The gold leaf vol 55 issue 01

Special Edition

THE

GOLD LEAF

CHANGE

IS COMING

vol 55 issue 01

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CONTENT

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Newly inducted President Timothy “Tim” Warden starts off the year with something new - a club theme, independent of the year’s District and International themes.

An editorial about the privelege of serving from Rev. Brennus, one of our newest Rotarians. And like most good sermons, it’s got three points!

A glimpse into the the wild west as our very own Texas cowboy takes over the reigns of responsibility. It’s time to play cowboys and idians, RCSFLU style!

AG JB encourages members to attend district affairs and gives some compelling and practical reasons for doing so.

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The Gold Leaf is the official organ of the Rotary Club of San Fernando, La Union, Inc. It owes its name to a time when the major agricultural product of the province was the tobacco leaf. The image of the tobacco leaf has since been

removed to promote better health. But the name remains for teh sake of posterity.

We’ve gone through the pains of childbirth several times in our long history.

Now we bear witness as one of our daugther clubs experiences her own birth pains.

District Governor Raul takes the gavel given to him by IPDG Mai, and subsequently inducts the officers of the district. Good food! Good mood! It’s an allstar night!

Who is he? Get up close and personal with our President Elect Khen as he talks about superheores and

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Another new member, and already President Nominee, Jerry takes us to Korea as he gives an account of his first ever Rotary International Convention. From Seoul to Wonju, join him in this once in a lifetime experience!

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Editorial G

reetings to my distinguished colleagues in the The Rotary Club of San Fernando La Union.

I have great love and respect for each one of you; and I congratulate you for choosing to commit yourself to another productive year of volunteerism with Rotary, the premiere service organization in the Philippines.

Timothy Warden Club President

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Tim is a Texan cowboy who rode into the Philippine sunset and discovered the view was better from the other side of the world. He now shepherds a church in the City of San Fernando, which now considers him as one of her own.

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On its 58th Induction Ceremony; the incoming Board of Directors and I have chosen the overriding theme for our club this year: “It’s a Privilege to Serve”.

Serving other people should not be seen as a burden or something we do reluctantly, but rather as an opportunity.

Jesus said it best when he brilliantly explained that the pathway up to greatness is to become the servant of all. Rotary’s motto echo’s Christ’s point: “He profits most, who serves best”.

If we believe this, we must realize the opposite is likewise true: if we neglect the opportunity serve, or only serve our own interests, then we downgrade ourselves as irrelevant and miss-out on the greatness God wants us to experience.

Our Rotary club’s purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards, and advance goodwill and peace. In short, we offer people the incredible privilege, (the opportunity), to serve and become an uncommon community leader.

So please let relevant service and purpose-filled fellowship motivate our thoughts, words, and actions.

I look forward to serving you, and serving others with you. Together, let’s Honor God and change the world.

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connect with korea connect with

the world R

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otary brought the world to Seoul, where more than 50,000 Rotarians from over 150 countries met at the KINTEX convention center from May 28 to June 1, convening for the Rotary International’s 107th annual convention.

This year’s theme, “Connect with Korea - touch the world,” came true as Rotary, often described as a “mini-United Nations” because of its global scope and cultural diversity, transformed the area around KINTEX into a kaleidoscope of energy, color and excitement as Rotary members participated in a broad agenda of plenary sessions, workshops and other activities.

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“As a city with a long, rich history and the latest amenities, Seoul is the ideal location for a Rotary convention and a delightful travel destination to explore,” said 2015-16 Rotary International President K.R. Ravindran. “At the Seoul convention, Rotary members will celebrate the joy of bringing the work of Rotary into our communities to be a gift to the world.”

2016

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C O N Although most people referred to the 2016 convention as the Seoul convention, the host city was actually the cit of Goyang.

Accordingly, it was the Mayor of Goyang who welcomed the delegates during the second general session.

Seoul is home to the first Rotary club established in Korea, chartered in 1927. Today, Korea is the fourth largest Rotary club country with 1,616 clubs boasting 62,351 members who support an array of local and international service projects.

During the closing ceremonies, K-pop superstar Psy started of the evening with three stellar performances. However, he stopped during the beginning of his first song, citing that this was the most mellow reception he had ever received. He asked the Rotarians to liven things up - a challenge which the Rotarians heartily met!

