New RCM/MRCFI Building inaugurated

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Club, MRCFI send help to Typhoon Reming victims through Red Cross, initiate help drive among members

Gawad Kalinga, 7 other RC Makati projects win recognition at District 3830 Yearend Awards rite

New RCM/MRCFI Building inaugurated

We have a new home!

The Rotary Club of Makati and its Makati Rotary Club Foundation, Inc. (MRCFI) joined hands last Friday, the 14 th of September, for the inauguration of the RCM-MRCFI building, the new, and permanent, home of the secretariats of both the Club and the Foundation.

Doing the honors at the ribbon-cutting ceremony was Makati Mayor Jejomar “Jojo” Binay , while the blessing was officiated by Fr. Paul Marquez.

The blessing over, everyone congregated on the second floor for cocktails and conversation, before moving to the third floor for dinner, made sweeter by “live” music wafting from the instruments of a flutist and a guitarist (too bad the sound system didn't do justice to their music). It was a one-hundred percent fellowship affair, so the usual speeches were dispensed with; it was, in fact, billed as a club-wide social, attendance at which was considered a makeup. And so they came, Rotarians and Anns, including little Carlo , the months-old son of Dario & Micky Tunesi. Both cocktails and dinner were catered by the Brasserie.

The second floor, which is to house the board room and the offices of the club president and the chairman and president of the Foundation, is yet to be furnished, but the ground floor, to be occupied by the staffs of both the Club and the Foundation, is all done. Measuring 120-sq.m, it is divided into eleven work stations, one for each of the staffers. It has wall-to-wall carpeting, and is cooled by four 2-tonner split-type air-conditioning units. In consideration of those who may find the flight up to the third floor too challenging for comfort, the building is equipped with an elevator, too.

Started in July 2006, the building took just under a year to finish. It had a “soft opening” on the 26 th of June this year, when the Club held its last regular meeting for RY 2006-2007 there. Designed by architect Ruben Payumo , the building was constructed by R. A. Nolido Construction, with the interiors designed, pro bono, by Ben Hughes , president & general partner of Steven Leach & Associates. PP Charlie Rufino , who had allowed the club's and Foundation's secretariats free use of office space at the MileLong Building for the duration of the construction, donated the glass walls. The price tag: P25 million.

The good turnout was indicative of the members' interest and involvement in club activities. Present at the inauguration were: Pres. Pepito Bengzon, PDG Tony Quila, PP Rey Adriano & Ann Myrna, PP Joe Alejandro & Ann Marilou, PP Fidel Alfonso, PP Froily Aragon, PP Freddie Borromeo & Ann Jojo, PP Cesar Campos & Ann Ludy, PP Jonny Carlos & Ann Milette, PP Robert Kuan & Ann Yvonne, PP Ric Librea & Ann Et, IPP Conrad Marty & Ann Chit, PP Tito Panlilio, PP Fred Parungao & Ann Mely, PP Carlos del Rosario, PP Charlie Rufino, PP Sonny Tambunting & Ann Terry, PP Roland Young & Ann Caling, PE Larry Boyer & Ann Tere, Felix Amparo, Henry Aquende & Ann Marga, Boy Arteche, John Aspinall, Ting Ayllon, Reza Baqir, Jojo Binay, Gani Buenaflor, Chito Cantada & Ann Vicky, Frank Chavez, VP Mon Diokno, Pilo Eugenio, Vic Floresca, Fred Fricke, Mundy Gonzalez, Boy Hilvano, Ador Hizon, Ben Hughes, Enzo Lee & Ann Tetet, Wash Lou & Ann Pizza, Peter Manzano, Rick McGonegal & Ann Nancy, Reggie Nolido, Ferdie Ordoveza & Ann Menchit, Ruben Payumo & Ann Didi, Ed Rojas, Jun Rojas & Ann Pina, Taba Samson, Jay Savage, Philip Soliven, Dario Tunesi & Ann Micky , Mike Varela and Eddie Yap .