The Club Torch September 2021 Edition

THE CLUB

TORCH Official Newsletter of Makati (Sports) Club, Inc. 3rd Edition September 2021

Makati (Sports) Club, Inc.

Board of Directors

President

Dr. Jaime C. Laya

Vice President; Construction Committee Chairman

Corporate Secretary; Planning & Development Committee Chairman

Mr. Rogelio M. Guadalquiver

Atty. Bernardo C. Virtucio, Sr.

Treasurer Finance Committee Chairman

House Committee Chairman

Mr. Renato C. Valencia

Mr. Ismael L. Melendres, Jr.

Membership Committee Chairman

Socials Committee Chairman

Mr. Carlos Simon T. Casas

Ms. Alicia L. Cinco

HRD Committee Chairman

Sports & Games Commiittee Chairman

Atty. Gregorio O. Bilog III

Mr. Lorenzo T. Lichauco

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September 2021

Benevolence in the time of uncertainty As we struggle to lead normal lives in the midst of this current health crisis, we try to understand the uncertainty that has befallen our country. Unemployment is on the rise again because of the pandemic.

Corruption is rampant and aggravates inequality and poverty. Businesses are faltering due to the lockdown measures. People need our help. People yearn for comfort, and people long for hope.

In this third issue of the Torch, we focus on the generosity of our members who shared their time and resources to uplift our deprived employees. Certainly, our members still give us the optimism and the confidence to continue despite the bleak outlook that we are facing.

In this critical moment of our lives, we need to do our part as members of society to rally behind a common goal - a goal to improve ourselves and other people by helping them through the resources that we have and the gift of friendship and time.

Someone once said that, “A person’s most useful asset is not a head full of knowledge but a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen, and a hand willing to help others”. And, indeed, it rings true now more than ever.

In this issue Board of Directors

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1

Benevolence in the time of uncertainty

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2

Club holds first online induction Ceremony

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3-4

45th Ceremony goes hybrid

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5-6

ANPC holds urgent meeting

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7

Club Presidents stands behind ANPC

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8

MSCI gets safety seal and MICE Accreditation

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10

MSCI ties up with Steveston Pizza

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11

Construction

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12 to 16

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Makati (Sports) Club, Inc.

Club holds first online Induction Ceremony

New members were inducted on April 30, 2021 through an online ceremony organized by the Membership Committee, in coordination with the Socials Committee, headed by Atty. Simplicio Virtudazo, Jr. Mr. Eduardo Francisco, the Club President, and, Mrs. Alice Cinco, Membership Committee Chairwoman, gave welcome speeches to greet and warmly receive the new members. Some directors also attended the event virtually.

Much to the new members’ delight and to spice up the event, a virtual entertainment led by Jasmine Fitzgerald, Jon Joven, and Cris Pastor of the Love Project mesmerized the audience with their mellifluous voices and amazing performances.

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September 2021

The new members who attended the virtual Induction Ceremony: 1. Vera P. Acosta

15. Lisette L. Mangonon

2. Serafin J. Alleje III

16. Tetsuya Nonaka

3. Raul S. Buan

17. Yvonne Pascual

4. Cecilia A. Cabangon

18. Fiona Jean Philipps

5. Alejandro A. Caeg

19. Cynthia L. Picazo

6. Rossano Carbungco

20. Aaron David C. Qui

7. Jung Min Cha

21. Marie Antonette B. Quiogue

8. Mohamad Khalig Q. Dimaporo 22. Salazar, Jayson T. Salazar 9. Pauline C. Feria-Darre

23. Sigmund Homer S. Samson

10. George S. Go

24. Meynardo T. Talens

11. Mark Anthony Gutierrez

25. Evangeline C. Tan

12. Allison M. Jackson

26. Leonardo Tan Jr.

13. Ma. Juliana Javellana

27. Tuazon, Joseph R. Tuazon

14. Maria Lourdes G. Lindo

28. Juan Bernardo Z. Yulo Courtesy Member Susan Grace V. Filamor

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Makati (Sports) Club, Inc.

45th Club Anniversary goes hybrid To commemorate the club’s 45th club anniversary which coincides with the country’s Independence Day last June 12, 2021, the Board of Directors led by the new President, Dr. Jaime Laya, directors, and the MSCI management held a Security Force Parade and Flag Raising Ceremony.

Members and staff assembled virtually and physically and different activities were organized such as:

• GREEN MAKATI SPORTS virtually led by Mrs. Alice Cinco and Mr. Renato Valencia. Mr. Jorge Buenaventura, who donated a rare native tree with white plate-sized flowers, attended the event physically

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September 2021

• WORK FROM THE CLUB led by Mr. Jorge Buenaventura showcased the club’s stronger WIFI internet hotspots like the veranda, patisserie, pool side, and log cabin.

