Editorial

WHEN the Rotary Club of Manila gathers for its 8th Weekly Membership Meeting on September 25, 2025, two powerful voices will converge: Rafael “Raffy” Garcia III, Rotary International Director from 2018 to 2020, and Engr. Juanito “John” A. Simon, an engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur whose classification talk marks the first of its kind in almost two years within the Club. Their stories — one of global service shaped by decades in Rotary and international business, the other of Filipino ingenuity recognized across the world — resonate profoundly at a moment when clarity is urgently needed in public life.

Raffy Garcia: A Late Bloomer, A Global Voice

For Raffy Garcia, the path to Rotary leadership was anything but linear. A Rotarian for nearly five decades, he candidly admits he was not a model member during his early years. He joined the Rotary Club of Pasig in 1971 at just 26 years old but spent much of his life building an extraordinary international career in technology.

Raffy was the first Filipino to graduate in Computer Science from Washington State University in the 1960s — an era when punch cards and room-sized machines defined the cutting edge. Nicknamed “Mr. Computer,” he quickly carved out a name for himself, working for Asia Computer Services and Meralco Securities Investment Corporation before founding and leading a multitude of technology corporations. These ventures culminated in the creation of the Mega Group of Companies, a multinational with 44 offices worldwide, delivering products and systems that powered both industries and governments.

His professional achievements were matched by recognition in public life: PeopleAsia named him one of its "People of the Year" for his work in strengthening government IT systems, underscoring the role of technology in advancing good governance.

And yet, for all these accolades, Raffy only considered himself a “real Rotarian” in 2006–07, when he could no longer evade the call of leadership and was voted president of his home club. What followed was an outpouring of service: roles as Endowment and Major Gifts Adviser, chairman of the Philippine College of Rotary Governors, chairman of the Rotary Magazine Foundation, and coordinator of Rotary Foundation initiatives in economic and community development. He established The ONE Philippines to honor unsung heroes, providing them with recognition, a ₱1.5 million prize, and a chance to compete on the international stage.

By the time he became Rotary International Director, Raffy had embraced service as fully as he had once embraced business, with a vision to expand membership in the Philippines by thousands through improved retention. His philosophy is simple yet profound: “When we are given more than we need, it is our duty to give that more to others.” For him, Rotary is nothing less than a privileged opportunity to serve.

John Simon: The Filipino Spirit of Invention

Complementing Garcia’s global perspective is Engr. John Simon, whose classification talk rekindles a tradition of storytelling within the Club after a two-year silence.

Simon is not merely an entrepreneur; he is a trailblazer in Filipino science and invention. In 1995, he achieved a singular distinction: recognition by the United States Patent Office for his lubrication technology, the first and only Filipino invention of its kind to secure such a patent. That same year, he was named “Most Outstanding Energy Manager” by the Department of Energy and the Energy Management Association of the Philippines. In 2008, he was further honored as the “Most Outstanding Inventor” by the Filipino Inventors Society.

Simon’s journey is a reminder that innovation is an act of service. His work has contributed not only to technological progress but also to national pride, proving that Filipino ingenuity can hold its own in the most competitive of arenas. His classification talk offers not just personal anecdotes but an affirmation of what Rotary gains when it nurtures diverse talents and celebrates the quiet heroes of invention and enterprise.

Rotary’s Relevance in an Age of Obfuscation

The juxtaposition of Garcia and Simon is profoundly symbolic. One represents the global reach of Rotary, the other the deeply personal story of Filipino excellence. Together, they remind us of Rotary’s enduring relevance in a world where clarity is often obscured by confusion, where truth is twisted by expediency, and where silence is mistaken for prudence.

Rotary was never meant to be passive. The Four-Way Test demands that we pursue truth, fairness, goodwill, and benefit to all concerned — even when these principles cut against the prevailing tide. In this age of obfuscation, when public discourse is riddled with half-truths and society risks surrendering to cynicism, Rotary must be a voice of clarity.

The Responsibility of the Rotary Club of Manila

For the Rotary Club of Manila — the first in Asia, the most prestigious in the region — the responsibility is heavier still. This is not merely another club; it is the progenitor of a movement in this part of the world, a crucible that has shaped statesmen, captains of industry, and civic pioneers. Prestige is not an ornament to be admired; it is a responsibility to be shouldered. The Club must continue to be a beacon where leaders are formed and where moral courage is spoken aloud.

In Raffy Garcia’s story, we are reminded that it is never too late to answer the call to service, and that when one does, lives are transformed. In John Simon’s journey, we see the power of Filipino innovation and resilience to change the world. Both speak to a deeper truth: that Rotary is at its best when it unites vision with action, when it bridges the global with the local, and when it insists on clarity amid confusion.

A Call to Rise Above

As the Rotary Club of Manila sits in fellowship on this day, it is invited to see beyond the program, beyond the speeches, into the heart of what these two lives represent. They are not only voices from the podium — they are mirrors held up to the Club itself.

Will we, like Raffy, embrace the full weight of service, even if belatedly? Will we, like John, channel our talents to create, to innovate, and to uplift not just ourselves but generations to come?

In their convergence, the answer becomes clear. The Rotary Club of Manila must continue to lead — not with prestige alone, but with principle. Not with silence, but with clarity. Not with apathy, but with action.

In this time of confusion, may their voices be heard as a call: to Unite for Good.