RY 2011-2012 No.

40

Tuesday, 22 May 2012

RC Makati joins 35,000 Rotarians at RI Convention in Bangkok

A small group of RC Makati Rotarians and Anns were among the 35,000-plus Rotarians, Anns, GSE Team members, and Rotaractors who were in Bangkok 6-9 May for the 103rd annual RI Convention. Among the attendees were Pres Rene Limjoco & Ann Lu, PRID Paing Hechanova & Ann Mely, PDG Tony Quila & Ann Angela, DGN Robert Kuan & Ann Yvonne, PP Pepito Bengzon, PP Sonny Tambunting & Ann Terry, and PE Reuben Valerio & Ann Mimi. They attended the opening ceremony and the plenary and breakout sessions, listened to the speeches of the top leaders of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation and those of the guest speakers, and were there for the closing ceremony. But they also had fellowship activities outside of the convention. ........... To page 8

At the Philippine Breakfast

VIEW FROM THE TOP

By: Pres. Rene Limjoco

RI President Kalyan Banerjee thanks Rotarians for Reaching Within to Embrace Humanity to build a world of Peace Through Service
As I said last week there were many things in the RI Convention in Bangkok that impressed us who were there and left a deep mark in our minds and hearts. The speeches were insightful and gave us something to reflect on. Last week I shared with you excerpts of the speech by RIPE Sakuji Tanaka on Peace Through Service. This time, I would like to share with you RI President Kalyan Banerjees speech during the closing ceremony that delved deep into Rotarys role. I truly believe it is of great benefit to Rotarians to hear and digest his speech, which merged the message of this years Rotary theme, Reach Within to Embrace Humanity, with that of Sakuji Tanaka next year, Peace Through Service. Here is the full text of Pres. Kalyans speech: My brothers and sisters in Rotary. Well, here we are, nearly at the end of this wonderful 103rd Rotary convention. Youve all come here from every corner of the Rotary world, and from every time zone as well! You know, we talk a lot about how technology is ........... To page 6

Rotary Club of Makati, Inc.

Kaunlaran No. 40 22 May 2012

RECAP
DICK FUNK Invocator JUN JUN DAYRIT Introducer

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

DICK UPTON Moderator

RENE LIMJOCO Club President

CARMELITO ANZURES Guest Speaker

Dick Funk called on the Almighty to remind us, in the midst of conflict, poverty, misunderstanding and deceit, of the reason for our being and that we are created in Your likeness. He asked for strength so that in the face of poverty we may rise TRF Contributors: PP Felix Amparo, Cesar Cruz, . . . PDG Tony Quila, Mundy Gonzales . . . above the situation and be willing Pres. Rene Limjoco, PP Ric Librea . . . to share what little we have; so that when we are weakened we may find Macatulad and Miguel Macatulad; strength, when we see greed and corruption, Gary Quemado for beneficiaries we may stand up with honesty; when we are Juan Diego Quemado and Jaime oppressed, we may fight for freedom, when Alfonso Quemado, and PDG Tony we see suffering we may offer compassion, Quila for Chiara Quila and Andie when divided by differing beliefs, we may Quila. PP Ric was also among the stand united in tolerance and understanding. contributors in this batch. In closing he asked God to help us to believe Frank Chavez gave an update on in Your goodness and see that same goodness the two cases hes handling for MRCFI. in all of us; help us to see that You alone are On the case versus PP Jun Rojas et the firm foundation of our Rotary Club and our al, he reported that he was in court that . . . and Gary Quemado country and that despite differences in color morning for a scheduled hearing and and creed we can be one in praise, prayer noticed that the other side had been asking he reported that the other respondents were and purpose. . . for subpoenae for only three people: Dayal supposed to submit their counter affidavits Announcements. PP Ric Librea, Nandwani, PP Jun, and Reggie Nolido, with on 11th May but that the hearing did not push in his capacity as chair of the Paul Harris the apparent purpose of getting them to testify through because the investigating prosecutor Fellows committee, presided over the as adverse witnesses. He also reported that he was out of town. He said it would be interesting awarding of certificates and medals to the had filed for the withdrawal of the complaint, to find out what the three respondents other latest batch of contributors to The Rotary which was unanimously signed by the members than PP Freddie Borromeo would put up as FoundationPP Felix Amparo with Karina of the Board of Trustees, and the other side has a defense and said he was hopeful that the Amparo and Rosanna Vizconde as been given ten days to comment. He said he case will be dismissed as well. The worst-case beneficiaries; Cesar Cruz for Natividad asked for 10 days to comment, and only 48 scenario, he concluded, would be that three Cruz, Mercedes Cruz and Arsenio hours to respond, if necessary, otherwise the people would be indicted, and it wont be any Cruz; Mundy Gonzalez for Alessandra matter will be deemed submitted for resolution. of his clients. Garcia and Javier Santino Garcia, Pres He added that based on what the court Back from the Thailand, Pres. Rene Rene Limjoco for beneficiaries Michael observed that morning he was optimistic that Limjoco made a brief mention of the Limjoco, Christian Limjoco, and Margarita a withdrawal, or dismissal, of the complaint will RI Convention attended by a 16-person Limjoco; Francis Macatulad for Gabrielle come as a matter of course. On the BIR case, ........... To page 3

