November 14, 2013

    I have just finished one quarter of my term as President of our Club. And if you have been reading my First Class Voyager journal every week, you might have noticed that my schedule for almost every day of the week is almost full with Rotary activities, projects and events in our club, in our zone or in our district. It made me realize that being Rotary club president in today’s culture and environment is not what it used to be, especially for our past presidents. Ten, twenty years or more ago, there were only fewer club members and there were also fewer clubs in our district. As such there were fewer projects, activities and events to attend to. As a past president related to me once, before we have only one project or activity per week, usually a few hours before the weekly meeting day or a weekend at Masaya na kami. In Rotary International’s plans and program, we have been given 6 areas of focus on the projects that we should do and prioritize at least one for each area, aside from the district’s thrust. We also have to keep up with today’s latest technology in communications. We now have to make computerized presentations and submit our president’s monthly reports and weekly club bulletin to the district online. It is no wonder that the cost of running a club and attending to all the district activities and events has increased during the past years. It is like running a small size business, kaya lang psychic income ang kapalit ng service that we provide to our members and to our community and we are happy to do it over and over again. Testament to this is our many district officers and past district governors who have even extended their commitment to service beyond our club level. So for all the aspiring presidentiables of our club this coming December, good luck and best wishes to all of you.

    As you will note, the following activities I attended occurring one day after the other, should serve as an example of the duties and responsibilities of a club president of our club. As I mentioned last week, last Tuesday, Sept 24 we were at Cavinti Laguna for RC Cabinti’s 5th Induction, sisterhood agreement renewal signing and book donation to Bulajo Elem. School. We arrived back home past twelve and early the next morning I have to get up and go to our book donation to two schools in our schedule. Together with Treasurer Elmer Tan and PD Nestor Garcia, the book donor, we delivered and turnover the math exercise books to the principals of Concepcion Elementary School and Marikina Heights Elementary School. Then last Thursday morning at 7 am, Sept. 26, 2013 we responded to Mayor Del de Guzman’s invitation to him in planting 1,000 Robusta coffee seedlings in the Sierra Madre mountains in Pintong Bukawe, San Mateo. We commemorated the 4thanniversary of Ondoy. We went to the Our lady of the Abandoned Church where a mass was celebrated at 7am. Aside from myself, also present during the mass were Mayor Del, PDG Efren de Guzman, Dir. Willie Reyes, PP Tony Fidelino, PP Romy Cruz, Sec. Chris Merino, and Rtn Tops. After the Mass, we travelled to Pintong Bukawe, San Mateo in the new air-conditioned Coaster of the city. In the van aside from myself were PDG Efren, PP Tony, Sec Chris and FC Pres. Nick Baterina of RC Marikina West. At the planting site, a program was conducted, ably emceed by Vice Mayor Fabi Cabiz, which include the signing of the donation of 50,000 Robusta Coffee seedlings to be planted in the area in San Mateo. We were joined in the planting by my FC President classmates and their delegation from RC San Mateo, RC Marikina West, RC Rodriguez, RC Metro Marikina, RC Marikina North, RC Marikina Uptown, RC Marikina Heights, and RC Marikina South. RC San Mateo Highlands and RC Rivercity Marikina also sent representatives.

    The next day Friday, Sept 27 at 9 am we held or New Generations Conference at the MRYC with the theme ”Every Rotarian an example to Youth”. We gave our welcome address to this gathering organized by Sec Chris Merino. We had two very good speakers and good examples to our young audience composed of Rotaractors, Interactors and ALS students. Mayor Del de Guzman talked about his journey as a leader and now as Mayor of our city. PDG Jun Farcon talked about servant leadership and his journey as a Rotarian encouraging the youth to follow his example. Thanks to our many members who participated in the program and witnessed the proceedings. They include, aside from those I already mentioned, PP Onnie Aguinaldo, PP George Ty, PE Dodjie Cabalquinto, Dir Willie Reyes, Dir Manny Pecho, Treas Elmer Tan, PD Jessie Cruz, Rtn Roman Villame, Rtn Boyet Culminas, and Rtn Tops Rodriguez. Since it is almost noon, after the conference, some of us went to Luyong Restaurant for lunch.

    The following day Saturday, Sept 28 at 12noon, we went to the Camelot Hotel for the Rotary Academy 101 for Cluster 2 (Zone 4 and Zone 7) hosted by our sister club RC San Juan and co-hosted by our club. PP Ver Farcon, Dir Boni Barotilla, Sec Chris Merino, and Rtn Peter Co with his spouse attended this seminar. DDG Vincent Santos served as emcee together with PP Jovie Sison of RC San Juan. Almost all of our Zone 4 FC Presidents were in attendance as well as almost all the FC Presidents of Zone 7 and their members. As this is a district seminar, DG Louie Ticman called the Rotary Academy 101 to order. I gave the welcome remarks while my classmate FC Pres. Therese Montecer of RC San Juan introduce all the district officers, club presidents, Rotarians and guests present.

    Last Tuesday Oct. 1, 2013, 6pm, we went to the 34th Charter Anniversary of our sister club, RC Kamuning at the Quezon City Sports Club ballroom. We were called in front to sign the renewal of our sisterhood agreement in a rolled “Kalatas ng Kapatiran” document with DG Francis Rivera of District 3780 as witness. FC Pres. Art Herrera signed the document together with our respective secretaries. PP Rene Florencio, who is our chair for local interclub relations, came with us together with Dir. Boni Barotilla, Sec Chris Merino, Dir. Manny Pecho and PE Dodjie Cabalquinto. As this is a costume party, we all went with our respective movie character costume. Everyone who attended had a very good time as expected from this very friendly sister club of ours.

