Rotary Club of Makati
Uniting and taking action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves
The Rotary Club of Makati is the ‘mother club’ of all Rotary Clubs in Makati. It was the first club chartered in the City of Makati on 12 March 1966. The formal chartering ceremony by Rotary International was held at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park, and at that time, the Club had 46 members, two of whom are still on the club’s roster.
Meetings
The Club meets every Tuesday at noontime at the Conservatory of The Manila Peninsula.
MATCHED CLUBS
COMPOSITION
The club is composed of businessmen and professionals representing a wide range of fields. About half of the club are chief executive officers, chief operating officers or chief finance officers of the country’s largest corporations; a fourth are heads or senior officers of financial institutions, while the rest are principal officers of multilateral institutions, seasoned businessmen and leading practitioners in the fields of law, medicine, banking, accountancy, engineering, architecture, consultancy and information technology, among others.
TRF CONTRIBUTIONS
The club has consistently been the district’s biggest contributor to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. As of 12 March 2024, it has an aggregate contribution to the Foundation of US$2,602,053 and a per capita contribution of $19,712, the highest in District 3830. The Club boasts four members who have achieved the prestigious status of being part of the elite Arch Klumph Society, which recognizes major donors with contributions exceeding $250,000. Two of these members are currently active in the club, while the other two have passed away. In addition, it has in its roster 29 major donors, who have each contributed at least $10,000.
Membership
As of the 23 January 2024, the membership of RC Makati stood at 132 regular members & 10 honoraries, making it one of the largest clubs in District 3830. Its international character is reflected in the diversity of cultures represented by the eleven nationalities in its roster.
The club is composed of businessmen and professionals representing a wide range of fields. About half of the club are chief executive officers, chief operating officers or chief finance officers of the country’s largest corporations, a fourth are heads or senior officers of financial institutions, while the rest are members of the diplomatic corps, principal officers of multilateral institutions, seasoned businessmen and leading practitioners in the fields of law, medicine, banking, accountancy, engineering, architecture, automotive industry, consultancy, hospitality and information technology, among others.
RC Makati is proud of the quality of the members in its roster. Among them are a past Rotary International director (Rafael Hechanova †) and seven district governors (Rafael Hechanova (†), Bert Montinola (†), Tony Quila, Sid Garcia, Robert Kuan (†), Pepito Bengzon, and DGN Reggie Nolido.
MATCHED CLUBS
The club has initiated and maintains “matched clubs” relations with other Rotary clubs, 21 in various parts of the Philippines (which are called “Brother Clubs”) and 10 in various parts of the world (called “Sister Clubs”). Relations with these matched clubs are kept fresh with periodic exchanges of visits and mutual support for each other’s projects.
HONORS & RECOGNITIONS
The club takes pride in its being a 6-time recipient of the district’s most prized twin awards, the Overall Most Outstanding Club and Overall Most Outstanding Club President awards. Six of its members are also recipients of the “Service Above Self Award,” the highest honor that RI bestows on individual Rotarians.
R.I. has honored the club with two Significant Achievement Awards, the first for establishing its funding arm, the Makati Rotary Club Foundation, Inc., and the other for Project Angels, an environmental advocacy program for the youth.
Two projects – Partnership in Service Program and the Rotary Homes – were recognized by the first Rotary Club in the Philippines, RC Manila, as among the Top Ten Service Projects in the country during its centennial celebration last June 1, 2019, with the Rotary Homes project being conferred the Top Service Project Award.
DAUGHTER CLUBS
RC Makati has organized 12 “daughter” clubs, all of which have grown in stature and contributed to the growth of the district.
MAKATI ROTARY CLUB FOUNDATION, INC.
RC Makati has the distinction of having a well-endowed funding partner, the Makati Rotary Club Foundation, Inc. (MRCFI) that allows it to carry out long-term projects that benefit large numbers of people. In its early years, the Foundation derived funds from rental income from its 3-storey arcade at the Makati Commercial Center.