Christmas Party 2006

Club begins 42nd year with glittering Induction Ceremony & Ball

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The grand staircase of the Renaissance Hotel, formerly New World, at Greenbelt, Makati gave a pretty good picture of what to expect at the second-floor grand ballroom—a hall dressed up for the grand affair it was hosting, with twenty-nine 12-seater tables set with all the finery of fine dining for some 300+ people, and a simple stage with a huge backdrop announcing the occasion: the Rotary Club of Makati's 42 nd Induction Ceremony and Ball.

The main program had been preceded by cocktails at the foyer, where 12 matched club agreements were signed—a renewal with Sister Club RC Itako, renewals with 10 Brother Clubs, namely, RC Baguio North, RC Boracay, RC Dagupan, RC Dau, RC Gumaca, RC Laoag, RC Lucena South, RC Naga, RC Midtown Tarlac and RC Vigan; and the establishment of a new Brother Club agreement, the first this Rotary Year, with the Rotary Club of Balintawak of D-3780.

The moment belonged, quite clearly, to the new president – Jose A. R. “Pepito” Bengzon III , the club's 44 th president. How the 44 th president was being sworn in on the club's 42 nd year is explained by the happenstance of having two presidents sharing the same term, not just once but twice— PP Rene Paras and PP Fred Parungao split the year equally between them in RY 1987-1988, while PP Rene Benitez and PP Willie Soong both served in RY 2003-2004.

Sharing the hosting chores were Mike Toledo , dapper in a black tie, and Luli de Leon , who looked stunning in a fetching strapless gown. They paired off like pros, holding the program together and keeping it tight and flowing all night. With IPP Conrad Marty calling the meeting to order one final time, Pinky Marquez and Raymond Tolentino hushed up the buzz from the floor with a moving rendition of The Lord's Prayer, immediately followed by the Philippine National Anthem led this time by Pinky. And, because it was a regular club meeting like any other, never mind the formal togs, the guests were greeted with the Club's welcome song—district governors past, present and future, district officers, sister club delegations, brother club delegations, Pres. Pepito's family and his fellow Sharing Presidents who were there in full force to lend support to the president of their Sharing Presidents association.

Mike and Luli called on and introduced the about-to-be sworn-in officers, directors and advisers one by one as their pictures and basic Rotary information on them were flashed on two huge screens— Pepito Bengzon , president; Ramon ‘Mon” Diokno, vice president; Reginald “Reggie” Nolido , secretary; Renato “Toto” Claravall , treasurer; Francis “Francis” Macatulad, assistant secretary; Dayal Nandwani , assistant treasurer; and Filomeno “Boy” Arteche , legal counsel; Felix “Felix” Amparo , Club Service A; Luis “Chito” Cantada , Club Service B; Fernando “Ferdie” Ordoveza , Community Service A; IPP Conrado “Conrad” Marty , Community Service B; Ramon “Raymond” Garcia, Jr ., Community Service C (Youth Service); PE Larry “Larry” Boyer , International Service A; Dayal “Dayal” Nandwani , International Service B; Peter “Peter” Manzano , Vocational Service A; Roger “Roger” Dallas, Vocational Service B and Ramon “Mon” Diokno , District Affairs, directors; and advisers PRID Rafael “Paing” Hechanova on Club Service; PDG J. Antonio “Tony” Quila, Vocational Service; PP Alfredo “Fred” B. Parungao , Community Service; and PP Juan Carlos “Carlos” del Rosario , International Service.

The charging session was handled with characteristic wit, irreverence and self-deprecating humor by PP Willie Soong who wisely steered clear of reminding them about their duties. With no prepared script to read, he spoke off the cuff, making his spiel sound more like a fining session than a charging one. PP Willie's levity was followed by a moment of solemnity as Gov. Ato Magadia stepped up to swear them to office.

Following an established custom in the club, everyone made a beeline towards the stage to congratulate the inductees.