Kaunlaran No. 40 22 May 2012

Rotary Club of Makati, Inc.

HERBERT M. CONSUNJI
PROFESSIONAL Chief Operating Officer, Maynilad Water Services Inc., 2007 Present Chief Finance Officer, DMCI Holdings Inc., 1979 Present Chairman of the Board, Subic Water Corporation, 2001 Present Member, Board of Directors, DMCI Holdings, Inc.; Semirara Mining Corporation; Sem Calaca Power Corporation; Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corporation; DMCI Power Corporation; DMCI Mining Corporation; Subic Water Corporation; DMCI MPIC Water Company; and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. EDUCATION Top Management Program, Asian Institute of Management, 1997 Certified Public Accountant, 1978 Bachelor of Science major in Accounting, De La Salle University, 1975 PERSONAL Married to Regina Magsaysay Irlanda Daughter, two sons and two granddaughters
Recap ...................................................................................... from page 2

Rigodon I, The Peninsula Manila Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Starts at 12:30PM Adjourns at 2:00PM

Call to Order Pres. Rene Limjoco Invocation . Johnny Rocha Philippine National Anthem RC Makati Hymn Introduction of Visiting Rotarians & Guests Bubi Krohn Welcome Song / AVP Greetings to Birthday and Wedding Anniversary Celebrators Club Functions & Committee Announcements Turnover of P1.82M donation from Maynilad Water Services to Rotary Homes Representatives: For donor: Mr. Herbert Consunji For recipient: PDG Sid Garcia Introduction of the Inductee Proposer Philip Cea Chairman, Best Western F1 Premier Hotel Classification: Real Estate Development Proposer: DGN Robert Kuan

delegation from RC Makati, before ticking off the upcoming speakers and eventstoday, the guest speaker is Mr. Herbert Consunji, chief operating officer of Maynilad Water, a partner to the district Rotary Homes Project; on the 29th, its PP Cesar Campos who will speak on the Makati Commercial Estate Association, whose Board of Governors he is a member of; 25th May, fellowship cocktails for all members hosted by him and Ann Lu as a gesture of thanks for their support in the past year; 5th June, the yearend awards, 7 PM at the Conservatory, possibly the last fellowship of the year; and on 12th June, no meeting in observance of our Independence Day. He also informed the Club that the club and Foundation staffs will be going on their annual outing and the office will be closed on Friday, 18th May. Mr. Carmelito Anzures, Tourism Officer of the City of Makati, was invited to speak on the Flores de Mayo and, although admitting to not being an authority on the subject, nevertheless did enough research to speak on itits Christian underpinnings that revolve around the search for the Holy Cross, Santa Cruz, by Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, some 300 years after Christs death on the cross. According to legend, archaeological diggers in Jerusalem found three crosses, ........... To page 4

Charging Session .. Induction . Presidents Time . Introduction of the Guest Speaker .. Speech:

PP Fidel Alfonso Pres. Rene Limjoco Rene Limjoco PDG Sid Garcia

MR. HERBERT CONSUNJI Chief Operating Officer Maynilad Water Services Inc. Q&A Response Pres. Rene Limjoco Adjournment Bubi Krohn Moderator

Rotary Club of Makati, Inc.

