Leaders by Vocation, Rotarians by Heart

The Rotary Club of Manila gathered in the gracious halls of the Manila Polo Club for its 17th Weekly Membership Meeting of Rotary Year 2025–2026, a luncheon assembly marked by fellowship, institutional updates, and, most notably, two compelling Classification Talks delivered by Star Rotarians Rowel Janson S. Ong and Jason Romeo C. Valderrama.

The meeting opened formally with the Call to Order by President Raoul C. Creencia and concluded with his Adjournment, framing an afternoon that blended Rotary tradition with professional inspiration.

Moderating the program with steady warmth and precision was Rotarian Ingill Ra, who guided the flow of proceedings and ensured that each segment of the meeting unfolded with dignity and purpose. The invocation was led by Rotarian Juanito A. “John” Simon, followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem and the Rotary Club of Manila Hymn by the RCM World-Famous Music Chorale, and the solemn recitation of the Four-Way Test led by Star Rotarian Chris C. Tamesis.

Rotarian Ingill Ra also formally acknowledged the guests in attendance and welcomed everyone on behalf of the Club, after which the RCM World-Famous Music Chorale rendered a Welcome Song that set a gracious and celebratory tone. Birthday celebrants for the period, Rotarian Jherry Zheng (January 9) and Rotarian Paul Kho (January 10), were honored with the traditional “Maligayang Bati / Happy Birthday” song, once again led by the Chorale.

The meeting then turned to matters of governance and stewardship. Assistant Internal Auditor Michael D. “Mike” Roxas, Treasurer of the Rotary Club of Manila Foundation, Inc. (RCMFI), delivered a clear and transparent Report on the Financial Status of RCMFI, underscoring the Club’s commitment to accountability. This was followed by the Announcement of the RCMFI Election of the Board of Trustees for Rotary Year 2026–2027, presented by PE Reginald T. “Reggie” Yu, Chairman of the RCMFI NOMELEC, who outlined the electoral process and reminded members of the importance of active participation in the life of the Foundation.

During President’s Time, President Raoul C. Creencia shared updates and reflections, reaffirming the Club’s direction for the year and paving the way for the intellectual and professional highlight of the afternoon: the Classification Talks of two of the Club’s Star Rotarians.

Star Rotarian Rowel Janson S. Ong Classification: Real Estate Professional Services – Agency / Development Consultancy

Star Rotarian Rowel Janson S. Ong began his talk with characteristic humility and efficiency, noting that he had intentionally trimmed his presentation to focus on substance rather than length. He introduced himself as the founder and principal of Hard Assets Express, Inc., a real estate brokerage and development consultancy firm that, in his words, “connects the right property to the right purpose.”

He explained that Hard Assets Express, established in 2014, was built on a multidisciplinary foundation that brings together the expertise of a licensed civil engineer and broker, a senior real estate professional with deep experience in major land and property transactions, and a partner lawyer who ensures that every deal is legally sound and fully compliant. This structure, he emphasized, allows the firm to go beyond simple buying and selling and instead provide strategic, end-to-end advisory services for individuals, developers, and corporate clients.

Drawing from over a decade of practice, Ong shared how the company’s capabilities span corporate and commercial site sourcing, residential and investment brokerage, and full real estate consultancy, including site selection, valuation, highest-and-best-use analysis, and development feasibility. Accredited with the country’s top developers and supported by a nationwide broker network, Hard Assets Express has helped major corporations such as Wilcon Depot identify and secure strategic expansion sites across the Philippines, completing dozens of locations out of more than a hundred evaluated.

He illustrated the firm’s reach through a roster of projects and partners: hotel and resort developments in Boracay and La Union, high-rise and mixed-use projects in Binondo and Mandaluyong, industrial and logistics facilities, township and residential subdivisions, and prime commercial properties in Metro Manila and beyond.

With more than 360 hectares of land sold for development, numerous highrise parcels transacted, and a strong portfolio of residential and commercial deals, Ong presented a picture of a company built on technical rigor, speed of execution, and, above all, integrity.

What resonated deeply with the Rotarians in attendance was his emphasis on trust and long-term partnership.

“We do not just close deals,” he said in essence, “we help our clients make good real estate decisions.”

In the Rotary context, this philosophy mirrored the Four-Way Test and the ideal of Service Above Self: professional excellence anchored on ethics, prudence, and relationships that endure.

Star Rotarian Jason Romeo C. Valderrama Classification: Construction Project Management

Taking the podium next, Star Rotarian Jason Romeo C. Valderrama offered a narrative that seamlessly wove personal journey, professional discipline, and social responsibility. A relatively new member of the Rotary Club of Manila, having joined only in November, he nonetheless spoke with the quiet confidence of a seasoned leader.

A civil engineer by training and a graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman, with an MBA from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, Valderrama founded JCV & Associates Project Management and Development, Inc. (JCVA) in 2014. He clarified at the outset that his firm is not a contractor, but a professional consultancy that represents the interests of project owners, standing at the critical intersection of client, designer, and builder to ensure that cost, schedule, quality, safety, and reputation are all protected.

With nearly two decades of experience, Valderrama shared that JCVA has served over 170 clients and completed more than 250 projects, with a combined capital expenditure exceeding three billion US dollars and a built area of over two million square meters. Today, the firm is among the top five construction consultancy companies in the Philippines by market share, is fully Filipino-owned, and holds dual ISO certifications, with a third — on environmental management — soon to be added.

Beyond impressive statistics, however, his talk gained moral depth when he spoke of the role of honest and competent project management in safeguarding public trust. He alluded to national controversies in infrastructure and flood control, stressing that many such failures could have been avoided through professional, ethical, and transparent management — principles that resonate strongly with Rotary’s advocacy for integrity in all vocations.

Valderrama also highlighted JCVA’s commitment to corporate social responsibility. As an alumnus of the University of the Philippines, he has led initiatives to build and refurbish student facilities, sponsor engineering scholars, and operate a structured internship program that nurtures the next generation of Filipino professionals. His firm’s guiding belief, he concluded, is that “successful engineering projects do not happen by accident; they are engineered” — a statement that encapsulates both technical mastery and deliberate leadership.

STAR Rotarians Rowel Janson S. Ong and Jason Romeo C. Valderrama engaged in a Q&A session with PD Issam Eldebs, Sec. Anton Mauricio, PDG Alex Cureg, PSAA Gunter Matschuck, and Rtn. Philip Recto.

A Meeting of Vocation and Values

The Classification Talks of Star Rotarians Ong and Valderrama transformed the 17th Weekly Membership Meeting into more than a routine luncheon. They became a living testament to Rotary’s ideal that every profession, when practiced with competence, conscience, and compassion, becomes a channel of service. From real estate advisory grounded in integrity to construction management anchored in accountability and nation-building, both speakers demonstrated how excellence in one’s calling can uplift communities and strengthen institutions.

The afternoon concluded with the Presentation of Certificates of Appreciation by President Raoul C. Creencia, a gesture that formally recognized the contributions of the speakers and participants, before he finally declared the meeting adjourned.

In the elegant setting of the Manila Polo Club, amid fellowship and shared purpose, the Rotary Club of Manila once again affirmed that its strength lies not only in its history and traditions, but in the caliber of men and women who live out Rotary values in their daily professional lives.

Meeting Fellowship