Rotary Club of Makati, Philippines

A press release on the club's charter presentation in 1966 described the event as “glittering.” Last Friday, the 10 th of July, the club harked back to the main lounge of the Manila Polo Club, venue of the 1966 event, for its 44 th Induction Ceremony and Ball, an occasion that, in every measure, in every sense, proved to be, in the poetic lyrics of the movie Aladdin , a “shining, shimmering, splendid” affair. Never mind the sudden downpour at sundown that further messed up traffic on a usually messy-traffic night.

It started with fellowship cocktails at the Turf Room, a warm-up function that gave friends and acquaintances a chance to catch up in a casual atmosphere, though they had come dressed to the nines, the men in tuxedoes and formal Barong Tagalog, the ladies in head-turning long gowns.

Cued by voice-over announcer Dick Funk , hosts and guests inched their way to the main lounge while other hosts and guests arrived, and soon the hall was filled to the rafters, so to speak, as every seat was taken by a full capacity gathering of some 330 Rotarians, Anns and guests.

The emcees, PP Fidel Alfonso and PP Charlie Rufino , dapper in their tux and wearing the confidence of seasoned hosts, paced the program, as they led one number to the next.

Pres. Larry Boyer , at that moment the outgoing president, called the meeting to order for the last time. PP Freddie Borromeo delivered an invocation in which he gave thanks for “Your gift of Rotary, good health, and the love of our brother Rotarians from all over the world who are here tonight.” He also asked the “Heavenly Father (to) strengthen us to do the right thing, grant us discernment to seek Your inspired plan for the future of Rotary, give us a selflessness that will make us think of Rotary, not of what we can gain; and mold us into shining examples of Rotarians whose hands are guided by and are worthy of your leadership.”

With a view to putting our best voice forward, Dick Funk was conscripted to sing the Philippine national anthem, a capella , as well as the Rotary Hymn, a job he alone can deliver with vocal finesse. PP Pepito Bengzon introduced the dignitaries— PDG Herman Gamboa, IPDG Boyet Limon and partner CP Sonie Zamora; PDG Guiller Tumangan , and DGE Ed Alvarez and Ann Marissa , of D-3830; PDG Jesse Chua, PDG Jaypee Cadaing and DGN Digna Ragasa of D-3790; PDG Lina Aurelio, PDG Santi Chua and PDG Pepe Peralta of D-3800; and IPDG Edward Burongoh of D-3310, Malaysia; and the district officers.

PP Robert Kuan introduced the foreign club delegations—Sister Clubs: RC Itako, led by PP Yo Omori ; RC Taoyuan, led by Pres. Steve ; RC Kota Kinabalu led by Pres. Frankie Fu ; RC Sydney with PP Gary Browne and PP Rene Benitez ; RC Bukit Bintang led by Pres. Richard Soo ; and RC Fukui Ajisai led by Pres. Hiroshi Awashima ; and Brother Clubs: RC Baguio North with Pres. Oscar Cadelina ; RC Central Pampanga led by Pres. Ricardo Yabut ; RC San Pablo South led by Pres. Kit de los Santos ; RC Balintawak led by Pres. Chito Alberto ; RC Bay led by Pres. Alexander Darvin ; RC Dagupan led by Pres. Albert Manuyag ; RC Boracay led by PP Ala Todea ; RC Lingayen led by Pres. Ma. Corazon Puzon ; RC Naga led by Pres. Chona Belmonte ; RC Lucena South led by PP Nes Marquez ; RC Vigan led by Pres. Clarito Aldana; RC Midtown Tarlac led by Pres. Tony Mandal ; RC Laoag led by Pres. Prime Beltran; RC Gumaca led by Pres. Geordil Castillo ; RC Calamba led by Pres. Marie Villanueva ; RC Metro San Fernando (La Union) led by Pres. Edna Dacanay, and our new Brother Club RC Legaspi West with Pres. Bong Aspe .