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PPOSITE PAGE: Immediate Past Rotary International President K.R. Ravindran and Ann Vanathy stood together facing the thousands of Rotarians who had been gifts to the world before he turned over the responisibilites of the office to RI President John F. Germ.

OP LEFT: PN Jerry Sharpe drew more attention than the actual participants during the daily re-enactment of the changing of the guard at Deoksugung Palace in downtown Seoul. TOP RIGHT: IPP Markst gets jiggy with one of the many mascots roaming the halls of the House of Friendship. ABOVE: President Tim, PP Peter, PP Rey and PN Jerry pose with the members of our sister club, the Rotary Club of Wonju-Jeil at historic Insadong during one of their joint excursions in Seoul.

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Privilege to Serve What is a privilege? It is a favor not given to everybody but to a selected few; a right or benefit that is given to some people and not to others; a special opportunity to do something that makes you proud; and the advantage that wealthy and powerful people have over other people in a society

Brennus Paragas

Service is these and more.

But why is serving a privilege?

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Brennus is currently the chaplain of Lorma Medical Center and is one of the newest members of RCSFLU, Inc. He has since become an active member of the club, embracing the club’s value of “Service above self.”

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1.

Not everybody wants to serve – only those who have a heart and passion to do and give something good to others and help others. Does everybody have that desire in their heart? Does the 100 million Filipinos willing to serve others?

2.

Not everybody can serve – service demands resources in time, health and resources. Again, not everybody have the resources that is needed to serve others.

One may have the heart but if he does not have the funds or the things that need to be given, passion can only go so far.

3.

Not everybody is given the opportunity to serve – Given the chance that you have the heart and the passion to serve and have the resources need to serve, but there is not opportunity to serve or no people to serve, then your willingness and your wealth, remains to be unused potential.

Thus, service is a privilege because this is only experienced by those who have the willingness to serve, the resources to do it and the conditions and people to receive it.

If one is missing, then that privilege will not be given and benefitted by anybody.

Rotary provides these conditions. In fact, being at Rotary is already a privilege in itself. Not everybody can join rotary and each Rotarian present here will agree that he is thankful and proud to be one. It is a privilege to be at Rotary.

Secondly, Rotary provides the needed conditions to experience that privilege which comes in serving others. Rotary has the resources that are needed. We have people who have the heart, the skills and the compassion to help others. We have the funds. We have the people who are just so glad to give to the Rotary Fund, locally and internationally. Moreover, Rotary provide the opportunities that do not come everyday in our lives. Opportunities that we might not encounter if we are not in this organization. Lastly, Rotary, provides the support, both moral and material support, to those who serve in the forefronts in our projects and services.

In fact, Rotary has provided everything we need to experience that privilege in serving others above ourselves that the only reason we could ever fail, is when you do not participate and be counted. They say the saddest thing that could happen to someone is when he is at the end of his life and looks backs and tells himself, I could have done it if only I tried.

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In 1974, Mark Hatfield was touring Calcutta with Mother Teresa and visited the “house of dying.” he saw sick children were being cared for, and the dispensary, where the poor line up by the hundreds to receive medical attention. Watching Mother Teresa minister to these people, feeding and nursing those left by others to die, Hatfield was overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the suffering she and her co-workers face daily. “How can you bear the load without being crushed by it?” he asked.

Mother Teresa replied, “my dear senator, I am not called to be successful, I am called to be faithful.”

Dear Rotarians, let us not miss the privilege that we have in our midst in our times. We are the only ones who are standing in the way of so many accomplishments waiting to be done before us. Though we succeed or not, be famous or not, being recognized of not, it will not be so important. What is important is that we will be faithful to the commitment of service to mankind we all committed to when we first entered the portals of Rotary Club of San Fernando La Union Inc. The privilege is all ours for the taking. Let us not miss it for any reason at all.

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COWBOYS AND INDIANS

PASSING ON A LEGACY J

uly 5 marked the day when IPP Mark lit the peace pipe, signed the treaty, smiled and looked forward to a well deserved future of curry and meditation. He gave President Tim just enough time to get a firm hold of the rope and bear down before the fighting bull that is the Rotary Club of San Fernando, La Union, Inc., speeds out of the opened bucking chute and into the arena that is Rotary Year 2016-2017.

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While real bull riders are required to stay on for only eight seconds, President Tim has to contend with his bucking, twisting, rearing, kicking and spinning bull for a whole year before he can safely dismount.

