"Because a Rotarian finds happiness in doing service. And I believe a Rotarian’s heart is happiest when it beats for others."

When I received news about my nomination as Governor of our District, it came at a time when I least expected it. So, I asked myself, is it my turn now? A principle we espouse in Rotary came to my mind – “the position   seeks the man.” The call to a higher level of service came strong and hard. So as fate would have it, here I am before you, overcome with delight for the honor and privilege of having been chosen to be your next Governor. “In all humility, I wholeheartedly accept to be your Governor for Rotary Year 2008-2009.

I can hardly suppress the excitement I feel right now for the opportunity to lead our venerable and eminent Rotary District 3830. I feel anxious at times, knowing the great responsibilities that lie ahead. But I am also filled with great expectation. My team of Club Presidents and District Officers has assured me of their full and unqualified support. (May I request Presidents-Elect to stand up to be acknowledged?). All of them armed with hardworking hands, strong, running feet and hearts full of a passionate desire to serve. Because a Rotarian finds happiness in doing service. And I believe a Rotarian’s heart is happiest when it beats for others.

Before I move on to tell you of our Rotary Theme this year, allow me to extend our thanks and praise for Gov. Ato and his Sharing team for their highly commendable achievements this Rotary Year. Sharing team, please stand up to be acknowledged. Let us congratulate them with a resounding applause.

This Rotary Year our challenge from RI President Dong Kurn Lee is to “Make Dreams Real.” As elaborated during our Governors’ International Assembly in San Diego, the primary emphases of Water, Literacy, Health & Hunger will be continued for they remain areas necessitating our help. However, they shall be geared towards the needs and plight of children. Why children you may ask? Because based on statistics mentioned by DK Lee, 30,000 children the world over die every day from illnesses brought about by poor sanitation, malnutrition, lack of basic medicines, vaccines, and mosquito nets, which are all preventable or avoidable causes. One of the most basic ways we can greatly reduce child mortality is clean water. We can get involved in the making of the Bio-sand Filter, a filtration device that’s affordable for Clubs to provide clean water to remote areas of the country. P200k from RC Makati Foundation chair, Conrad Marty (initial seed money) PE Larry Boyer. Details of this project will be made available during our President-Elect’s Training Seminar (PETS) on March 28-30, 2008 at Mimosa Resort and Oasis Hotel, Angeles City, Pampanga. I wish to announce that the Rotary Club of Makati through its foundation RC Makati Foundation headed by AG Conrad Marty, PE Larry Boyer has approved the initial funding P200k to finance the training and transfer of technology of the  Bio sand filter. Let’s congratulate them.

Fellow Rotarians, we are tasked to go out there, seek with our eyes and ears for every opportunity there is to combat these child hazards and save children’s lives. What should we do? We must go to places near or far wherever those hazards to children’s lives may be found; go and extend help no matter how small it may seem; go and build the environment for children to be healthy and strong, to thrive and grow.  This leads me to impart to you my chosen thrust for our District – the Environment. We are all aware of the environmental degradation happening around us. As a consequence, we are experiencing flashfloods, mudslides, dwindling marine life, drying up of water sources essential to life and what is known as Global Warming and climate change.

Did you know that in the Philippines, 95% of old growth forests have been lost to logging over the last century? Did you know that we have consumed 90% of our fish stock over the last 60 years; only 5% of the original 25,000 square kilometers of coral reefs are in ideal condition for sustaining our marine ecosystem. Being a matter of paramount urgency for us and the rest of the world, I would like us to focus some of our attention to this impending global catastrophe, to help in some way arrest the worsening environmental damage we now find ourselves. If we care for our future, we should care to protect our environment and preserve the earth’s limited natural resources. Recycling, proper waste management, water conservation, clean water, reforestration, protection of our seas and marine life are some of the ways we can help.

You can choose a project from the prepared menu of activities of the Haribon Foundation, an organization dedicated to nature and wildlife conservation in the Philippines such as the “Road to 2020” Program which aims to plant 1 million hectares of restored forests by the year 2020. You can also opt to immerse yourselves in the proposed projects of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Philippines whose mission is to protect marine biodiversity and conserve energy and natural resources. One possible project would be the giant Clam Seeding Project for Marine protected Areas, the objective of which is to augment coral reefs.  You could also participate in its “Earth Hour” Project whereby individuals, homes, villages, buildings and entire communities are asked shut off their lights for one hour during the day to create awareness on the importance of energy conservation. Both the Haribon Foundation and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Philippines Initiatives will be thoroughly explained during the President-Elect’s Training Seminar. Whatever protective efforts we embark on now will make a difference in preserving the health of our world. Let us act now while we still have time before it is too late.

None of us may be able to save all the sick and vulnerable children in the world, but we can save some of these children of the world. None of us has the power to save all our precious forests, but we can help save some of the most denuded ones to start a promising growth. Thus, we can take pride in the thought that we can leave a legacy of value to the world, to our children, and to our children’s children that has made our lives so meaningful and fulfilled.

My Rotary family, much has already been accomplished during this Rotary Year. Nevertheless, much more is still to be done because service is a continuing, perpetual moral obligation. All we need to do is build on the fine work already done, enhance them, transform and elevate this work to greater heights. The achievements of the incoming Rotary Year is in your hands and mine. We must not accept anything less than excellence in our journey of service.

Now let me ask you, when we are able to save our children, what do we do? We “DO GOOD!” And when we save and plant trees, how do we feel? We “FEEL GOOD!” That makes you, my Presidents “DO GOOD! FEEL GOOD! REAL GOOD PRESIDENTS!

Spread the magic of your serving touch, my Do Good, Feel Good, Real Presidents!  Let us fill the world with more smiling, laughing children! Let us cover the earth with more mighty beautiful trees! Help me plant the Rotary seed of hope for our future. Let us commit ourselves to making children’s hopes and dreams of a secure, safe, and happy childhood a reality. Because the future of this wide, wonderful world belongs to them. Together we have the power to make this world a happier place.

Fellow Rotarians, love the service you do and do the service you love! For our children, Make Dreams Real! As for ourselves, let’s feel good!