After a buffet dinner, made more palatable by old familiar standards played by the Dixie Band, came the formal program kicked off by PP Jonny Carlos ' introduction of Gov. Sid Garcia . PP Jonny spoke of the young Sid learning the values of service and word of honor at his father's knee; shining in catechism and other religious programs, as well as in sports, as a high school student at the Ateneo, where he was consistently voted president of his class; giving full expression to his activist spirit as a college student at UP, with his involvement in anti-establishment activities in the lead-up to and at the height of the so-called First Quarter Storm; his happy disposition that finds affirmation in his love for dance and song; and his track record as a Rotarian and all the reasons why the term “Smiling Visionaries,” the tag he has given his presidents, is so fitting because it is a reflection of what he himself is, a happy person who looks to the future with the clarity of vision of someone who knows what he wants and how to get it.

Gov. Sid's entrance was accompanied by strains from his signature song as the Smiling Visionary Governor, Smile . He spoke off the cuff, relying only on bullet point reminders to guide him. In his message, Gov. Sid drew attention to the great strides in RI District 3830, the youngest among the country's 10 districts and in Philippine Rotary in general, notably the polio eradication campaign, the adoption of the Rotary Community Corps as Rotary's partner in community service, and its contribution to Rotary leadership in the persons of Past RI President Mat Caparas , Past RI Director Benny Santos and our very own PRID Paing Hechanova . Gov Sid also pointed to the RC Makati's long-running and highly successful projects such as the Christmas Bazaar, Books Across the Seas, under which over 12 million books have been given away, the Partnership in Service Program that has given away several millions in matching grants to needy clubs, and its outstanding distinction as the district's biggest contributor to The Rotary Foundation. He then solicited the club's support in pushing forward district projects, especially those in which RC Makati has been in the forefront of—Books Across the Seas, nutrition, TB eradication, Gawad Kalinga and Teaching the Deaf to Speak. In the clearest terms, Gov. Sid stressed that he will need the club's support to succeed.

PP Sonny Tambunting , aided by visuals projected on a huge screen, introduced the incoming officers, directors and advisers one by one. They were charged by PDG Tony Quila , who was ushered in by a musical clip from the piece that has become his anthem as governor, the theme form the movie, Rocky . PDG Tony reminded the inductees of the duties and responsibilities of their office and of the challenges and rewards of membership in Rotary. Gov Sid completed that particular program segment by swearing in the inductees:

Felix “Felix” Amparo , president; Francis “Francis” Macatulad , vice-president and director; Isagani “Gani” Ferrer , secretary; Dayal “Dayal” Nandwani , treasurer; Rafael “Ai-Ai” Galvez , asst. treasurer; Larry “Larry” Boyer , immediate past president and director; Filadelfo “Jun” Rojas , president-elect and director; Renato “Rene” Limjoco , president-nominee and director; Henry “Henry” Aquende , director; Christopher “Toffy” Concepcion , director; Eduardo “Eddie” Galvez , director; Antonio “Tony” Herbosa , director; Fernando “Ferdie” Ordoveza , director; and PRID Rafael “Paing” Hechanova, PDG Antonio “Tony” Quila , PP Ricardo “Ric” Librea , and PP Conrado “Conrad” Marty , advisers. Dir. Frank Chavez is on leave and was therefore unable to make it.

Immediately following the oath-taking rites came the ceremonial turnover of the symbols of authority and responsibility, from Immediate Past President Larry Boyer to President Felix Amparo, with their respective Anns, Tere and Tessie , by their side. The turnover: exchange of president's pins and of the RI Theme banners, presentation of a bound compilation of the Kaunlaran in RY 2008-2009 to IPP Larry and in turn the presentation of the gavel to Pres. Felix.

