Pres. Benny Laguesma
The club’s choice of last week’s
Guest of Honor and Speaker
(GOHS), former Senator Leticia
Ramos-Shahani, was instrumental in
bringing to our regular meeting two
(2) distinguished members whose
presence we have been missing for
quite sometime now. This validated
the view that GOHS can indeed influence
and trigger participation or
non-participation of members thereby affecting the level of attendance. |
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I am referring to Rtn. Pan O. Domingo (P.O. to his intimate friends),
who is a close acquaintance of our April 17 GOHS. He personally
apologized for his inability to regularly join our club meetings and
other events, citing his present physical and medical condition as
the main culprit. He candidly informed me that he has been undergoing
dialysis treatment three (3) times a week Let’s pray for Rtn.
Pan and other club members who are afflicted with illness that they
recover and enjoy longer life so that they can continue to be part of
the Rotary Club of Manila (RCM). |
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The other prominent attendee last week was no other than the former
President of the Republic of the Philippines, Rtn. Fidel V. Ramos,
a club member who has been religiously paying his annual dues in
time. He just arrived from a trip abroad to promote the country but
as an expression of his moral support to our GOHS, who happens to
be his sister, joined our meeting to the delight of the attendees. |
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By the way, both Rtns. Eddie Ramos and Pan are exempt from attendance,
pursuant to the provisions of our constitution and bylaws. |
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A considerable number of our regular participants and attendees to
our club meetings and other activities are likewise exempted but
whose commitment to share time, talent and treasure in the interest
of the club, have not just been maintained but even strengthened
through their years of involvement in the Rotary movement. How
I really wish that in spite of the pressures of our work and business
priorities, these members in our active roster can find time to be with
us during our Thursday meetings. This is not another impossible
dream. All it takes is for us to renew our commitment to RCM. If our senior exempt members can be active what more our active
non-exempt members. |
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PD Pat Viloria, one of the senior pillars of RCM strength, who
is part of the team that provides orientation to prospective members,
has an acronym that captures the essence of the type of
commitment that each of us is expected to possess and nurture:
APPLES. What does each letter of the acronym stand for? Let
me share them with you, to wit : |
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Our Executive Secretary, Anna Kun Toledo informed me that
APPLES was coined by the late PDG Romy del Rosario. |
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Incidentally, RCM under my remaining term is not about to
give up on the project conceptualized by PDG Vince Carlos
titled “One+One=400”. As the Board painfully but cautiously
endeavor to update our Roster, we are also equally determined
to increase our membership to reclaim our title as the largest
Rotary club in Asia. While RCM is saddled and saddened with
the fact that attrition is having a toll in our membership base,
then again it might not be wishful thinking to aspire for 400
members when we celebrate our centennial anniversary come
2019. We just have to put our hands and heads together to make
this dream real. |
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Today, RCM is privileged to have as its GOHS, one of the youngest
members of the Philippine Senate in the person of Senator
Francis Joseph “Chiz” G. Escudero. Very recently, he was chosen
as 2008, Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum. He
made his mark in Philippine politics when he assumed the role
of the Minority Floor Leader of the 13th Congress of the Philippines.
Our GOHS will share with us his views and insights on
the issues and concerns that affect ththe country and the role of
the Senate in addressing these issues. |
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Please join me in welcoming our GOHS today, Senator Francis
Joseph “Chiz” G. Escudero. |