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Fortunately, he has a sturdy bunch of bullfighters, those rodeo clown whom we affectionately call the board of directors, to help him on his way. And in the stands, the rest of the club stand ready to cheer him on, support his efforts and pick him up should he fall, cheering him on again as he remounts, taking the bull by the horns.

It certainly looks like it’s going to be an interesting year for our All Star President as he, just like Duterte, promised that change is coming. But with a club theme for the year that reminds us that “It’s a Privilege to Serve,” there’s no doubt that it will be a fruitful and fulfilling year as well.

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District Governor Raul looks on as newly inducted President Tim accepts the gavel of responsibility from Immediate Past President Mark

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A Family Affair: A trip to the rodeo

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otel Ariana was turned into a rodeo as our own cowboy, President Tim, took his oath.

REVIOUS PAGE RIGHT: DG Raul looks on as IPP Mark, with a smile of relief, hands over the gavel of responsibility to a confident President Tim. CENTER: The club poses with enthusiasm for the upcoming year with the attending PDGs and DG Raul, ours sister club’s President Jackson Cu. LEFT: Renewal of our long time sister club, the Rotary Club of Manila Centennial from District 3810.

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EFT: Proudly looking on as President Tim takes his oath is wife Bambi and son Zion, along with Bambi’s sister and parents who flew in all the way from Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

BELOW: President Tim poses with several Past District Governors, including IPDG Mai, who’s smile was just as wide as IPP Mark’s.

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DISTRICT AFFAIRS: DON’T WISH FOR IT WORK FOR IT This year, I was tasked by President Tim to chair the District Events committee and I obliged because as the Assistant Governor, I will be attending most if not all District Affairs anyway. This task, inviting members to attend out-of-town affairs, is not so easy to do because it entails spending two things; time and money. District Affairs are mostly scheduled on weekends and considering the commute to and from the venue, chances are you will spend two days for each district affair. Also, district affairs are not cheap. The smallest amount that you are to spend is eight hundred pesos, that is if you don’t eat out.

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That said, why then should we attend district affairs? The following are reasons for attending them:

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1. To get to know your fellow Rotarians better. The drive to and from Subic (where most of the district affairs are held) takes at least eight hours. Thats eight hours of uninterrupted time to get to know your fellow Rotarians.

2. To learn. The only thing constant is change; Rotary is no exception. I have been a member of our club for more than 10 years now and up to now, I still am learning something new about our organization. Just last Rotary year, the Council on Legislation came our with changes in Rotary and we will get to know and implement them over the next couple of months.

3. To enjoy. Our group (the noisy table during meetings) has a common denominator, its triathlon and we agreed that whenever we attend out-of-town affairs we will squeeze in a time for training. For the group of PP Jerry, its mahjong; for Rtn. Nikki’s group, its wine drinking. We may have different ideas of fun, but being out with other groups gives us an opportunity to share our interests with them.

Below is the schedule of District affairs for this Rotary year, I hope that by the end of the year, all 70 members of the club gets to attend at least 1 district affair.

EVENT

SCHEDULE

LOCATION

MDS 1 & 2

23-JUL-16

Vigan

TRF (w/ grant management)

20-AUG-16

Sison Auditorium, Lingayen

TRI-SEM: PR/TTT/RCC

17-SEP-16

Baguio

RYLA

28-30 OCT 16

TRF Banquet

Olongapo

19-NOV-16

ZONE INSTITUTE

2-4 DEC 2016

Baguio Bangkok, Thailand

Christmas Party

10-DEC-16

Candidates Forum and Midyear

21-JAN-17

La Union

Family Day

11-FEB-17

Palawan

DISCON

21-22 APR 17

Subic

RI CONVENTION

10-14 JUN 17

Atlanta, USA

Yearend Review

Area Governor of Cluster 1B

TBA

PP JB, affectionately called BoShort even by members of other clubs in the cluster, is a recent new father who loves to spend time with his daughter Mika. When not making googly faces, he loves to punish himself by being a triathlete, swimming, cycling and running distances that most normal people would call insane. He was inducted as the youngest president of RCSFLU, Inc., where he has been a member for over ten years and is just as passionate about serving as he is about triathlons.

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PP Daniel Bolong III

TBA

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A TASTE OF THE OLD MIXED IN WITH THE NEW

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his year’s Rotary International Convention, held in Seoul, was my first opportunity to actually experience the world wide aspects of Rotary and to be able to mingle with the more than 43,000 Rotarians from more than 150 countries and territories that were attending. We had six members of our Club attend including IPP Peter Paul Nang, our President Mark Singh, and the PE Tim Warden and his family, as well as a PP Rey Bonifacio and our only Korean club member, Sean Lee.

