Medical Mission at Philippine Cerebral Palsy Inc.

Last August 29, our club, the Rotary Club of Taguig Fort Bonifacio, partnered with two other clubs in our District 3830, for a medical and dental mission to patients of the Philippine Cerebral Palsy, Inc. (PCPI) in Makati City.

A corridor of the Center, with some arriving patients.

One of the newly arriving patients...

At the waiting area, patients were either waiting for their turn to see Rehabilitation physicians and aides, dentists, or done seeing them, waiting for the giving of take home freebies.

New clubmate, Era Eguia, chose this among her favorite photos in her profile. The boy should be a case of more severe case of palsy...

Btway, photo credits, by IPP Rose Antonio and Era. Those with Rotary logo are from Era's camera, the rest are from IPP Rose's camera.

A dental clean up, done by members of the Kalookan chapter of the Philippine Dental Society.

MDGs, Tuloy sa Don Bosco, A2A, by John Alexander Kerr

Last Monday, August 12, we have another American guest speaker, a friend of our clubmates Mike Michener and Patty Mangundatu, fellow Rotarian, John Alexander Kerr, of RC Alabang. He is seated 2nd from right, between First Class President Meann de Leon and Assistant Governor Chary Misa. Venue was Metro Club, Rockwell, Makati.

John talked about the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), Tuloy sa Don Bosco Foundation, and his company, A2A Management Services Corp., where he is the CEO. John is also a Board Director and Trustee of Tuloy Foundation.

The portion that I like most in his talk was the Aquaponics project of Tuloy. It is aquaculture + hydroponics farming. The water where the fish swim contains fish manure and other organic wastes. The water is siphoned to a tank and is used in the hydroponics farm for various vegetables. The plants used the organic waste from the fish, plus other minerals added to the water for specific needs by specific vegetables. The water is then siphoned to another tank, filtered, and is used back to the aquaculture tank. Really cool.

The awarding of Certificate of Appreciation, by President Meann de Leon. They were joined by IPP Rose Antonio (leftmost) and AG Chary Misa (rightmost).

The usual group picture, before the formal adjournment of the meeting.

AG Chary reiterated an earlier announcement she made a few weeks ago, that the Governor's visit to our club plus two other clubs in the Taguig-Pateros cluster, will be on September 2, Monday, 6pm down. It will be held at RC Makati Foundation building, just at the back of Metro Club.

When John and his assistant, Hazel, left, fellowships began. Another round of picture taking.

Mike brought a booze, don't know what it was, with milk cream on top, just one shot for each of us...

Cheers! Kampai! Prost!

(Photo Credits: IPP Rose Antonio and Era Eguia)
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See also:
Tuloy sa Don Bosco, January 24, 2010

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

My Classification Talk, on Mining Taxation, July 19, 2013 
John Walker on Strengthening Corporate Security, July 24, 2013
Fellowship, After Four Club Talks, August 03, 2013 

Fellowship, After Four Club Talks

After four consecutive Monday nights of club talks on different topics by different speakers, our club President, First Class President Meann de Leon called for a fellowship. Instead of last Monday night, she scheduled it last Thursday night at Music 21 in Makati. The talks last month were:

Classification Talk by Daryl Cabato, July 02, 2013

Classification Talk by Dr. Jed Inciong, July 12, 2013
My Classification Talk, on Mining Taxation, July 19, 2013 
John Walker on Strengthening Corporate Security, July 24, 2013

I came late, around 8:30pm, and the guys were already having great fun. 
Below, from left: Arnan, brother of Past President Norlan de Leon, sister of President Meann, Meann, IPP Rose Antonio, Mike Michener, Patty Mangundatu, Past President Niel Antonio, Norlan... 

Below, from left: Patty, PP Niel, PP Norlan, PP Jed Inciong, Henry Villa, Marco Pagaduan, Jun Mendoza.

Later we moved to a bigger room as PE Daryl Cabato and wife also joined us. This big room can accommodate probably 25 people. There are three tv screens to read and sing the lyrics.

President-Elect (PE) Daryl Cabato (middle, with jacket) and wife.
Fellowships are encouraged in Rotary -- no serious meetings, no speakers, just loosen up, sing and dance, things we cannot do during regular meetings.

I also belted out a few songs, President Meann dancing :-)

Patty, holding the microphone, is a great singer. She used to sing at some hotel bars. Her voice is really great and terrific. I kidded that we saved money getting a professional singer to give us really good songs.

Thank you for that wonderful night, President Meann and clubmates. 
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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

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

Popularizing Rotary’s Projects and Events

Among the most high profile legacies of Immediate Past President (IPP) Rose Antonio to the club is having a facebook group with the biggest number of likes among the 88 clubs in RI District 3830.  Yes, while other clubs much bigger than ours have facebook likes of below 500, even below 100, ours has 1,818 likes as of this writing. This means that same number of people, Rotarians or non-Rotarians, can see updates about our club if they regularly check their facebook accounts.

One positive result of this is that a number of professionals and businessmen in Taguig or nearby cities have expressed interest in joining the club. They see the regular updates, photos especially, of where the Club went to, the fellowships and community projects, club talk with resource speakers, participation in District activities, and so on.