Kaunlaran No. 40 22 May 2012

TODAY: Tuesday, 22 May Guest Speaker: Mr. Herbert Consunji Chief Finance Officer Maynilad Water Services Saturday, 26 May Planning Session for RY 2012-2013 Presiding Officer: PE Reuben Valerio RCM Boardroom 9:00 AM 5 PM Tuesday, 29 May Guest Speaker: PP Cesar Campos Governor Makati Commercial Estate Assn. Sunday, 3 June Lunch in honor of Visiting Rotarians from Japan Hosted by PP Freddie Borromeo Venue: Waterfall, Tanay, Rizal Tuesday, June 5 No Luncheon Meeting Yearend Awards Time: 6 PM Venue: Conservatory,The Peninsula Manila Tuesday, June 12 No Meeting in observance of Philippine Independence Day Saturday, June 16 District 3830 Awards and Fellowship Night Bellevue Hotel, Alabang Sunday, 29 June District Handover Le Pavillon, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

ROTARIANS PP Fred Nassr, 22 May Gary Quemado, 24 May Mohsin Razi, 26 May Boy Arteche, 27 May Eric Lee, 27 May

8 May 2012
Regular Non-Exempt Members in Attendance ............................ 40 Honorary and Exempt Members / Visiting Rotarians and Guests .................... 0 Total Attendance ....................................... 40 Make-Ups ............................................ 14 Total Attendance Credit ........................... 52 Total Regular Non-Exempt Members ........................... 127 Exempt Members ............................ 24 Total Membership to date ................... 151* Honorary Members ................................... 10 Attendance Percentage ..................... 42.52% Make Ups: 1. Rante Aguila 2. PP Pepito Bengzon 3. PP Carlos del Rosario 4. DGN Robert Kuan 5. Pres. Rene Limjoco 6. Vic Ong 7. Raymund Peralta 8. PDG Tony Quila 9. Johnny Rocha 10. Ed Rojas 11. Oliver Segovia 10. PP Sonny Tambunting 13. George Temblique 14. PE Reuben Valerio

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
Andy & Felice Sta. Maria, 26 May Edward & Angela Chang, 18 May Tony & Irene Tan, 28 May

Recap ............................................. from page 3

presumed to be those of Jesus and the two thieves who were crucified with Him. To find out which of the three was Christs, it is said that the queen asked a sick servant of hers to lie on each of the crosses, and the one that cured him was believed to be that of Jesus. The Santacruzan, which through the years has become interchangeable with Flores de Mayo (sometimes called Flores de Maria, referring to the Virgin Mary) has evolved into the realm of folk religion, a term that embraces practices under the umbrella of organized religion but outside of official doctrine. Examples of folk religious practices are the pabasa (readings on the Passion and Death of Jesus) and penitencia (penance, including self flagellation) during Holy Week and the practice of walking on ones knees to the altar in Quiapo Church. He said that though the Catholic Church does not endorse those practices, it does not condemn them either, presumably because they actually are part of what is called inculturation of religion, the process of mixing religious beliefs with local customs and traditions that strengthen faith in the Catholic context. Fun loving people that we are, he said, we are given to celebrations, which is why we have fiestas all over the country, usually to celebrate a bountiful harvest and to thank the towns patron saint for blessings received.

* Member Lost: 1. PP Rene Paras

Such, Mr Anzures declared, was the depth of influence the Spanish friars had on the Filipinos, as they colonized us with the Cross. Saving the contemporary for last, Mr. Anzures spoke of this years celebration of Araw ng Makati, a huge departure, he said, from those of past years. On the 26th of May, Makati will dress up and gear up for Sampiro de Makati--Sampiro is a corruption of San Pedro or St. Peter, patron saint of the towna grand parade that he hopes will give such
........... To page 5

Kaunlaran No. 40 22 May 2012

Rotary Club of Makati, Inc.