The turnover ceremony saw IPP Conrad and Pres. Pepito exchanging president's pins and RI theme banners. IPP Conrad also handed a new gavel to Pres. Pepito, while the latter gave him a bound set of Kaunlaran issues during his term. Pres. Pepito also awarded IPP Conrad with the gavel he used during his term, framed, and accompanied with a citation, which Pres. Pepito read—a well-deserved commendation for his remarkable accomplishments that brought top honors to the Club at the District Awards, including the much coveted award for Overall Most Outstanding Club among 76 other clubs in District 3830.

The program also included the recognition of new Paul Harris Fellows who received their pins from PRID Paing Hechanova, the club's biggest contributor to The Rotary Foundation and lone Level 3 donor ( one becomes a Level 3 donor after contributing $50,000-$99,000 to the TRF). The new PHF: Paquito Dizon, Gerry Garcia, Raymond Garcia, Dayal Nandwani and Mike Toledo , and Pres. Pepito's 3 children— Jose “Pepi” Bengzon IV, Michele and Mavelle . PP Carlos del Rosario was also recognized as a major donor for his $10,000 contribution to the TRF, thus becoming Club's 8 th major donor.

Next came the presentation of tokens to Pres. Pepito by the Sister Club delegations: Pres. Richard Soo of RC Kuala Lumpur Bukit Bintang, VP Dato Rizal Sardon of RC Kuala Lumpur Diraja, Pres. Stone of RC Taoyuan, and IPP Hj. Zaine Abdul Aucasa of RC Kota Kinabalu, PP Yoh Omori of RC Itako.

They couldn't have chosen a better person to introduce the new president— IPP Sonny Tambunting , who had nominated Pres. Pepito for membership in the club some 12 years ago because, he claimed, he had been strong-armed by Pepito's father, Peps Bengzon , then a member of this club. Also speaking extemporaneously, PP Sonny was in his element as he spoke of his subject as only he can—with raw humor that the audience lapped up with gusto.

It was the turn of the new president to deliver his inaugural speech, which began with a long list of people to acknowledge and thank. The speech proper (full text on p.14) was a presentation, with accompanying visuals, on the club's programs and projects, which he and his team of directors and committee chairmen will carry out during his term.

The formalities done, the entertainment began, featuring a special dance number by 6 pairs of Rotarians and Anns— Freddie & Menchit Ordoveza, Mon Diokno & Babylyn Newfield, Peter & Pam Manzano, Tony & Lilibeth Herbosa, Drexx & Melanie Laggui , and Ai-Ai Galvez & RC Tambunting . Pres. Pepito then crooned two songs, to the accompaniment of the Retromaniacs Band, and invited everyone to the dance floor, where they danced the night away. Three gift certificates were raffled off—one, overnight stay at the Manila Pavilion and another at the Waterfront in Cebu, compliments of Gov Ato Magadia; and another at The Pen, courtesy of David Batchelor. In keeping with tradition, the newly-installed president hosted a midnight repast for those who stayed behind.

Among the 313 attendees were the following: dignitaries—from our District 3830, Gov. Ato Magadia & Ann Vicky , PRID Paing Hechanova & Ann Mely , PDG Jimmy Cura & Ann Luz, PDG Jun Perez, PDG Tony Quila, PDG Tony Rufino, PDG Willy Segovia, PDG Guiller Tumangan, DGE Ed Limon , and DGN Sid Garcia & Ann Tesha ; IPDG Dato Jimmy Lim & Ann Brenda of RC Kuala Lumpur Diraja, D-3300; PDG Nobuhiko Kataoka , RC Tsuchiura Minami, D-2820; PDG Gil Divinagracia of RC Balintawak, D-3780; and PDGs Mark Go, Jesus Cano Chua and Jaypee Cadaing of D-3790.