IPP Rose has exercised prudence in selecting who among those who wrote to her saying they want to join the club, deserve a response. Because there are obvious applicants who only want to spam the club members with the various business projects that they are selling.

So far, four new Club members have passed through the insightful scrutiny of IPP Rose’s eyes. They have been invited to the club meetings, we have interacted with them, shared with them our professional background and activities, and so far so good. So the Club has decided to officially let them in. The nearly-inducted members were Era Eguia, a finance staff of a European bank, Mike Michener, a “life coach” and counselor; Daryl CAbato, an agribusiness trader, and Henry Villa, a customs broker.

The entry of these four new clubmates plus about three other new members has expanded the classification membership of our club. Whereas before, many members are in the construction-related businesses, now we have members doing professional and entrepreneurial work in banking, life counseling, life insurance, agribusiness trading, freight forwarding, glass fabrication, human resources, medical practice, think tank, and so on. This expanding mixture of club membership in different fields will be reflected further in future club community and youth projects.

Rotary has lots and lots of community projects spanning various sectors – in healthcare, housing, education and youth training, water and sanitation, livelihood and community development, environmental conservation, and so on. RI District 3830 is one of those in the forefront in various big humanitarian projects among the 10 RI Districts in the Philippines, and even among other districts in neighboring Asian countries.

The rainy season has started in the country and we already saw lots of flooding in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces, down to Mindanao. Helping those who are affected by heavy flooding will become a repeated activity of Rotarians and other civic organizations in the country, usually up to November.

We cannot give what we do not have. Since such community projects will require funding, in cash or in kind, we need to raise funds for the club from our friends, aside from pulling out resources from our own pockets from time to time.

These and many other  activities need to be publicized and popularized to other people, especially the non-Rotarians. We are non-politicians or government officials who bask in media limelight for political and even personal gratification. We just do these things out of pure and sincere help to our less privileged brothers and sisters, and still have fun via fellowships with like-minded professionals and businessmen.

This Rotary Year 2013-2014, I have been assigned by First Class President Meann de Leon, to be the Club Public Relations (PR) Director. My role is to help popularize and announce to the District and the public at large, our various Club and District activities, especially related to community assistance and development in poorer or calamity-affected areas.

With a dynamic club leadership backed up by committed and fun-seeking members and other Past Presidents, plus a dynamic support by the District leadership headed by First Class Governor Robert Kuan, there is little doubt that our Club can expand further both in membership and in various community projects this Rotary Year.

Cheers clubmates and friends. And more power to First Class President Meann and Governor Robert.

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See also:
Peace President Rose Antonio, May 23, 2013 
Charter President Bobby Dimayuga, May 26, 2013

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

Moments 1: Rose Antonio, June 26, 2013

Classification Talk by Daryl Cabato, July 02, 2013

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

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.
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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

Classification Talk by Daryl Cabato

Last night, the start of RY 2013-2014, new clubmate Daryl Cabato gave a classification talk, about poultry trading. He started his career as an employee of a big local agri-business company, wiggled his way to forming his own trading company. He buys thousands of live chicken every week, his truck can transport 1,000 heads per trip, dress the chicken and sell to various public markets, supermarkets and other big institutional buyers. Daryl gave us some important figures like cost per live chicken for the farmer, expected weight after 32 days, or even 28 days.

I left the meeting early last night, photo below, I was the one on striped polo.

Aside from poultry trading, Daryl is also into political consultancy, management consultancy, and in various NGOs and charity organizations. During his presentation last night, he showed his photos with several national and local political leaders. He is also an official of iHelp Foundation, which will be the partner of our club in organizing a benefit concert by Side A band this coming August 20 at Music Museum, proceeds will be use to improve a dilapidated public school in Capiz sometime this year, also help our adopted school, the R. Papa High School in Taguig City.

Photo below from left, Club Past Presidents Jed Inciong and Romel Villegas; three guests from Kiki-Kiti MYK, Winston Navarez, Lutao Malonzo and Darius Torres. The product is an anti-mosquito larvae and hence, anti-dengue solution.

First Class President Meann de Leon, Daryl Cabato, and Immediate Past President (IPP) Rose Antonio.

After Daryl's talk, Mr. Darius de Torres of Kiki-kiti also gave a talk how their product can effectively control the multiplication of mosquitoes and hence, control the spread of dengue, an infectious disease that victimizes thousands of Filipinos every year, killing several dozens especially children. The club is exploring to endorse certain products as part of its fund-raising and/or community activity.

The group photo, I already left and hence, was not able to join them.

Next three Mondays, there will be three talks. On July 8, PP Jed Inciong, a physician (OB and Cosmetics surgeon) will give a talk about cosmetics surgery. The Monday after that, July 15, a friend of new clubmate Mike Michener who was a retired CIA agent, will give a talk about security and intelligence. And the next Monday, July 22, new clubmate Henry Villa will give a classification talk, on customs brokerage.

Lots of free lectures, fellowships, while planning for some fund raising activities and community projects. We hope readers will be interested to join those talks and club activities.