RC Makati golf team 7th in District Tournament of Champions

The Rotary Club of Makati golf team copped 7th place in the District Tournament of Champions held last April 26 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. The tournament was played under the modified stable ford system where points were awarded, depending on the net score per hole. Led by Bryan Cockrells 38 points after scoring a gross 76, the RC Makati team notched a team score of 135 that placed them in 7th place (out of eight teams). Other Rotarians who contributed to the team score were Rodrigo Segura with 37 points, Reggie Nolido with 31, and Chito Cantada with 29. Other RC Makati golfers who played for the Club were Tony Tan, Boy Hilvano, Pepito Bengzon, Dick Upton, and PP Cesar Campos. Rotary Club of Makati West scored 162 points to retain the Tournament of Champions crown which they won last year. The team that RC Makati West bested was runner up Rotary Club of Paranaque Poblacion with 157 points, while the Rotary Club of Makati Buendia fell in

at third with 156 points. The Tournament of Champions was hosted by the Rotary Club of Makati Paseo de Roxas.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB

PHILIP CEA
Phil Filipino Classification: Real Estate Development Proposer: DGN Robert Kuan Chairman Best Western Premier F1 Hotel 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City Taguig City Tel. No.: 928-9888 Fax. No.: 856-2182 Email: fortpalmspring@yahoo.com Residence Address: 865 Sto. Cristo Binondo, Manila Tel. No.: 727-4221 Fax No. 721-0726 Birthday: Anns Name: Anns Birthday: Wedding Anniversary: Aug. 4 Cathy May 14 Aug. 10

BATS staff cool down at Anawangin Cove

The staff of Books Across the Seas (BATS) traveled four hours northeastward of Manila on 12th May for a weekend in Anawangin Cove, a campers paradise tucked away in Zambales (not too far from the disputed Scarborough Shoal/Panatag Shoal). In the group were warehouse helpers past and presentFroilan Atacado, Kelvin Liboon, Alvin Lim, Al Marcial, Reggie Marin and Jonas Roquerowith coordinatorRonnel Dotaro and warehouse supervisor Sally Padilla in the lead. They went island hopping around Anawangin Cove and Capones Island, swam in the pristine waters and lolled around the whitesand beach. Before sitting down for supper and a videoke session at Yong Beach Resort where they spent the night. After breakfast the following day they ran back to the sea for one last swim before heading back to Manila. The BATS staff would like to thank Sec/ Dir. Dean Velasco and BATS adviser Jay
Recap ............................................. from page 4

PROGRAM ADVISORY
NEXT WEEK: 29 May Guest Speaker: PP CESAR CAMPOS Governor Makati Commercial Estate Association

Savage for approving the fund for the outing and the generous donors who made the outing more comfortable and funRtn. Elmer Barquilla of RC Tanauan, PDG Toto Cupin of RC Cebu West, PP Ronald Guzman of RC Tuguegarao, PP Jun Turla of RCM Dasmarinas, Edward Faraon/Orient Freight International, and Mr. Celeo Alvarez, municipal administrator and tourism officer of San Antonio, Zambales, for arranging the trip. Makatis successes. Mr. Anzures invited everyone to join the Sampiro de Makati revelry from early morn on the 26th to the wee hours of the following morning, a spirited attempt to prove that it is more fun in Makati indeed!

established feasts as Ati-Atihan of Kalibo, Sinulog of Cebu, Dinagyang of Ilo-ilo a run for their money, and will hopefully attract tourists from far and near to add another dimension to

Rotary Club of Makati, Inc.

with a pencil and some paper and started to think it through. And as we talked, something caught my eye a drawing shed hung on the door of the refrigerator with a magnet. It was a lovely little drawing of a mother and father and two children, flowers in the background, all of them smiling. And I said, thats beautiful! Where did that come from? And Binota told me who had made it: our grandson Bodhi, who lives with his parents in Sydney, Australia. I got up to have a closer look, and something struck me as familiar not about the drawing, but about the paper. I took it off the refrigerator and turned it over, and saw that our son, an environmental engineer, must have been supplying our grandson with drawing paper because on the back of the picture was a page from a Rotary program book, the staples carefully removed. And what was on that page? Nothing other than one of my own speeches! Well, Binota and I had a good laugh over it, but you know, it made me think. Because it was obvious which side of that paper was the more important and it wasnt the side with my speech on it. Whats important in Rotary isnt what we say. Its what we do, and who we are. And thats what Ive been talking about, all this time, when Ive asked Rotarians to Reach Within to Embrace Humanity. Ive asked you to start at the beginning with yourselves, and with those closest to you your families. Because if were really going to take it seriously, this idea that we can change the world through Rotary, we all have to start by changing ourselves by working on ourselves, by really thinking about everything we do and say and making sure that our actions reflect the people that we want to be. If we want a more peaceful world, we have to begin by living in peace ourselves first in peace within ourselves, in our souls, and then, in our homes, and in our families. In the 2012-13 Rotary year, Presidentelect Sakuji has asked us all to build Peace Through Service. Now, this idea, of building peace through our Rotary service, is something that is so fundamental to us as Rotarians. And you know, its an idea that isnt always that easy to explain to people who are not that familiar with Rotary. You could even say that it is an idea that is sometimes met with some raised eyebrows. Because here we are in Rotary and