As a new Rotarian in only my second year of membership, it was an exciting and rewarding experience, one that I would highly recommend to any Rotarian. The sheer size of the KINTEX Exhibition complex in Goyang City, a Seoul suburb, was amazing to me as it dwarfs anything I have ever seen before.

There were speakers, workshops, and entertainment going on from morning

until late afternoon every day. The convention booklet of more than 60 pages offered 110 separate sessions in the afternoons on a wide range of very relevant topics.

One of the most impressive parts of the convention was the morning general sessions where speakers of world renown gave presentations on many subjects. These ranged from world leaders like the Secretary General of the United Nations, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and of course a welcome address by both the Prime Minister of Korea (who was the only speaker in the entire convention who chose not to use English) and the Mayor of Goyang City whose welcoming address in English was very sincere and enjoyable. In addition there were leading representatives from various organizations engaged in making the world a better place, or as last year’s

Rotary International President would say, “Being a Gift to the World. These included the President and CEO of the National Geographic Society who spoke on our shared responsibility to explore and protect our planet, the President and CEO of the International Justice Mission working to end slavery in the world in our lifetime, and the CEO of Hope and Homes for Children working hard to eliminate orphanages in the world.

World-wide prize winning speakers included the 2016 Toastmasters International World Champion of Public Speaking who captured our imaginations with the true story of his humble beginnings and his quest to win the world championship several times. The 2016 TED Prize winner

her prize money that will be stocked with millions of space photographs indexed by location where anyone can become an amateur archeologist.

Of course, a Rotary Convention would not be complete without a wide array of Rotary speakers. These included both the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 International Presidents as well has the heads of the Polio Eradication Program and the Rotary Foundation giving history and context to the efforts being expended by Rotarians world-wide.

There were many activities like breakfasts and luncheons that either honored certain groups or allowed groups to have greater opportunities for fellowship. One ticketed event

Artillery full colonel who spent a year in Korea in 1982-1983, commanding an artillery battalion just north of Seoul, in Uijeongbu, I was one of perhaps 100 persons attending the luncheon. We had one actual Korean War veteran who was a Rotarian from the USA. Each of us was presented a gift bag with a convention key chain, two books on the history of Korea, and a nice scarf.

We went to the convention two days early and stayed for two additional days after it was over. We were met at the airport by representatives of our Korean Sister Club, Wonju Jeil on the first evening and driven to our hotel.

On day two we attended a “changing of the guard” at the Deoksugung Palace built in the 14th century. They offer free costumes to dress up in and I donned

Seoul searching in the Land of the Morning Calm I attended was the “Asia Breakfast” where anyone attending from an Asian country could buy a ticket and attend.

There I got to meet for the first time the Philippines only International President, M.A.T Caparas from the Rotary Club of Manila who was RI President in 1986-1987. I also had the honor of meeting, presenting a Club Banner, and having a picture taken with the then International President from Sri Lanka, K.R Ravindran as did our IPP Peter Paul Nang. I was also invited to attend a luncheon sponsored by the Mayor of Goyang City that honored both Korean War veterans and any military personnel that had served in Korea after the war (still technically going on). As a retired US Army Field

a Captain of the Guards uniform and became an instant tourist attraction and many people wanted their picture taken with me. On our first evening four of us attended a free symphonic concert on the Palace grounds.

After opening ceremonies, a lunch, and photo opportunities with our Korean Sister Club at the KINTEX complex, we took a shuttle bus back to our hotel and again four of us attended a ticketed symphonic concert sponsored by the Korean Rotary Organizing Committee.

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(The TED prize is awarded annually to a leader with a creative, bold wish to spark global change through a one million dollar prize). The 2016 winner is a researcher and National Geographic Fellow whose winning idea was “Exploring the Past from Space, the Future of Archaeology” She has discovered that commercially available space photographs can reveal archeological sites unseen by the human eye and by years of land exploration.

She gave the example of Petra in Jordan were thousands of archaeologists have explored and declared everything found that was possible to find – yet her analysis of space photography has revealed a whole new temple complex.

