My Classification Talk, on Mining Taxation

Last Monday was my turn to give a classification talk. My classification is think tank management, and I do research on various topics -- health, mining, energy, climate, free trade, macro econ, transport econ, political ideology, etc. So I can talk on any of those topics with good data. I chose the topic on mining taxation because it is among the hot issues in the country today. The event was held at Metro Club, Rockwell, Makati.

My presentation, 26 slides, is posted in my political blog, see here, Mining 26: Presentation at Rotary Club of Taguig Fort Bonifacio

I was introduced by new clubmate who was inducted only last Monday, Patty Mangudatu, 3rd from left, in front of a red laptop. Thanks for the kind intro, Patty. My clubmates here listening to my talk.

First Class President Meann de Leon giving me my Certificate of Appreciation, plus a box of cake, which I gave to my daughters and wife.

Before my talk, our club inducted another new member, Reggie Necio, right. The "charging officer" was Past President Romel Villegas.

Reggie being inducted by our Club President, Meann de Leon.

Past President Nrolan de Leon, also the husband of Pres. Meann, putting the rotary pin on new clubmate Reggie's polo.

 
The group photo. We were 15 here, including my guest and ninong to my daughter, VJ Dizon, extreme right, standing. Six members were absent last week.

Thanks once again, to Immediate Past President (IPP) Rose Antonio, 2nd from right sitting, for an exemplary work work done for the club last rotary year, which attracted some people to come and join our club.

This coming Monday, the club will host a talk by John F. Walker, a friend of our new clubmate Mike Michener, and he will talk about "The Misconceptions and Realities of Corporate Security". Same venue at Metro Club.
------------

See also:
Charter President Bobby Dimayuga, May 26, 2013

Club Handover, June 24, 2013, June 25, 2013 

Classification Talk by Daryl Cabato, July 02, 2013

Classification Talk by Dr. Jed Inciong, July 12, 2013

Club Handover, June 24, 2013

Last night, the Rotary Club of Taguig Fort Bonifacio held its handover ceremony, between outgoing Peace President Rosemarie "Rose" Antonio and incoming First Class President Maryann "Meann" de Leon.

Photo below, from left: Era Eguia, being groomed as potential club PE, incoming President Meann de Leon, and outgoing Pres. Rose Antonio. The last two are the first two female Presidents of our club since it was chartered in March 29, 2000.

Pres. Rose first showed an audiovisual presentation of the club's achievements the past year, then gave a few pointers and reminders to Meann on what to expect as a Club President. Meann made a short acceptance speech, reminding members that she needs the support of everyone as she has several community and youth projects to roll out.

The event was held at Metro Club, Rockwell, Makati. Past President Norlan de Leon and husband of incoming Pres. Meann, gave us a surprise gift -- a new club shirt with collar. Thanks, Lan.

Our guest speaker was Assistant Governor Chary Misa from our mother club, the Rotary Club of Rizal West. PP Chary has been a rotarian for more than two decades now, her passion for community and district service has not waned until now, thanks AG Chary.

Group photo. We were 15 last night + Chary. New members Daryl Cabato (red shirt) and Mike Michener (dark polo, sitting, our first American club member) did not put on the new club shirt but they were happy to receive it.

What was notable last night was the high attendance of club Past Presidents (PPs). From left: me (RY 2006-07), Niel Antonio (RY 2010-11), Romel Villegas (RY 2008-09), Rose Antonio (RY 2012-13), Jed Inciong (RY 2001-02), Glenn Inciong (RY 2005-06) and Norlan de Leon (RY 2011-12). I like this photo :-) We are a small club but so far, not a single PP has repeated.

The tickets for the fund raising project, Side A concert at Music Museum on August 23, Tuesday at 8:30pm, were also distributed to us. Tickets are at P1,900 each. Proceeds will benefit some of our community projects. One of which is to improve a dilapidated public school building in Capiz, in partnership with iHelp Foundation where Daryl is an active officer, and a few local businessmen who will donate some construction materials for free.

Before we left the meeting room.

I told Pres. Rose once again last night that she has done a great job the past year. Now we have a modest number of club members, many Past Presidents are coming back, and lots of community projects are waiting to be started and implemented.

Fun and lively evening last night.
----------

See also: 
Club Relief Operations After the Manila Flooding, August 13, 2012 
Peace President Rose Antonio, May 23, 2013 
Charter President Bobby Dimayuga, May 26, 2013

Charter President Bobby Dimayuga

The Rotary Club of Taguig Fort Bonifacio, RI District 3830, was chartered on March 29, 2000. It was sponsored by RC Rizal West, our mother club. The Charter President was Bobby Dimayuga.

I think it was the first time in several years that CP Bob has discussed again how the club was created, who were the members, circumstances behind its creation, in his talk last April 08, 2013, held at Metro Club, Rockwell, Makati. Below, Peace President Rose Antonio giving the plaque of appreciation to CP Bob after his talk.

Bob said that in 1999-2000, Fort Bonifacio was mostly cogonal and grassland, with just very few buildings standing. When they were approached by RC Rizal West, he was just around 36 years old, gaining momentum for his career, was not rich, and was wondering how he can help others, the needy people, when he himself was not really financially stable then.

Besides, Fort Bonifacio was a generally lonely place then, whom will they recruit to the club except his officemates and some friends in the area. So if he sees his officemates at daytime, he will see them again weekly, not a cool idea.

But then the guys at RC Rizal West were persistent, and after several meetings, an election of club officers was held, he was being "set up" by his friends and charter members to become the Charter President. He could no longer back out, so he went ahead to preside the new club.

It was a blessing for him, he recounted. Because his friends and network among professionals and businessmen has suddenly expanded in the District. And while he thought that a weekly meeting was "too much", after several months, he got used to meeting the members weekly. When there are weeks that there were no meetings, say due to bad weather or a holiday, he was missing his clubmates. Guys that later became Presidents of the Club too -- PPs Charles Mercado, Jed Inciong, Caloy Morante, Joel Ciron, Romel Villegas.

Giving community services were made easier with the help of District officials and our mother club. An Interact Club was also established at R. Papa High School. Bob recalled that while he was spending extra for the various club activities and community projects, he noticed that somehow new resources were also coming unto him rather unexpectedly.

It was nice to hear CP Bob sharing what it was during his term -- last quarter of RY 1999-2000, and full RY 2000-2001. I joined the club in late 2004. Carlos "Caloy" Morante was the President then. PP Joel Ciron invited me to the club.

Group photo after Bob's talk. From left, standing: a guest (sorry, I forgot his name), Marco Pagaduan, PP Norlan de Leon, me , PP Niel Antonio, PP Romel Villegas. Sitting, from left: President-Elect Meann de Leon (wife of Norlan), Peace President Rose Antonio, and CP Bob.

A wacky pose :-)

Thanks for that insightful and wonderful evening, CP Bob. I appreciated the club and its history even more with what you shared with us that night.