Rotary Club of Manila President-Elect Meets Cardinal Tagle, Extends Invitation for 107th Induction Ceremonies

Rotary Club of Manila President-Elect Reggie Yu was granted a brief but meaningful audience with His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Urban University, and Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Manila, during a short meeting at the airport as the Cardinal awaited his onward flight to Hong Kong.

During the encounter, Yu personally handed Cardinal Tagle a formal invitation to serve as Guest of Honor and Speaker at the Rotary Club of Manila’s 107th Induction and Handover Ceremonies, scheduled in July, marking another milestone for Asia’s first and largest Rotary club.

The meeting took place in the early hours of the morning, reflecting the Cardinal’s tightly packed international schedule and the limited window available for a personal audience. Despite this, Cardinal Tagle received the invitation with warmth and attentiveness, and expressed his willingness to look into his calendar to explore the possibility of flying from Rome to Manila to participate in the historic event.

The invitation comes at a time when the Rotary Club of Manila has been emphasizing the importance of moral and values-based leadership amid growing public concern over governance issues, including widespread frustration over the country’s flood-control crisis and calls for greater accountability. In this context, the Club has turned to spiritual leaders whose influence and credibility continue to resonate deeply with Filipino communities.

Cardinal Tagle, regarded as the highest-ranking Filipino in the Catholic Church today, is widely respected for his pastoral leadership, humility, and strong engagement with grassroots communities. His global role in the Vatican and enduring connection with the Philippine Church have made him a moral and spiritual reference point for many Filipinos.

Yu expressed hope that, should the Cardinal’s schedule permit, his presence at the Rotary induction would be both an honor for the organization and an inspiration to its members as they begin a new Rotary year of service.

The Rotary Club of Manila, founded in 1919, is preparing for its 107th Induction and Handover Ceremonies as part of its continuing commitment to leadership, service, and nationbuilding.