    This is the fourteenth entry in my journal. Once again Ienjoin our members to help Save the Marikina Watershed Land Protected area comprising of about 26,000 hectares which is now badly denuded. Let us plant our indigenous, medicinal and fruit trees to have diversity and attract more flora and fauna in the area. The birds will scatter the seeds from the fruits they eat and start a new tree.Let us save our environment. Let us make a difference in the lives of others as we change our lives as well. Let us take his year’s Rotary theme to heart “Engage Rotary, Change Lives”. Thank you.We were supposed to have our district breakfast meeting last Saturday at 8:00 AM at the Valle Verde Country Club. However, because of super typhoon Yolanda, DG Louie thought it best to move it to next Saturday instead at the same time and venue. As we all know by now, Yolanda wreaked havoc and destruction to eastern, central and western Visayas provinces, hitting its first landfall at Guian, Samar. Yolanda left after hitting its sixth landfall in Busuanga, part of the Calamian Group of islands located in northern Palawan. According to news reports almost 95% of Tacloban city was destroyed by the strong winds at more than 215 km. per hour and storm surge that engulf the city with more than 10 feet high of sea water. Up to now the entire area is still reeling from this disaster with the surviving residents asking for food, water, medicine and shelter in order to survive. DG Louie has again asked Rotarians for relief assistance to the victims of this tragedy. Vice Mayor and PP Fabi Cadiz and his team of Rotarian doctors, including Dir. Val Barcinal and Rtn. Joel Relleve, will leave on Friday to lead in this effort to help the victims with a four–truck relief caravan and medical mission. Let us support their humanitarian mission by donating relief goods which they will deliver and distribute to the victims in the devastated areas of the Visayas.

    Last Monday, I was invited by DGSR Dindo Santos to attend and give a message to the first orientation meeting of the proposed Rotary eClub of Marikina. It was a very successful first meeting where eight prospective members showed up, including five second generation future Rotarians. Our club extension chairman PP Manny de Guzman was there to lend support to the prospective members including the four he sponsored. PP Kiko Pe Benito was also there to accompany his son Miguel. Other Rotarians present include, PE Dodjie Cabalquinto, Sec Chris Merino, PP Bobby Rosadia and CP Patrick Tanco. I arrived just in time for this meeting as I had to attend another meeting earlier at Pulot Gata Restaurant for the 3rd Leg District Golf Tournament on Nov. 27, 2013 Wednesday at the South Course of Valley Golf & Country Club. We encourage our members to support this fundraising effort of our club to help finance our service projects by becoming hole sponsors or donors to this event. Dir Boni Barotilla is kind enough to assist us in this effort.

    Yesterday, I was again invited to another first orientation meeting of a proposed Rotary club. This time, DGSR Tony Fidelino, asked me give the welcome remarks and then introduce him during the first meeting of the proposed Rotary Club of Marikina Valley. It was another successful first meeting with thirteen prospective members present, including the spouses of fellow Rotarians including, IWC PP Julie Malaya and IWC Marivic Pecho accompanied by their respective partners, IPP Benjie Malaya and Dir Manny Pecho respectively. The emcee during the meeting was AG Ronie Masangkay. Other Rotarians present include PP Fabi Cadiz, PP George Ty, and Rtn Dan Sibal. Some of the prospective members are members and officers of the Knights of Columbus in Marikina. Seven of the prospective members present are females to conform to their goal of a 50:50 gender mix of members. Even now I can see exciting things happening with this proposed new Rotary club, which hopefully will be chartered early next year as envisioned by DGSR Tony Fidelino, who will guide and mentor this club for the next two years.

    This Sunday Nov. 20, 2013 is the Championship Round of the District Ten Pin Bowling Tournament at Coronado Lanes, Star Mall Edsa, Mandaluyong. We are in group 3 for the Deputy District Governor’s Cup. The following teams are our competitors ranked by pinfalls with handicap: TFR, Marikina Hilltop, Rizal Centro, Marikina, Greenhills, and Marikina Uptown. Most likely we will be paired against Rizal Centro again. The game will start at 9:00AM and their will be five games of five players per game per team. Let us support our Team Marikina, including Team Captain Rey Montoya, PP Onnie Aguinaldo, PP Joe Judan, PP Dante Verano, PP George Ty,Dir Manny Pecho, PE Dodjie Cabalquinto, Spouse Lyn Montoya, future Rotarian Andrei Aguinaldo and I. For the information of our members, the total fees per team in this tournament are Ph 12, 350 broken down as follows: Registration fee – 3,000; Lane fee - 6,600 - (during classification round at Ph 1,650 per day for four days at Ph 110 per game for 15 games played per day); Lane fee - 2,750 – (during championship round at Ph 110 per game for 25 games); Total = Ph 12,350. Our budget for this is only Ph 10,000.

    The district will have its 2nd District Mass Induction to be hosted by Cluster 2 (Zones 4 and 7) on Nov. 16, 2013 Saturday at Club Filipino from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. I enjoin our members to invite prospective members to our weekly club meetings and share Rotary with them. Maybe we can induct them during succeeding district mass inductions. The TRF Annual Giving Dinner to be hosted by RC Marikina Hilltop will be on Nov. 25, 2013 at 6:00PM at the Wack Wack Golf & Country Club, Pavilion A. Paul Harris Fellows will be honoured during this event and those contributing US $1,000 in cash on or before this event during this Rotary year will be hosted to a free dinner (worth Ph 1,000) by DG Louie Ticman at this event.

    This is the nineteenth entry in my journal. We have started the process of extending new clubs into the world of Rotary. Congratulations to our DGSRs who are on the right track of inviting new and exciting members of diversified businesses and professions. Let us share Rotary to our friends and encourage them to be members of this great service organization. During this Rotary Foundation month, let us contribute to the TRF and support its campaign to do good in the world. Let us engage Rotary and change lives. Thank you.