She is creating a web site with part of

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ur Sister Club insisted that we check out of our Seoul hotel and come to the city of Wonju for our last two days and nights. They met us with a bus early on the last morning and we checked out and loaded our baggage before being taken to KINTEX for the last day. After a two hour closing ceremony filled with speeches and wonderful entertainment, we loaded on the bus about 8:00pm for the hour and forty minute drive southwest. We ate at a nice rest stop and were all in bed before midnight.

Our Korean sister Club was gracious and generous throughout our visit as we were not allowed to buy so much as an ice cream bar. Members of the Club rotated hosting duties and spending time escorting us to various activities. It was a wonderful experience for me all around, highlighted by fellowship with our own Club members, meeting and exchanging business cards with Rotarians from all over the world, and seeing and hearing not only the sights and sounds of Seoul, but of Wonju as well. I will certainly cherish the experience of my first Rotary International Convention and I am already registered for the next one in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 10-14, 2017.

Gerald W. Sharpe President Nominee District Chair for International Relations

PN Jerry joined RCSFLU, Inc. in October 2014, just five months after moving to the Philippines from the USA. At the age of 72 he was full of life and had a cando spirt that was infectious in his Club and community. He volunteered to help in many ways and quickly became a valued member of Rotary. He will be President in 2018-2019. This year the District Governor asked him to head the District Committee on International Relations. He was selected as the Club’s Rotarian of the Year the past two years and this year he was selected as a District “Outstanding Rotarian”. He has been generous not just with his time, but his money as well becoming a Paul Harris Fellow +6, a member of the Paul Harris Society, and a TRF Benefactor in the short time since he joined.

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The next day we spent the morning at a beautiful botanical garden called “The Garden of the Morning Calm”, one of the biggest and best such gardens in all of Asia. In the afternoon we visited an island in the middle of the Han River called the Naminara Republic. It is a nature preserve with towering trees and a multitude of beautiful walking paths. That evening we had a farewell dinner and exchanged gifts and banners, before visiting a very nice gift shop operated by one of the Club’s members. On our last day we checked out of our hotel and spent the morning at the largest Buddhist temple complex in Korea.

The Guinsa Temple serves as the religious center for two million Cheontae Buddhists.

It is relatively new as the ancient temple complex was burned to the ground during the Korean War. Reconstruction started in 1966 and building continues today. The complex is on the side of a steep mountain valley with some 25 large and small

buildings arrayed on the hillside. The climb to the top is a challenging physical exercise.

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WHEN DAUGHTERS GIVE BIRTH

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or the information of our newer Rotarians, our club is called the mother club because we were the first chartered club in the Province of La Union. Since then, we have daughtered five other clubs in the cluster. Most prominent among them now is the Rotary Club of Metro San Fernando La Union, a club we’re proud to say is excelling as one of the top clubs in the district. It’s a club that also has an interesting history intertwined with our own.

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ue to the amendment of the 1989 Council of Legislation to accept lady members in Rotary, there was increased pressure within all districts worldwide to update their club memberships to include women who would be assets to their clubs. As you can very well notice, our club, until today, is still exclusively and all male club. However, owing to the fact that we were the first club in the province, we wanted to make sure that there was an avenue for women who were executives, professionals and businesswomen to become members of Rotary International.

The project was initiated during the Rotary Year 1994-1995, during the term of PP Reynaldo B. Bonifacio, whose vision was the organization of another Rotary Club in our, then, town.

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arch 16, 1995 marked the planning session at Villa Estrella Beach Resort by the three major proponents Pres. Rey Bonifacio, DGSR Andy Astom and Sec. Canor Salvador, and on March 20, 1995 the organization meeting was held at the Sea & Sky Restaurant and the RC of Metro San Fernando LU was born, with RC of San Fernando LU as its sponsor. On May 11, 1995 they elected their charter officers.

Among the 30 charter members, six officers were elected: Ampie Jones as Charter President; Rose Bistoyong as Charter VicePresident and Vivian Bedrijo, Gigit Farolan, Berns Balcita and Dory Decena as Charter Directors.

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n September 29, 1995, the induction and presentation of the newly chartered club - the Rotary Club of Metro San Fernando was held at Cresta del Mar Hotel and Resort, Paringao, Bauang, La Union. Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was then a Senator was the guest of honor and speaker. PDG Nelson Yuchongtian was the Inducting Officer and PP Jun Mangaoang was the president of the sponsoring club - the Rotary Club of San Fernando, La Union, Inc.

