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Nov. 10, 1999 |
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What Are We in Power For?
By
Dennis O. Valdés
Well, it certainly is good to be back here in Manila, traffic and all. So what if the
weather in Michigan was still warm enough to play golf in shorts? So what if I actually
got to play four days of golf before the weather turned freezing? So what if the golf was
tremendous? There's still nothing like coming home to the polluted, car-infested city we
all call home.
The golf in Michigan was very COLD, compared to the wonderful sunshine
we had during the President's Cup at The Country Club. Congratulations again to the
winners - Eddie Boy Romualdez and Mon Mayuga. As for Bet Espiritu, who would have won the
tournament had he already been inducted, let's get that formality done soon! Congrats also
to Baby Rotarian Rico Tan, who so ably took over the organizing chores from Sports
Chairman Dindo Litonjua. (Rico upheld the tradition of the organizer not winning the
tournament by shooting a 10 on Hole 9, when a double par would have won the tournament for
him.) As for my prediction that I might win the leg? No chance...
I checked with Sec. Al as to what happened last Wednesday, and he
reported "we had one of the shortest breakfast meetings yesterday. We started on time
and the meeting was done by 8:40 AM. Classification talks were given by George Lagos and
Eddie Boy Romualdez. They were given 5 minutes each and they kept their end of the
deal." So my second prediction last week - that Baby Rotarian Raffy Ocampo would give
the Classification Talk - was again way off base!
Furthermore Al continued, "Migs and I had an enjoyable round with our sister club
from Yamagata-East. More on this in the next issue of Pagkakaisa." I guess if you
look up "taciturn" in the dictionary, there's bound to be a picture of Al next
to it. Also, my third prediction from last week, that Masao Takeda of Yamagata-East would
attend the breakfast meeting, was again totally wrong.
Three things to note from the above. First, since Al sends me email to
keep me informed, so I may no longer need to be present at future meetings. Second, since
his report was grammatically correct, I have obviously used Word's Grammar Checker to
improve it. Last, when I read through my last week's column and see how I made such lousy
predictions, I obviously have no future as a fortuneteller. So far, on the prediction
scoreboard, my only triumph has been predicting that Tessa would come to the Ann's Day,
which is still sort of a record in itself.
When I arrived, I immediately checked the Pagkakaisa issue and saw that
it was a beautiful issue, with full color pictures again! The major complaint appears to
be the missing Rotary Ann Lifestyle article. According to Tessa she was all set to send in
her article, but there was no typist available, so an Executive Decision was made to
postpone it to this week's issue na lang. Who could that Executive have been, I wonder,
because it certainly wasn't me!
I also got a copy of the Inquirer last Halloween, which featured First
Lady Tessa's article on our Halloween Party! According to Tessa, the best part of the
article is that the pictures all came out clearly, especially the one of Coch holding the
Alvin face mask. I'm sure you all liked it - extra copies are available, so just ask me.
Also in Pagkakaisa was the List of Committees, which is great, because now everyone has a
Committee that they can work on. I encourage all Committee Heads to meet with their
members this week and talk about what projects they will have for the year.
The foremost Committee Head on the spot for this week is PP Bobby Chang, of our District
Events Committee. PP Bobby is the Chairman for the Alay Lakad 1999 - which will be held
this Sunday, November 14. How many are planning to go? Will the members of the Committee -
PP Vince Villafuerte, Tony Yap and Spencer Say - take the lead in encouraging a full
participation from the club?
With so much happening to the club even when I'm away, most of you are
probably saying I needn't have bothered to come home! Well, give me a break. This November
is going to be a typically busy Rotary month. And I'm sure VP PKC is in no hurry to take
over yet. Especially because his committee, the 4th Paul Harris Cup Committee, is just
getting into full swing for their big project this coming April 2000. Let's give him our
full support!
Meanwhile, it's great to be back so I can enjoy my breakfast!
PS - Pasingit news: the RVC National Convention was last Monday and Tuesday at the PICC.
At dinner were IPP Migs, PE PKC and moi. Naturally, all we did was be our usual irreverent
selves.
Also, this week our Rotaract Club is in Baguio, holding their
Leadership Seminar and Induction. The Inducting Officer, who is driving up from Manila and
spending the week with our 40 girls and guys, is very reliable and always supportive Youth
Service Dir. Jake Uichico.
And last Saturday, we were a co-sponsor at an Anti-Dengue Seminar at
which over 90 participants attended. (Only one of which was from RCMA - my "mon
presidente" himself, the most active Assistant Governor - Miguel P.) |
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