of greatness. “You are not only inheriting a legacy,” he said, addressing President Raoul and the incoming officers. “You are shaping what that legacy will become.”

He invoked the names of Rotary Manila giants who also served as statesmen — Gil Puyat, Carlos P. Romulo, Emilio Abello, Eduardo Romualdez — reminding the present generation that history looks kindly on those who serve with courage, and judges harshly those who merely coast.

“Let your term be marked by action that speaks louder than words,” he said with conviction. “Serve with honor. Lead with purpose.”

Romulo’s closing message — poetic in its cadence — asked the Rotarians to renew their dedication to the 4-Way Test, to the enduring principles of “Service Above Self,” and to the dream of a brighter, kinder world.

The District’s Endorsement

From the wider Rotary landscape came R.I. District 3810 Governor Mary Mei Rodrigo, who graced the event with her own message of celebration and continuity. With sincerity and pride, she paid tribute to both the outgoing and incoming RCM Presidents and affirmed her full support for the Club’s initiatives.

“Your 106-year journey,” she said, “has shaped the Rotary landscape not only in the Philippines but across the region.”

Referencing this year’s international Rotary theme — “United for Good” — DG Mary Mei emphasized that collaboration is the key to meaningful change. “Let us journey together,” she said, “toward creating lasting impact in the lives of those we serve.”

A Century Plus Six: Still First, Still Forward

The Rotary Club of Manila stands not just as Asia’s first Rotary club, but as a living testament to what an institution built on ideals can become. Its 106th year does not signal a slowing down — but a rising to greater heights. What began in 1919 as a fledgling circle of visionaries has now become a beacon of Rotary service and leadership across continents and generations.

The night at Solaire — adorned with speeches, songs, pledges, and pride — was not only an induction. It was a reaffirmation.

A reaffirmation of destiny — that Manila’s Rotarians are called not merely to serve, but to lead.

A reaffirmation of legacy — that what was built yesterday must be lived today and extended tomorrow.

And most of all, a reaffirmation of Rotary — that eternal fellowship of leaders and dreamers, whose shared goal is not recognition, but relevance.

Indeed, as the final chords of the RCM Chorale’s original anthem echoed across the ballroom, one truth stood clear: “Ours was first to be — that’s our legacy. Our destiny, our legacy… Rotary.”