Lovely weather with nary a hint of rain. Metro traffic kinder to the nerves than usual for a Friday evening. The buzz of excitement as some 240 kindred souls including 12 past district governors and spouses, 12 district officers, 17 Great Presidents, 14 guests from three sister clubs, and 21 from daughter and brother clubs—the ladies, comely in Filipiniana-inspired gowns and the men, dapper in formal barong Tagalog—greeted one another with handshakes, hugs and besos. Such were the feel and look and vibe of the 52nd induction ceremony and ball of the Rotary Club of Makati at the Rigodon Ballroom of The Peninsula Manila on 07.07.17 -- the 7th of July 2017. Two matched clubs agreement were signed: RC Kota Kinabalu and RC Cebu. The foyer was crammed with guests registering, posing for pictures at the photo stations, and generally just milling around two center tables, sipping wine while waiting for the centerpiece—two luscious lechones on large trays, their arrival signaled by a bell, to set off cocktails, a perky warm-up to a lovely evening. Incoming Pres. Jun Jun & Cecille Dayrit and Outgoing Pres. David & Mache Ackerman welcomed everyone to the ballroom.
Hosts Louie Aseoche and Mike Escaler, looking like pros to the stage born, held the program together.
The proceedings went smoothly—IPP David calling the meeting to order for the last time, PP Joe Alejandro saying a prayer for the Club and the new leadership team, and PDG Sid Garcia delivering the welcome message that was virtually an introduction to the Club and its long history of achievement and acclamation. PRID Paing Hechanova delivered brief remarks where he recalled how, 20 years ago as a director of RI, he had proposed the creation of “family membership” that would allow spouses to become Rotarians but charged only one set of dues. Recounting that the proposal was nixed as “good but premature,” PRID Paing was happy to note that the Club has formed a satellite club composed of RCM members’ spouses, including his Ann Mely. A cake was wheeled in for three birthday celebrators: PRID Paing, DG Ed Afzelius and PE Fred Pascual, and the birthday song was sung. The induction ceremonies ran like clockwork with PP Rene Limjoco presenting the inductees, PP Reggie Nolido charging them, DG Ed swearing them in, and PDG Tony Quila presiding over and annotating the turnover ceremony. Introduced by PP Tito Panlilio, newly-minted President Jun Jun Dayrit Jr. delivered an inspirational speech that invited club members to move out of the comfort zone of a passive member and become an active, engaged, and enthusiastic volunteer who helps to get the iconic Rotary gearwheel moving, takes up his oar to push the dragon boat team to victory, and contribute to the reversal of the Pareto Principle where 20% of the team does 80% of the work. Noting how Rotarians are called upon to give of three Ts—Talent, Treasure, Time—he made it clear that of the three, he will be needing your TIME the most. Pres. Jun Jun’s first task was to induct four new members—Johnny Ang, Inigo Garcia, Virgilio Gumban and Derrick Tan, and attach pins on 51 Paul Harris Fellows. PDG Robert Kuan introduced DG Ed Afzelius, guest of honor and speaker, who paid fulsome praise to the Club for its long parade of projects through the years, even naming all the past presidents and past district governors, with special mention of PRID Paing. He urged the Club to keep up its leadership position, grow its member base, and give more to The Rotary Foundation. After Pres. Jun Jun adjourned the meeting, the entertainment started. Titled “OPM Through the Years,” it was a seamless musical show featuring an array of OPM numbers performed by Rotarians and Anns, a show that earned oohs and aahs here, loud cheers there, and applause everywhere. The artists and their numbers: Pres. Jun Jun/ That’s Entertainment and Dungawin mo Sana, Roger Collantes/ Minamahal Kita, Mundy Gonzalez/Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Trina Galvez/Kapantay ay Langit, Sue Ann Nolido/Sixteen, PP Reggie Nolido/My Pledge of Love, PDG Pepito Bengzon and Renalyn David/Together Again, Porsche Pena/Ang Kawawang Cowboy, PDG Robert Kuan/Butsikik, PN Bimbo Mills/Anak, Melanie Laggui/Bonggahan, Boy Arteche/The Way We Were, PDG Sid, PP Freddie Borromeo, PP Eddie Yap, PE Fred Pascual, Eddie Galvez, and Bom Villatuya/Katawan, Tisa Fernandez/Tukso, Cecille Dayrit/Tell Me, Mache Ackerman/Bituing Walang Ningning, IPP David Ackerman/Mga Kababayan Ko, Chito Cantada/Ngayon at Kailanman, Louie Aseoche/Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, and the entire cast coming together for the finale, Ikaw, Ako, Tayong Lahat—Magkakapatid. Mimi Valerio and Sylvia Gonzalez appeared in videos. Doing the backup dancers routine, with several costume enhancements, were Tess Aseoche, Irene Barcelon, Jojo Borromeo, Tere Boyer, Tesha Garcia, Queenie Mills, Brin Panlilio, Menchu Pascual, Marie Segura and Caling Young.
The evening ended with the traditional President’s Breakfast and dancing, both to the music of Marcy’s Band. Kudos and thanks to Louie Aseoche, Induction Committee chair, First Ann Cecille Dayrit and Mimi Valerio, Entertainment Committee co-chairs, and the Secretariat staff for an excellent job!
Comments