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

President’s Message

Makati North’s sister clubs gave our housing project in Tanay, Rizal, a boost with their combined donation of $9,000 turned over during the induction ceremony on July 14 at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.

Lawyer M. Rajaram, president of the Rotary Club of Raffles City, had originally planned to give $5,000. But he handed over an extra $1,000, which President Rajaram said was raised through the personal contributions of the 12-person delegation from Singapore.

The Rotary Club of Hong Kong Island East also contributed two houses for the project, as Andy Wong gave their donation of $3,000.

The money will benefit the club’s housing project in Ave Maria Village, carried out in partnership with Gawad Kalinga.

As you all know, the club plans to build about 100 houses on a three-hectare property in Tanay that was donated by the aunt of Mr. Bobon Topacio, a good friend of Past Presidents Bert Lingad and Joe Reano in Couples for Christ. The project was started during the term of Past President Porong Herrera.

Ave Maria is our club’s second partnership with Gawad Kalinga, but the first one in Quezon City is being supported by several organizations already, including groups from Ateneo de Manila University. The project in Tanay suffered many delays and had a rough start, according to Mr. Topacio, until Makati North got involved in the project. Right now, Makati North is the only organizations there working in partnership with Gawad Kalinga.

At the onset, our sister clubs – particularly Raffles City – have been very supportive. Ave Maria residents are now benefiting from the water project, which they have also generously supported.

The water project involved the construction of a concrete water cistern, conceptualized and designed by President Joe, to capture water from a natural spring. The cistern, I’m told, is enough to supply water to about 100 households. Several photographs of the project and of the village have been published previously in our weekly bulletin.

You may also remember from published announcements that Makati North has turned over five houses to as many families during a previous visit to Ave Maria on May 24. On that trip, we told the project beneficiaries that Makati North alone cannot take the credit, and we would strive to introduce our partners to them.

The beneficiaries had that chance when about a dozen delegates Raffles City and Hong Kong visited Ave Maria on July 12, accompanied by Past President Tony Chong and myself.

SPECIAL THANKS

Several people made the visit of our sister clubs and the induction ceremony successful. Thank you to Club Service Director Hec Lojo, who was so efficient and hard working – even as his own company was simultaneously conducting planning sessions.

Thank you to the meal sponsors, particularly Past President Pabling Calma, whose generosity is as impressive as his taste for the fine things in life. Director Vic Austria also hosted a sumptuous lunch at Sofitel, and Ms. Vicky Magadia (Ann of Immediate Past District Governor Ato Magadia and Inner Wheel national president) treated our guests to a seafood feast.

Of course, we could not get around without help from Past Presidents Porong and Joe, as well as Club Treasurer Robert Syjuco and the ever-helpful Rotarian Chito Frondoso. Many others worked to make our guests feel welcome: Past President Tony Chong, Director Bench Sy Chu (and his lovely spouse Lynette), Past President Dieter Brueckner and Rotarian Daniel Wiedmer. Others played working roles at the induction, including Director Vic Magdaraog as emcee, along with Past President Ed Mijares and Director Bob Hecks.

Special thanks to Past District Governor Ernie Salas, who gave four paintings. Two of those will be raffled off at lunch today.

And, we should also show our gratitude to our secretariat. Thank you to Betty, Moly and Chris who were, as always, hard working and dependable.