• MEET THE STAFF held at the Log Cabin and headed by Atty. Gregorio Bilog, HRD Committee Chairman, and Ms. Lhen Nisperos, Union Club President, which recognized exemplary employees who epitomized diligence and perseverance in their respective work.

• CLUB FAMILY PANTRY held at the Sports Pavilion and is the highlight of the celebration. This initiative provided free items to the staff such as rice, canned goods, veggies, face masks, and used clothing.

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Makati (Sports) Club, Inc.

ANPC holds urgent meeting Undoubtedly, the current health crisis is a devastating blow to almost all businesses and has been especially wreaking havoc to the sports and country club operations and sales for almost two years now. With the endless lockdowns, quarantine measures, and strict guidelines, the sports, membership, and country clubs cannot fully operate and function. The clubs are now struggling to make ends meet and the employees are now trying to eke out a meager living.

The Association of Non-Profit Clubs (ANPC) recently held an online meeting sponsored by MSCI which tackled the instability of the operations of all the sports, membership, and country clubs in this time of pandemic. Due to the intermittent lockdowns and strict quarantine measures, their operations are now on the brink of collapse and should be given assistance just to keep afloat.

With the imminent threat facing the operations of sports, membership, and country clubs, the Association of Non-Profit Clubs, has already submitted a letter to the IATF, DOT, DTI, DILG, and DOH to ask them to reconsider their guidelines and to allow all the clubs to operate.

The letter also stressed the fact that clubs are generally safe, and health and safety protocols have been put in place to protect the members and employees against COVID 19. Granting the ANPC’s requests would mean that the clubs can continuously support the employees who also need to sustain their families’ necessities.

To date, ANPC is still awaiting the response and the decision of the concerned agencies.

Some of the members who attended the virtual meeting are Mr. George Salvador, General Manager of Makati Sports Club, Atty. Dot Gancayco, President of Celebrity Sports Club, Antonio Chua, President of Quezon City Sports Club, and Hans Neukom, General Manager of Palms Country Club, Mr. Ruben Encinas - GM, Royal Tagaytay Country Club, Mr. Arturo Tibay - GM, Celebrity Sports Club Ms. Angeline Villaruel - GM, Philippine Columbian Association.

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September 2021

Club President stands behind ANPC In support of the Association of Non-Profit Clubs (ANPC), Dr. Jaime Laya, MSCI President and esteemed member of the club, wrote an article for the Manila Bulletin to express his insights about the ANPC‘s stand against the restrictions on sports and country clubs, and to appeal to the government to ease quarantine measures in club operations.

The article appeared in the Opinion-Editorial section of the Manila Bulletin dated September 6, 2021 and carried the title ‘Coping with COVID, ECQ and MECQ’.

Here is the full article: Coping with COVID, ECQ and MECQ Wala Lang Metro Manila is under MECQ (Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine) until Sept. 7. With millions of Metro Manilans living and commuting cheek by jowl, let’s pray MECQ works and no further extensions are needed.

Meanwhile, gatherings are not allowed and one can jog, run, or bike only within one’s barangay or subdivision. There’s curfew from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. and you must stay home if you’re over 65 or under 18, or if you’re sick or pregnant.

Allowed to operate at full or partial capacity are hospitals, government, grocery stores, pharmacies, markets, banks, media companies, BPOs, construction companies, internet sellers, property lessors, and other enterprises providing essential goods and services.

Activities considered less important are prohibited under Section (3) 5 of the IATF Omnibus Guidelines for the Implementation of Community Quarantine. These include bowling alleys, outdoor sports courts, indoor sports courts including gyms and swimming pools, venues for meetings and conferences. Unless there has been an amendment, however, personal care services, including beauty parlors, and indoor dine-in services and al fresco dining are allowed after Aug. 31, 2021 per IATF Resolution No. 134 s.

2021 dated Aug. 19, 2021.

While these activities are obviously less vital than ensuring food, shelter, and clothing, a large number of men and women depend on them for a living. Rather than blanket prohibition, selective implementation would speed up economic recovery and reduce hardship among many.

The Association of Non-Profit Clubs, Inc. (ANPC) sent an appeal to IATF on behalf of its 17 member clubs, citing the following: • Clubs employ thousands of low-income earners who even in normal times live hand-to-mouth— waiters, cooks, housekeepers, trainers and ballboys, caddies, umbrella bearers, gardeners, sports masseurs, as well as personnel of service providers for laundry, security, janitors, and so on.

• The lowest earners have been the worst victims of the pandemic. They are the most vulnerable, doing no-work no-pay jobs, first to be laid off or asked to report part-time. Commuters from Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan have little take-home pay after bus fare.