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wenty years later, the Rotary Club of Metro San Fernando has flourished to become one of the premiere clubs in the district, blazing a trail of honorable accomplishments and worthy accolades.

And now, we, the Rotary Club of San Fernando La Union, Inc. reach yet another level as club as we are now considered a grandmother club. Our daughter club has given birth to their own daughter club, the newly inducted Rotary Club of Metro Rosario La Union.

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ccording to PP Noel Lazo, one of the major proponents of the chartering, the whole thing started when they had a service project, a medical, dental, optical and legal assistance project, in Rosario on August 15, 2015. They heard several comments resulting from that project that there were possibly some members of a long defunct Rotary Club who were residing in the town. RC Metro also had another regular activity in the town where PP Noel is the parish priest – the supervision of a Sunday school every other Sunday, where members would attend and also donate religious books for the children.

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fter mass one Sunday, some of those rumored former Rotarians approached IPP Jhun Licos and signified their intention in returning to Rotary.

The members of RC Metro encouraged them to call new members to form a new club if they really were interested, and following a series of meetings, the new club of RC Metro Rosario La Union was born. Spearheaded by IPP Jhun and PP Noel, other proponents were PP Myrna Morales, PP Sheila Dacanay, PP Lina Hizon, PP Emma Guani and current Presidnet Eleber Jacla. The new club received their charter in May, and the new officers headed

by President Armenio Manangan, were inducted on June 10, 2016.

SHOUT OUTS FROM RC METRO SFLU After 20 years as a club, we were blessed to organize RC Metro Rosario. Our maturity as a club bore fruit. Like any parent, it is fulfilling and challenging to nurture them in their journey as a fledging club. Our guidance and high standard of service must serve as an inspiration for them. With God’s help and the tested unity of all, will ensure that humanity will be served by both clubs.

PP Minda Smith , Charter Member Overwhelming! I feel responsible for them! – Feeling new parent talaga.

President El I was so happy because it was formed during my term! A very exciting time since the newness of the experience left an exhilarating feeling as if my heart was beating outside my body (I can now relate to a woman who just gave birth!). As a Club, the mixed-emotion reinforced us to exert our best efforts and offer our daughter club love & service… RC Metro is not just our daughter club, she is as a gift to the world!

IPP Jhun Licos

Proud and pressured (in a good way)…. We need to grow stronger so because we have a daughter now looking up to us. I dream they would be an outstanding club 1 day.

PP Dada Raquepo

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GOODFOOD GOODMOOD C

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elebrating the induction of District Governor Raul Peralta and the rest of the district officers of the All Star Team on July 1, 2016 at Subic Freeport Zone, Olongapo, Pampanga.

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WHO IS HE? ur President Elect, Khenrik Tan, or KT, recently finished a degree in marketing management from the University of Santo Tomas and is currently taking his masters degree in marketing communications at De La Salle University in Manila. When asked why he chose that course, he said that he discovered he had a passion for it since marketing, which had a wider scope than what he though of as just sales, basically runs the world! And who doesn’t want to run the world? When not sharpening his tools in La Salle to take over the world, he manages KM6, a distribution business in partnership

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Each issue, we will endeavor to bring more insight into the minds and workings of our fellow Rotarians. This issue, we delve into the mind of PE Khenrik Tan, who will be inducted as our youngest president dutin RY 2017-2018.

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superheores, something like that. I always wanted to be a superhero when I was a kid.

I’m a fan of series and I’m currently watching Gotham. I’m into fantasy,

None... Still looking... (laughs)

Q: So as a kid, who were you as a superhero?

interesting thing about you that people wouldn’t normally know about you from reading your resume?

Well uhhh.... I could say that I’m a jack of all trades. I really love to learn so I did a lot from sports to eductaion and uhhh... certain type of businesses. Basically, I tried to learn everything that I can.

Q: What hobby are you passionate with right now?

Who was I? Well, as a kid, I basically associated myself with Goku. He was my favorite character as a kid...

I saw myself as weak before and small, but then when I had the passion to learn, to be a hunter, to explore new stuff and eventually grew up. Right now we’re into I imagined to be like him... triathlon with a couple of my strong. friends.... Golf... once or twice a week.

Q: Well now that you’re grown up, which superhero do you associate yourself Q: Who would win a fight with? between Spiderman and Batman?

Q: Would you say you’re more Complicated.... uhhh... of a hunter of a gatherer?