Kaunlaran No. 40 22 May 2012

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making the world smaller these days, and how Rotary is more international than ever, but nothing brings those truths home quite like a Rotary convention! Because nowhere in the world will you see quite as many educated, talented, intelligent people staring at their cell phones and counting on their fingers! It might look odd, but whenever I see that, I think, I know what youre doing. Youre trying to figure out what time it is back home. Ive seen a lot of people doing that this week, and youve all had my full sympathies. After this year, I know exactly what its like to stumble off a plane after an 11-hour flight and jump straight into business! The clock on the wall says one thing, your watch says another, youre trying to remember what the clock at home is saying, and your body clock says, I give up! But the energy and excitement of this convention have carried us through. The days have passed all too quickly, as they always do, and soon, well be packing up our bags and our hotel rooms, heading back to the airport, and heading back home to our own families, and our own Rotary clubs. And, of course, Binota and I will be heading home soon as well, in a month and a bit more, back to our home in India, to our own family, and to my own Rotary club at Vapi. This wonderful, incredible Rotary year will draw to a close, and a new Rotary year will begin. I had mentioned on Sunday that it has been a year marked by much continuity and many changes. And we have been privileged to have been always supported by our aides, Julio and Carmen, by our entire family and been privileged to have worked with a very positive Board of Directors and rejuvenated and incredibly efficient Secretariat. Its difficult to find the words to express what this year has meant to me and to Binota. And Ive spent a lot of time over the last few weeks trying to do just that to find those words. How does one sum up, in a few minutes behind a microphone, the experience of a lifetime? Well, as I was wrestling with this question, I decided to do what one should always do, when confronted with an intractable problem, at least if one is a married man I asked my wife. And Binota made me a cup of Darjeeling tea and we sat down in the kitchen

who are we? We are not prime ministers or presidents or army generals. Most of us do not wield any great political power; so how exactly are we going to achieve this lofty goal, of building peace? Well, its a funny thing, you know, how people think about this whole idea of peace. Maybe you could even say that thats one of the biggest obstacles to peace right there, that people dont always understand what peace really is, or where it comes from, and, consequently, how we can get there. Because people sometimes are very black and white in their thinking. The opposite of up is down. The opposite of sick is healthy. The opposite of bad is good, and the opposite of war is peace. Except that the world isnt like that. The opposite of bad isnt always good, and the opposite of war isnt always peace. Because peace isnt something you can get to with an army or governments or treaties or any kind of force. Peace is not just an absence of war. It isnt that simple, and it never has been. You know, one time, a few months ago, I was on my way from the airport in Chicago to my office in Evanston, and I got into a taxicab with a driver from Pakistan well, it seems like most of the taxicab drivers in Chicago are from Pakistan and India. And I dont think I need to tell you too much about how Indians and Pakistanis dont always get along back home, but here we were, me and this fellow from Karachi, driving down the highway together, chatting away about the Midwestern winters and the best places to buy Indian sweets in Chicago. And I said something about how strange it was, how in that neighborhood where all the Indian sweets are, it is a neighborhood where you have Indians and Pakistanis and even a very large number of religious Jews all living together in a few square kilometers, and yet there is no terrorism, there are no hate crimes, you see everyone walking down the street together and shopping together, and somehow this is not bothering anybody! How come, I said, how come we cant do this at home? In our own countries? And when I asked that, the conversation stopped. And I thought, well, I must finally have said the wrong thing but then, after a silence that was probably not nearly as long as it seemed, he said, well, I think the answer is ........... To page 7

Kaunlaran No. 40 22 May 2012

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Rotary Club of Makati, Inc.