District Officers: AG Ronnie Arceo, PP Edna Sutter, IPP Sonnie Zamora, PP Paul Chang, CP Lita Wells, PP Nas Pablo, PP Sue Sta. Maria, PP Sally Tongson, PP Rachel Ocampo, PP Ric de la Torre, PP Joji Tan, PP Beth Rabuy .

Sister/Twin Clubs: RC Kuala Lumpur Diraja— IPDG Dato Jimmy Lim & Ann Datin Brenda, PP Dato & Ann Datin Krishnan, PP Dato Kulasegaran, Honorary Sec. Horst Wippern & Ann Simone, VP Dato Rizal Sardon & Ann Datin Diani . RC Kota Kinabalu— IPP Hj. Zainie Abdul Aucusa, PP Kevin Ng, Dir. Paul Thien, Dir Andrew Chong, Rtn Alfred Sii, Jack Lo Cheong Wah, Jennifer James, Cristy Rondidas. Rishihsfra Sharif . RC Fukui Ajisai— Pres. Yukio Takeda, PP Hiroshi Awashima, Dir. Shigeru Geya, Rtns Tomoharu Ooshima, Kenichi Asada, Masaki Suemoto, Minoru Kondo . RC Itako and other Japan RCs— PDG Nobuhiko Kataoka, PP Yo Omori, Rtns. Megumi Sakayori, Ryukai Seto, Yoshinori Murakami, Kazuhiko Terauchi, Kiyoshi Yamazaki, Yokoh Fujii, Yoshimasa Ota, Kenichi Kaneko, Kazuko Isohara . RC KL Bukit Bintang— Pres. Richard Soo, PP/PE Sally Toh, Tan Sri Eugene Campos. RC Sydney— VP Rene Benitez . RC Taoyuan— Pres. Stone, PP Auto, PE Ceramic, VP Steve, Dir. Hose, Dir. Man, Dir. Paper . Guest Clubs: RC Pudu , Malaysia — PP Mike Tung, VP Robin Tay ; RC Raffles City , Singapore — PP Wee Koon San .

Brother Clubs: RC Vigan— Pres. Reynaldo Bautista, PP Eddie Pamuspusan, PP Mar Benzon, IPP Mar Orlanda, Sec. Rodones Ramos . RC Dagupan— Pres. Raymundo Ramos, PP Leon Palaganas, PP/Sec. Edwin Aguirre, IPP Jess Romero . RC Boracay— Pres. Ma. Cristina Teotico, PP Marina Gersbach, PP Ala and PP Bea ; RC Laoag— Pres. Napoleon dela Cruz, PP Joey Soriano; Treas. Mike Antonio ; RC Calamba— Pres. Oscar Atienza, Sec. Jun Aguilar, Rtn. Manny Lleva ; RC Midtown Tarlac— Pres. Roderick Santos, PDG Jesus Cano Chua, PDG Jaypee Cadaing, PP Henry Canasa, PE Joel Tiglao, Sec. Eduardo Soliman ; RC Taytay— Pres. Andres San Gabriel; Jaime Memije ; RC Lucena South— Pres. Cornelio Pasumbal, PP Jay Salvacion, PE Ramon Zabella Jr .; RC Gumaca— Pres. Edmundo Tan, PP Policarpio Orijuela, PP Arnel Rodelas ; RC Dau— Pres. Alejandro Mateo, CP Tarcicio Halili, PP Salustiano Enriquez ; RC Balintawak— Pres. Joel Guillermo, PDG Gil Divinagracia, PP Noel Santos, PP Nes Cortez, PP Steve de la Peña, PP Sonny Hernandez, PP Mike Piso, and IPP Ernie Lee .

Pres. Pepito's and other guests: Nandy Bengzon, Kevin Dallas, Mavelle Bengzon, Michelle Bengzon, Pepi Bengzon, PP Benjjie Liboro & Ann Lin Bengzon-Liboro, Quitos Bengzon, Vice Mayor Gus Tambunting, Joy Tambunting .