Pass or fail the 4-Way

Test It was with a heavy heart to learn about the squabbling among certain leaders and members of The Rotary Club of Manila (RCM). Recognized as one of the country’s oldest clubs for the biggest names in the Philippine society, the RCM is currently in the middle of a stormy feud. As of this writing, this has reportedly led to the resignations of quite a number of RCM members, including key officials who quit one after the other.

No less than the Rotary International (RI) Oceania Office based in Norwest, Australia already took cognizance of the RCM squabble as reported at The STAR on Nov. 4.

Three days later, the Rotary International sent an “URGENT RESPONSE REQUESTED” email to the leadership of our country’s Rotary national chapter. As coordinator and district support of the Rotary International, Mary Jane Desmond emailed this “request” to Rotary Club District 3810 head, Joyce Ambray who has jurisdiction over the RCM.

“The Philippine Star article Rotary Club of Manila wracked by power play was brought to our attention. It would be appreciated if you could let us know what you know about the disagreement among the RC of Manila leaders and what you have done or are planning to do regarding this. Your prompt attention to this matter would be appreciated,” Desmond wrote.

Being the third highest ranking official of RI Oceania, Desmond is in charge, among other things, of District Dispute Enquiries. These things are being resolved at this level before it goes to the RI mother organization based in Evanston, Illinois.

Todate, as many as twenty or so RCM members, including foreign ambassadors, have resigned. The latest resignations came after RCM membership committee chairman Fausto Preysler himself resigned over questions on the policy and rule of accepting and vetting new members. Preysler is Costa Rica’s honorary consul in Manila and whose family runs Smith Bell & Co. Inc. Naturally, Preysler enjoys the sympathy and support of the diplomatic community.

Preysler tendered his resignation on Oct. 29 after an exchange of angry letters with Rafael “Raffy” Alunan. As the incoming RCM president next year, Alunan complained about the rejection of members he wanted to get into the Rotary. Alunan is the former Tourism secretary of the late president Corazon Aquino and as Interior secretary of the late president Fidel Ramos. After he twice run but lost in his Senate bid in 2016 and 2019, Alunan got elected as the next RCM president vice incumbent RCM president Herminio Esguerra.

It all started from a “confidential” letter dated Oct. 2 that went the rounds of their 200 RCM members Viber chat group. Alunan wrote to Preysler about “allegations” that have reached him that the membership committee vetting the application process has become a “kingdom unto itself,” because of its “exclusionary practice,” and, for its “disdaining guidance from the appointing authority” who is the club president.

Membership to the Rotary is by invitation only and sponsored by any RCM member. Like any other Rotary Clubs here in our country, the RCM members are mostly composed of prominent people: leaders of business, the professions, art, government, sports, military, religion, and all disciplines.

In his response letter, Preysler vehemently denied the accusations against him. Preysler maintained such applications are vetted carefully by meeting applicants via Zoom and requiring them to give a short background about themselves and why they wanted to join RCM.

The RCM was founded in June 1919 when it became the first Rotary Club in Asia.

As of latest count, there are about 900 Rotary Club Districts that have almost half a million total members all over the country.

While I am not a member of the RCM, I feel strong connections with them. Back in the days as a young reporter, I used to cover the regular Thursday fellowship luncheon gathering of the RCM once held at the Manila Hotel. A highly regarded organization, the RCM’s guest speaker for each week is very much watched and covered by the national media. Then RCM moved from one venue to another until a survey on members’ preference picked the New World Hotel in Makati City as their permanent venue.

It brought to mind when then Manila Mayor, ex-president Joseph Estrada was invited to speak before the RCM luncheon fellowship. This is not an Erap joke but the Mayor declined after being told RCM is being held in Makati City.

For a long while, however, the RCM suspended their weekly fellowship luncheon gathering due to the lockdowns following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in our country in March 2020. Eventually, the RCM adapted to the zoom webinar conferencing as the COVID-safe mode of meetings via online.

The eventual lifting of mandatory COVID-19 restrictions enabled the RCM to resume last month but on a “hybrid” mode. It combines both online and in-person, face-to-face, or physical attendance.

Their numbers reduced by resignations, the RCM’s loss of members became gains for the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC). Incidentally, Antonio “Tony” Lopez, publisher and editor-in-chief of BizNews Asia Magazine, is MOPC chairman. Lopez, formerly a board director of RCM, had also resigned. It was not Lopez but the attendance of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the MOPC “President’s Night” last Oct. 5 that apparently drew and attracted the disgruntled RCM stalwarts to jump to the MOPC.

The Rotary Club is described as a non-political and non-religious organization and is supposed to be open to all people, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, or political beliefs. To become a Rotarian, he or she must pass the Rotary’s sacred 4-Way Test:

– Is it the TRUTH?

– Is it FAIR to all concerned?

– Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER

FRIENDSHIPS?

– Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”

So they either pass or fail the 4-Way Test. Once they become Rotarians, they must abide by the motto of “Service Above Self.” The RCM leaders and its members need only to go back to these basic principles to get out of this storm buffeting them.