Lifestyle Tourism Award for Philippine Star’s Joanne Rae Ramirez

CEBU, Philippines - The Rotary Club of Manila (RCM), established in 1919, is the first Rotary Club in Asia and the biggest in the Philippines. The members meet regularly every  Thursday  at the prestigious  Manila Polo Club. Like in all other Rotary clubs, its general objective is to develop fellowship and understanding among the business and professional men in the community. It also adheres to its basic ideal of service, which is helpfulness to others.

Being the premier service club, RCM has had an exceptional record of leadership in service to the community. It has established various projects covering the whole range of the five avenues of Rotary service, which include strengthening fellowship, expanding the club’s humanitarian reach around the globe, practicing high ethical standards, improving lives in its community and  the newly added category –  New Generations, which emphasizes service to youth and young adults and tapping younger resources as future Rotarians.

Through the relentless and selfless efforts of its dedicated members, RCM has established several laudable organizations such as the Boy Scouts Movement, Philippine Band of Mercy, Philippine Cancer Society, several school and community-based Rotaract, and Interact youth clubs and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Aside from these praiseworthy organizations, the club   likewise pioneered several foundations to include the Philippine Rotary Pacemaker Bank Foundation, RCM Eyebank Foundation, Sagip-Kabataan (Save the Children) Foundation and TOWER (The Outstanding Workers of the Republic).

Apart from these impressive undertakings, the club embarked on another project ten years ago and established the Tourism Awards through the efforts of   dedicated and hard-working philanthropist Rotarian Robert “Bobby” Joseph Jr. Today, this prestigious award recognizes the contribution of a group of fine men and women who have shown exemplary involvement in promoting the advancement of tourism in the country. It also acknowledges the work, investment and  influence of individuals and corporations whose commitment in the tourism industry has brought significant progress and benefits to the country’s economy.

The awardees include: His Excellency Gilles Garachon, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Embassy of France in the Philippines, in the field of Tourism Diplomacy; Arthur Lopez, owner of AML Hotel Consultancy for   Hotel Tourism; Joanne Rae Ramirez, Philippine Star section editor and columnist and People Asia editor-in-chief, in the category of Lifestyle Tourism;   Abdallah Akasha, country manager of Qatar Airways,   for Airlines category; Felipe Gozon, president and CEO GMA Network Inc, for Television Tourism; Fernando Zobel de Ayala , president and CEO Ayala Corporation, for Resorts; Domingo Ramon Enerio III, chief operating officer, Philippine Tourism Promotions Board, in the category of Tourism; Rosalie Montenegro, president and CEO, Makati Medical Center, for Medical Tourism; Henry Sy Sr., chairman of the Board, Shoemart, Inc, in the category of Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions; Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto, for Government Tourism; and Antonio Meloto, chairman, GAWAD Kalinga Global Headquarters, for Social Tourism.

A couple of days ago, the Rotary Club of Manila celebrated its 95thfounding anniversary and induction of the new set of officers led by Frank Evaristo as president. Guest of Honor and inducting officer was Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito  Estrada. Immediate past president is Rodolfo Bediones. (FREEMAN)