Ang Magiting - The Official Web Site of Rotary Club Makati North

ELECTION TIME

The Week That Was, April 25, 2007
By: Rtn. Robert Syjuco

Election time is just around the corner and we had a speaker, Rene Azurin who was going to discuss what we’re to expect from it. But before that, it was announced that the fellowship scheduled next week at PP Peny Reloza’s house was revised to become an RCMN charter anniversary/induction practice night to be held at the usual practice venue instead. Its quite sad that two of the most proper and upright members, PP Peny Reloza and PP Tony Ortigas are seriously sick.

The fun and comaraderie of Rotary fellowship is evident in the faces of PE Joe Reano, PP Tony Chong, PP Pabling Calma, Pres. Porong Herrera, Rtn George Mercado and guest as shown on photo above.

The forthcoming Distas was also discussed, as well as reciprocal visit to and from our Malaysia sister club for our respective inductions. The speaker was a former investment banker and currently a corp and trial lawyer. He also teaches Business law at the green colored university aside from having a regular column at Business World.

Someone worth listening to I thought and true enough he made sense. He discussed the growing indifference not just among us jaded citizens but even among the youth. The view is that elections just change the faces in power but never the system so “the fat and engorged mosquitoes just get replaced by new and even hungrier ones.” So what do we do?

He suggested changing the environment to change the behavior. First, abolish the pork barrel and other discretionary funds that breed corruption. Next, a justice system that works fairly AND quickly. Lastly, electoral reforms that will reflect the will of the people, meaning, no cheating.

Pres. Porong hands over token of appreciation to the day’s guest speaker, Mr. Rene Azurin. (Photo above)

Makes sense. However, my opinion on this is that people in government are corrupt simply because no one is punished for it. They simply get away with it. Crime pays. Put a big fish in jail and make an example. In the ombudsman, 28,000 graft and corruption cases have been filed and yet do you know how many have been convicted? Thirty.. yes thirty. Mostly low level ones at that. The ratio is 1 conviction to 1,000 cases filed. And the low official sees the one above him steals so he steals too. This goes on all the way to the top. Leadership by example! I hope and pray things will be for the better soon…

President's Corner

Your club is what you want to make of it

My dear fellow Rotarians with RC Makati North:

Let’s focus on the District’s Annual TRF Testimonial Dinner & Ball, one of the District’s premier Rotary event, that is fast approaching. Again —- the event date and time is Nov. 13, 2009, Friday at 6 pm and venue is at the Rigodon Ballroom of the Peninsula Manila. Tickets to the event: P1,000/guest to cover dinner, raffle, & entertainment.

The following information should give you an idea of the extent of RCMN’s participation, so far, in the coming days and up to the actual date of the event:

Member's Section

Work is My True Passion

KARL STUART McKINNON McLEAN

Born in Gibraltar , August 1, 1955 where my dad ran Shell refinery then moved with my family to Hamburg, then London , followed by Holland where I spent 8 years of my life as my father was on the main board of Shell in London.

I went to a Dutch school which was fabulous as the Dutch are the “freeist” nation in the world. As class prefect I sat on the school board with teachers and parents and my vote had the same power as the teachers.

I played a lot of soccer and earlier cricket.