up. Then, when you dont give up, they join you. And then, you all win, together. Weve come a long way, and weve learned a great deal, since we first decided that we would eradicate polio. And I could stand here and talk for a long time about all those lessons, about cooperation, about building bridges, about unintended consequences. But if I could summarize everything we have learned since those early days of PolioPlus, so many years ago now if I were asked to give one rule, one direction for success I would be able to do it in only three words: Never give up. Because we never gave up, countless children are alive today, healthy, walking and thriving, all over the world. And because we never gave up, India is now polio-free. And because we never will give up no matter what my brothers and sisters, we will eradicate polio and we are This Close to a polio-free world. PolioPlus is both Rotarys greatest achievement, and the best argument yet that we can achieve a more peaceful world through service. Because no one could ever say that we are eradicating polio alone. We are doing it through cooperation, through trust, through partnerships around the world building connections and bridges among individuals and organizations, no matter how diverse their backgrounds and goals all of them united in the goal of a world free of polio. PolioPlus demonstrates, it proves without a doubt, that no matter what their differences, no matter what their disagreements, people can put them aside. They can come together, talk and plan and work together, when they have a common goal. When that goal is simple and pure and benefits everyone, people can look past even their most deeply held grudges and arguments, and do what needs to be done. When we take people out of the roles that they are used to, when we say, this is a place where we are all equal and we are all in it together, and when everyone around them is taking that attitude as well my friends, you see everything change. This is what I have seen happen through PolioPlus, and I can tell you that as my optimism about polio eradication has grown, so has my optimism about humanity itself. So when we are talking about cultivating peace through Rotary and my brothers and sisters, we must be talking about this we have got to understand what it is that we are

that this is a place where you dont have to fight. Here, people just want to enjoy their lives. And I thought, you know, really, thats what peace is: the ability to enjoy your life. Living in peace means that you can wake up in the morning at home with your family, do your job during the day, have your family together again at night, go to sleep without having to worry about whether there will be shooting on the roads tomorrow, or whether you will be able to walk to the market in the morning, or which child will not go to school because you need her to carry the water from the village pond. My brothers and sisters, that that is when we get peace, when people are able to live their lives, to enjoy their lives, when they dont have to fight just to survive. When people help each other because its the right thing to do. When people who need help are able to find it, and dont have to struggle alone. And that is what we are able to do through Rotary. We are able to go to the places where people are struggling just to survive, and we do what we can to help them struggle a bit less. And whether that means clean water and better sanitation, or setting up more and bigger schools, or just speaking a kind word, or giving a helping hand, we are indeed building peace. My friends, Rotary builds peace. Not with armies, not with treaties, not with debates or elections or governments. Rotary builds peace in a much more real, much more practical way day by day, individual by individual, with every act of service by every single Rotarian. And we have helped to build peace through our single largest and most significant project: PolioPlus. It started out as an incredibly ambitious dream ambitious, but we now know, realistic. Today, there is no longer any question of whether we will eradicate polio; the only question is how soon it will happen. The day that India was declared poliofree, just a few months ago, I could only think of that famous line of Mahatma Gandhi, who said, First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. But for us, in Rotary, that isnt quite right. For us, its been more a matter of, First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they tell you its impossible and you should just give

doing. In Rotary, peace is not an empty word or concept. It isnt some Platonic ideal that we dont expect ever to achieve. Its not abstract in any way. It is real, and we are helping to achieve it, in every one of our clubs, through every one of our projects, in every corner of the world where a Rotarian serves. And we do it with great joy. And we will never give up. Finally, let me ask you a question? What does each one of us seek in life? I bet the word is happiness. Now let me ask you: Could Rotary be the source of that happiness? The law of duality affects human lives, yours and mine. Where there is joy, there is sorrow; with positive we see negative; with heat there is cold; with light there is darkness yes, with love there is hatred. Only if we could find a balance, we could probably seek the emotional situation that we call happiness. I submit that this equilibrium is present within each one of us. As a well known Sufi poet and scholar in the 13th century had said, Inside me there is good news. Others look for good news outside themselves. There dwells within you the power and the spirit that can evoke the energy that you may not realize. You have to reach that inner voice and you can do so, provided you have the hunger for it. You have to be hungry enough to reach within and release the energy which will help you embrace humanity. I believe this is the state we call happiness. And I have just given you the prescription for it. Rotary can help you achieve the happiness in life that you seek. In India, we have a saying which gives a sage advice on life. In Hindi it goes like this: Jab tu Aayo is Jag may, Jag Hase; tu Roye, Kar Karni Aisi, Ki jab tu Jaye is Jagse, tu Hase, Aur Jag Roye. Freely translated, it means: When you came into this world, the world rejoiced and you cried. Live your life such that when you leave the world, the world may cry while you rejoice. Today, as I end, let me just alter that a bit to say, We have had a great time together. Let us all rejoice and be happy. My fellow change makers, my brothers and sisters, Binota and I thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts, for Reaching Within to Embrace Humanity. And we ask you now to embrace your families, embrace your neighbors, your communities, and indeed, embrace all humanity and help build a world of Peace Through Service.