In grateful recognition of his achievements and in appreciation of the precious time and hard work he had put in as club president, the outgoing Board of Directors conferred on IPP Larry Boyer a very special plaque, the gavel he had used during his entire term as its centerpiece. Pres. Felix presented the plaque to his predecessor and read the citation. As has been the practice in the club for many years, the induction occasioned the recognition of the first batch of Paul Harris Fellows for the year, 14 of them, as presented by PP Ric Librea , PHF committee chairman—P DG Tony Quila, PP Freddie Borromeo, PP Jonny Carlos and PP Robert Kuan , all of whom have been Level 1 major donors for some time; IPP Larry Boyer, Mon Diokno, Dayal Nandwani, Carina Amparo, Felix Amparo Jr., Ileana Garcia , 3-year-old Gabriela Sofia Librea, Anna Macatulad, Menchit Ordoveza , and Gov. Sid Garcia who became a Major Donor Level 1 that night. At that point came a surprise number—an audiovisual presentation on Pres. Felix and his family, that showed images of the “man of the hour,” who was about to lead the club in the next 12 months. PP Conrad Marty came up next, to formally introduce the newly-installed president. He recalled how he first met Pres. Felix 44 years earlier when, as an applicant for a job at General Electric Phils., he came under scrutiny by one of the finance managers—Felix, an incident the interviewer has no recollection of. PP Conrad then recounted Pres. Felix's journey up the GE corporate path, until he reached the apex, as president and general manager, and how he is still is part of the company even after his retirement in 2001. PP Conrad also shared that Pres. Felix had been a Rotarian before, first, as a member of RC Parañaque, then of RC Makati West. In 2000 PRID Paing Hechanova invited him to join RC Makati and, unable to think of a good enough reason to give his regrets, accepted. PP Conrad also introduced the two Amparo children—Carina, an HR practitioner who works as a senior officer in Citibank Hong Kong, and Felix; Jr., married to Kelly Misa, a budding entrepreneur. The highlight of the program was the inaugural speech of Pres. Felix Amparo, who delivered a simple message expressed in simple, down-to-earth language, in which he expressed gratitude to the club for the opportunity to serve and to the many Rotarians, Anns and others, for working long and hard to put together the induction program. (Full text on p.12, please). He ended his speech with a tribute to his Ann Tessie, thanking her for orchestrating the entire program, and conceptualizing the production number that was to showcase the luminous talents of our Rotarians, Anns and Interactors.

The program proper ended with Pres. Felix hitting the bell to adjourn the meeting, his first as president.

The program committee made sure they saved the best for last. The special production number by a select group of Rotarians, Anns and Interactors had, rightly, been reserved for after the formalities, the better for everyone to enjoy it to the fullest. First, the fashion show, featuring “Ann models” Myrna Adriano, Irene Barcelon, Jojo Borromeo, Teody Buenaflor, Ludy Campos, Vicky Cantada, Milette Carlos, Marisa Concepcion, Glo Garcia, Yvonne Kuan, Melanie Laggui, Lu Limjoco, Chit Marty, Babylyn Newfield, Brin Panlilio, Menchu Pascual, Pina Rojas, Chinit Rufino, Terry Tambunting, Mimi Valerio, Cecile Varela and J'net Zulueta . Making a dramatic entrance was First Ann Tessie Amparo who, at some point, was escorted by her knight, Pres. Felix.

And then came the showstopper, a music-and-dance slice of the beloved Mamma Mia! that had everyone in the ballroom mesmerized. Seating at the edge of their seats, they sat wide-eyed and unblinking, impressed with the wealth of talent dripping from the stage. The performers: Irene Barcelon, Vicky Cantada, Jun-Jun Dayrit, Mon Diokno, Melanie Laggui, Francis Macatulad, Peter & Pam Manzano, Menchu Pascual, Caling Young , Carlo & Cat Rufino as the young lovers, PP Pepito Bengzon, PP Freddie Borromeo, and Chito Cantada as the three men in Donnas's past, Jojo Borromeo and Babylyn Newfield as her best friends, and Menchit Ordoveza who played Donna with grace, radiance and aplomb.

The applause that greeted them at curtain call said it all.