Spiderman... Well Batman is... maybe... Captain America.

Well, basically, I want peace. uhhh... when you take off all More of a hunter... uhhh because I like to explore new I don’t like arguments. Most his equipment he is nothing... stuff and take risks. That’s it. of all, I like everything to be Well he has the personality.

But Spiderman, he has solved diplomatically.

Q: What was the last thing everything supernatural. you saw on TV recently and Q: So who is the Black Widow to your Captain America? why did you watch that?

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Q: What’s the most

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with the Universal Robina Corporation. He is also spearheading a new real estate development in San Fernando, which looks like it’s going to turn into a neighborhood of Rotarians as is we didn’t get enough of each other already.

T is the younger of two siblings. His brother, older by 6 years, often bullied him when he was younger. But he describes it as “it was fun!” They are much closer now, he says. KT was born and bred in Baguio City, leaving only when UST called him south for college.

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This is KOREA

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’ve been to Korea several time during the past three years, but my exposure to Korean culture goes back to my best friend during childhood, who later became the best man at my wedding. Looking at Korea from the outside, it’s a vibrant mix of new and old as rapid development of new tachnoligies mingle with culture and traditions that go back thousands of years. Somehow they’ve made it work.

Accepting that change must come, they embrace new things with a hungry appetite and yet mange to tame it down to fit into a mold that has shaped them from ages past. I’ve seen a digital presentation where images were shot from giant projectors on the facade of the old palaces medling past and present. And amongst the spectators were young men and women, donning traditional clothing yet carrying tripods and selfie sticks.

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orea is also kimchi, and barbecue, and spicy and sweet foods all rolled into one. Koreans are passionate about food, and to them, truly you are what you eat. It’s hard to find obese Koreans since to them, everything you put in your mouth is considered medicine for the body. So even normally unhealthy western foods are tempered with Korean influences. Care to have a spicy shrimp burger with kimchi at a Burger King?

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K

orea is also all about fellowship. Hang around with our sister club and you’ll soon realize that above all, Koreans value friendship, loyalty and the connections amongst kindered souls that transcend even culture and languages... especially where there is good kimchi and soju!

selfies from Seoul

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PARTNERS

THE GOLD LEAF

IN SERVICE

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THE GOLD LEAF

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change. is it really coming?

R

THE GOLD LEAF

ecently, the words “change is coming” has been echoing through the minds of millions of Filipinos as the rallying call to elect Rody Duterte as President of the Repbulic of the Philippines. It also seems to be the rallying call of our club, as definitely we will be seeing a lot of change come to our club within the next three years. Some of these changes may rattle our club, and some may not like the changes. But one thing is certain, it will come. Heraclitus once said that “change is the only constant in life,” and we have to learn to embrace it.

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One of the more notable changes to our club is right here in this very publication. On our 55th volume of publishing the Gold Leaf, we have finally come into the digital age to produce a fully digital publication. While some may argue that nothing beats the feel of holding something printed in you hand, or that it doesn’t take an internet connection to read a printed magazine, it certainly does offer a lot of positives that far outweigh the loss of a physical copy.

For one thing, it can now be as interactive as we want it to be. The hyperlinks on the previous page alone are better advertising value to our partners in service. And certainly, with an online presence, the Gold Leaf can now reach new demographics of readers which we never thought possible. We can reach out to Rotarians all around the globe and interact with them as well as we collaborate and learn about Rotary from their side of the world. So stay tuned for articles from across the globe!

Aside from the inevitable changes that come with the onset of newer and newer technologies that will shape our world, perhaps the questions we want answer to are those that ask what kind of changes the new Council of Legislation will bring. The council meets only every three years. and as the previous three terms brought a cycle to an end, this new cycle is heralded by many changes in the way Rotary is run, allowing for more flexibility and freedom. But are we ready for those changes? For a club that has set the trend for many things in the district over the years, we are also one of the clubs that tend to hold on to traditions very tightly. So while some of the less radical changes are happening to the club now, the questions must still be asked. For those things which many think are the issues that define that club itself, is change really coming?

Almost every member of the club knows two things about PP Peter: One, he loves to eat! And boy can he eat! And two, he’s passionate about photography. Take a trip with him anywhere and you’re sure those two things are always a constant.

PP Peter Paul Nang

Club Secretary Editor-in-Chief, The Gold Leaf

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Individuals and nations owe it to themselves and the world to become informed.

- Paul Harris -