Rotary Club of Makati, Inc.

Kaunlaran No. 40 22 May 2012

RCMakati joins ........................................................................... from page 1

On the evening of the Day 1 on the 6th, they got together for a dinner in a Chinese restrurant hosted by the Rotary Club of Tongkah for their sister clubs, among them RC Makati and our With PRIP Mat Caparas during the Philippine Breakfast common sister club, RC Bukit Bintang. For the Filipino Rotarians and Anns, the 7th began early with the Philippine The RI Convention in Bangkok (6-9 May 2012) was a frenzy Breakfast, of activity, with so many sessions to attend and so many friends to attended by over look up. It must have been doubly busy for the top RI officers on 500, including PP whom the spotlight rested. Rene Benitez & Dinner hosted by Pres. Rene Limjoco & Ann Lu One of them was RIPN Ron Burton who takes over the helm Ann Bettina who of Rotary International on 1st July 2013. So imagine the DGN Robert now reside in Kuans surprise when he received an invite, by email, from PRIVP Sydney. RI Pres. Monty Audenart for a one-on-one meeting with RIPN Ron Burton Kalyan Banerjee during the Convention. PRIVP Monty is aide to RIPN Ron. came too. Also On the 7th, per schedule, DGN Robert Kuan & Ann Yvonne on that day, DGN met RIPN Ron & spouse Jetta. Why the invitation from a top-level Robert & Ann RI dignitary whom he had not met before, asked DGN Robert. RIPN Yvonne met with Ron told him that he was aware that DGN Robert is TRF major donor RIPN Ron Burton and that he will be serving as district governor in RY 2013-2014. He & Ann Jetta.. In wanted to solicit his help in making their year a successful one. the evening, DGN Robert assured him of his solid support. He also took Pres. Rene & Dinner hosted by Rotary Club of Tongkah advantage of the meeting to invite the RIPN to the first-ever national Ann Lu hosted convention of Rotarians from the ten Rotary district in the Philippines dinner at another that is being set for sometime in RY 2013-2014. RIPN Ron in turn Chinese seafood assured DGN Robert that he will make room for the convention in restaurant, his calendar. Somboon, for DGN Robert gave RIPN Ron & Ann Jetta as well as PRIVP the RCM group, Monty & Ann Liz with presents from the Philippines. Before leaving including the Bangkok, PRIVP Monty emailed DGN Robert to thank him for the Benitezes. memento of our friendship made here, and to give him RIPN Rons The last email address. Taking note of the fact that DGN Robert is a club-mate day was heavy of PRID Paing Hechanova, the PRIVP also asked DGN Robert to with speeches, please give my very best to Paing H. When I grow up I would like including the RI Birthday dinner for Ann Terry Tambunting to be just like him! P r e s K a l y a n s DGN Robert also met with PRIP Bhichai well-received closing address. For the RCM group, the day, and the Rattakul, who steered RI as president in RY 2002convention, culminated with dinner hosted by PP Sonny Tambunting to 2003 when DGN Robert was president of RC Makati. celebrate Ann Terrys birthday. Dinner was at a restaurant called Cabbages and Condoms that, according to DGN Robert, served excellent Thai food. They flew back to Manila on the 10th with lots of learnings to On the way out, guests are invited to take a token, not the usual mint candy, but a complimentary condom from one of two boxes marked Democrat apply in future Rotary work and fond memories to remember the and Republican, though the distinction between the two was not clear. Convention and Bangkok by.

DGN Robert meets RIPN Ron Burton