See also:
Peace President Rose Antonio, May 23, 2013 
Charter President Bobby Dimayuga, May 26, 2013 
Club Handover, June 24, 2013, June 25, 2013

Moments 1: Rose Antonio

In this outgoing rotary year 2012-2013, the Peace Presidents and Peace Governor Sue Sta. Maria produced a yearbook called ROTARY MOMENTS which was published during the District Handover last June 08, 2013. The club Presidents themselves should write their own memoir of some of their unforgettable moments as a club leader.

Some Peace Presidents could not write their own piece for various reasons. So I was asked by Gov. Sue to help by interviewing then writing an article for some Presidents assigned to me. I was asked to interview many Peace Presidents actually, at first I thought it was an easy task, but then my own work caught up with me too and I interviewed only a few of them. Some wrote their own papers and just asked me to suggest revisions and refinements to their papers.

I will post in this blog the stories of those Presidents and a few District officials who helped the District whom I have interviewed, or at least suggested revisions to their own papers. Each of these Peace Presidents and Past Presidents have wonderful stories to share, I admire their stories, and I think I should help publicize those wonderful stories and MOMENTS in my own little way.

I will start with our own club President.

  

Rosemarie “Rose” Antonio

Rotary Club of Taguig Fort Bonifacio

Leading a small but compact club is both a challenge and a blessing at the same time. A challenge because I could count on not too many members to be involved in our various community service projects. But also a blessing because club leadership succession is not a problem and securing members’ support is easy.

My Presidency came as a surprise for me. Way back in 2011, I was just a “baby Rotarian”. My presence in previous club meetings was mainly to accompany my husband, Niel Antonio, who was the Club’s Immediate Past President at that time. Few months after I was inducted as a new member, I was groomed to be a President Elect, a big surprise for me as I was not even expecting to be a Club Officer. I thought that my clubmates were just kidding me. Then I realized that it was the real thing when I was later officially announced as the club PE.

I was a bit nervous when I joined the PETS as the thought of being a new or “baby Rotarian” was still heavy in my mind. But when I met my would-be classmates, so many of them, plus the incoming District officers led by then Governor-Elect Sue Sta. Maria, most if not all of those doubts have been replaced by enthusiasm and friendship.

Club Presidency for me means responsibilities, commitment and fulfillment.  Sometimes it can be overwhelming and definitely, it really is.  Stressful, lots of work load, but it’s all worth it.  The reward is the feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment, friendship and the joy that I have done my best for my club and the communities where we have rendered various service projects.

Rotary for me is a catalyst for people to give community service on their own, willingly and voluntarily, without compensation and even digging from their own pockets, and still enjoy it. The friendship and fellowship with other people who hold the same ideals, and service orientation makes the work even more enjoyable.

For one year, I have seen many inspirational and heart-warming stories and community services. But the most unforgettable moment for me was when we visited the Philippine Cerebral Palsy, Inc. office in Makati.  I and my clubmates went there thinking that it could be a nice project to submit for our Global Grant application.  But when we were already touring the facilities and different therapy sessions, I felt like I was on the verge of tears just by looking at all those special kids with disabilities, mostly wheelchair bound. 

I always have a soft heart to children especially those who are somehow deprived of a normal life and physical well being.  Life can be perplexingly complicated sometimes. Lots of questions bombarded my mind then.  Why does it have to happen to those innocent juveniles?  Why are they almost incapacitated for life?  Will they ever cope up and have the chance to live a normal life?  They are so young and yet so helpless.

The past 12 months have been a tiring but fulfilling experience for me. I want to share these thoughts to my friends and readers. I swear that if I did not become a Club President, my appreciation for these thoughts would not be so  deep.

Be prepared always. Be flexible and have back up plans when the original plans and strategies do not work. Know as many details as possible, be immersed with the situation. Practice the  “Art of War Principle” – know yourself, know your enemy, and know your terrain.

Empowerment comes not with pride but with humility and reason.  Learn to utilize and share it.  A true leader inspires values in action. A great thought is geared towards realization.  An untainted principle and honest life is a noble life. 

It is easy to ignore and social indifference is everywhere, but a life lived with fulfillment and  responsibility is a big achievement.

I take pride in my unrecognized contribution, however small. For without it, I may not have given my best effort.

I may not be the best among my peers but definitely, I have somehow touched the lives of some deprived people.  And, that makes me happy and contented. 

Commitment is something that I always regard highly, a kin to responsibility.  If combined with truthfulness, they are definitely a perfect team.

Being a leader requires a lot of dedication. Combined with strategy and planning, it can lead to a  path of unknown adventures.

The greatest legacy that parents can give their children is to raise them properly and independently, prepare them for uncertainties in life and ensure that they can survive and thrive. 

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See also: 
Club Planning Workshop, March 2012, April 02, 2012 
Club Officers, RY 2012-2013, June 01, 2012 
Club Relief Operations After the Manila Flooding, August 13, 2012
Art Peace 2013, April 24, 2013 
Peace President Rose Antonio, May 23, 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.
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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.