• In return for their monthly dues, members can only order take-out food for which they pay anyway.

Many members have therefore stopped paying dues or let go of their memberships. Furthermore, food takeout revenue does not even cover kitchen cost.

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Makati (Sports) Club, Inc.

• Repair and maintenance (forget about capital expenditures) suffer with reduced income. All the while, clubs pay taxes and provide emergency assistance to workers when they or family members get sick or die.

• Clubs have been the first to be closed and the last to be allowed to open. After 17 months of hardship, they and even their club employers may not last much longer.

• Sports clubs, country clubs, and golf clubs are safe and are not virus spreaders. Indeed, they are safer than government and private offices, construction companies, BPOs, and manufacturers, where the work environment is often enclosed and more risky than the clubs’ spacious and open-air sports facilities.

I would add that COVID-19 victims are easily fatigued, find it difficult to breathe, and can’t taste or smell.

I doubt if they can even think of swimming, playing tennis, or eating out.

Most club members have been vaccinated by this time and all who enter—members, employees, registered guests—have to pass a temperature and possibly other checks. Once in, all they do is eat, hold meetings, and exercise—golf in golf clubs and in others, tennis, squash, badminton, bowling, swimming, billiards, gym, jog. No outsiders are allowed except registered guests. Risky walk-in strangers are verboten. With social distancing and other safety protocols, members, and staff are protected.

Clubs have to cope not only with Covid-19 but also with all the Qs. Allowing them to operate will help relieve hardship and misery among thousands—workers and their dependents alike—without being a menace to public health.

Club extends help to distressed employees Mother Teresa once said “Helping Hands are better than Praying Lips.” Truly, people are in dire need of succor just to survive in this time of pandemic. People are struggling. Some are experiencing emotional distress. And most are languishing in hunger and scarcity of resources.

As a way of helping our staff and extended families which include the ballboys and trainers, generous members who avidly play tennis extended financial assistance.

Furthermore, regular employees were also given half of their 13th month pay as a way to defray their expenses during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). This will be a big help and will go a long way to shoulder their necessities.

Indeed, altruism does exist in the midst of these trying times and uncertainties.

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September 2021

MSCI gets safety seal and MICE Accreditation After undergoing a thorough inspection, the club has now been given a safety seal certification from the City Government of Makati and a Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) Accreditation from the Department of Tourism (DOT).

With the certification and accreditation as feathers in our cap, the club will have a 10% additional seating capacity on top of the mandated seating capacity implemented by the government.

It is still imperative, however, for members, employees, and guests to wear face masks and face shields and to observe proper physical distancing at all times.

Online Ordering launched at the Club As a commitment to improve our service to all members, the club has recently launched Online Ordering which will provide a system to order items in a more convenient, safer, and faster way.

This system is purposely created to give them another suitable and hassle-free option to order food items from the club without the threat of COVID 19.

Members can just access the form through viber and website and fill out the necessary information before ordering. Receipts will also be given through viber. They can get their items via drive thru, pick-up or delivery.

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Makati (Sports) Club, Inc.

MSCI ties up with Steveston Pizza The club which recently tied up with Steveston Pizza, is now offering mouth watering pizzas that will definitely satisfy your cravings.

Aside from using the finest and high quality ingredients, they also offer a variety of flavors like the Caveman, Marguerite, and the Blue Pizzas.

Steveston Pizza which originated in Richmond Canada started with only two branches here in the Philippines – UP Town Center and Corinthian Gardens. It has been operating in the Philippines for three to four years now and is currently managed by Richard Go.

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September 2021

Construction The club’s Repair and Maintenance Department has been working tirelessly to maintain the upkeep of the club for years now. As we venture into the new normal sooner or later, people will hanker for well maintained and spotless facilities which can encourage more members and guests to visit the club.

Beautification and cleaning at the back of log cabin.

Repainting of Zobel Dining Room

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Makati (Sports) Club, Inc.

Installation of new ceiling fans at the Al fresco Veranda Dining Area.

Repainting of stairs

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September 2021

Removal of worn out gutter and repainting of board room outside wall.

Repair and repainting of ceiling boards of Salcedo, Legaspi and Urdaneta function rooms.

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Makati (Sports) Club, Inc.

Repainting of Infirmary

Repainting of Veranda Wood Planks

Repainting of entrance door of Men’s locker, Ladies locker, Beauty parlor and Infirmary.

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September 2021

Repainting of ceiling, hallway of function room FGHI

Installation of Awning at the Indoor Tennis Courts

Repainting of concrete staircase from Lanai to Veranda

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Makati (Sports) Club, Inc. L. P. Leviste corner Gallardo Streets, Salcedo Village, Makati City, 1227 Philippines