PETS 2008: ABOVE US ONLY SKY

PP Raffy Aquino, RC Makati Bel-Air
Co-Chairman, PETS 2008

"It was a gathering of dreamers, forward-looking, hopeful, knowing no limits to what could be. They were the presidents-elect of our district, assembled for the 2008 Presidents Elect Training Seminar (PETS), and nothing but the sky stood between them and their dreams for their year of service."

PETS 2008 was a three-day affair, from March 28 to 30, at the Oasis Hotel and Mimosa Hilltop in Angeles City. In line with RI rules, the seminar was held at the initiative and under the leadership of DGE Edgardo “Boyet” Limon. It was managed by the PETS 2008 Chairmen representing each of the three host clubs: PP Marty Alvarado of RC Paranaque South, PP Raffy Aquino of RC Makati Bel-Air, and PP Juor Buted of RC Makati Dasmarinas, and by Chief of Staff PP Rachel Ocampo also of RCMBA.  In attendance were 65 PEs from the district’s Makati, Paranaque, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Taguig, Pateros, and Palawan clubs.

Preceded by an early morning round of golf, the first plenary session of PETS 2008 opened at the Mimosa Hilltop in the early afternoon of Friday, March 28. The attendees arrived elegant in their Barong Tagalogs and Ternos. At around 3:00 PM, the usual hall-wide pre-session banter and laughter quieted as PP Romy De Guzman (RCMBA) and PN Roland Zurbano (both RCMBA) entered the hall bearing the Philippine Flag and the blue and white standard of Rotary International. Marching behind them were PP Paul Teves (RCPS) and PE Yolly Abueg (RCMBA) who would remain on stage for the doxology and national anthem.

Before introducing PP Marty and PP Rhoda Salas (RCMD), PP Raffy formally opened the seminar by reminding the PEs of the critical role they are to play as club presidents, and the consequent importance officially attached by RI to PE training. RCMBA Charter President Sonie Zamora then rose to introduce Angeles City Mayor Blueboy Nepomuceno who delivered the Welcome Address. Mayor Nepomuceno, himself a Rotarian, welcomed District 3830 and PETS 2008 to his city, hailed the good works of Rotary, and invited the Rotarians to form lasting service partnerships with the people of Angeles. The good mayor is the brother of CP Sonie.

After Incoming District Secretary PP Rene Aguirre (RCPS) had called the roll of PEs, PP Marty introduced his distinguished and beloved clubmate, DGE Boyet, by telling a riveting story beginning on the day he was born. DGE Boyet’s keynote address was a crisp and upbeat presentation of his goals for the district in RY 2008-2009, which included total membership growth of 3000 Rotarians, total contributions to the TRF of US$300,000.00, and receipt by ALL clubs of the RI Presidential Citation. DGE Boyet likewise reminded his PEs that meaningful service projects and the contribution to the district of committed leaders for service beyond the club were hallmarks of strong and effective clubs. Also emphasized by DGE Boyet was the urgency of decisive Rotary intervention in child mortality reduction and environmental protection and conservation. He wrapped-up by returning to fundamentals, to the vital need for club good governance and for publicizing the good works of Rotary and building its public image.

After the Keynote Address, PP Rhoda briefed the PEs on the PETS program which included both business and fellowship sessions, and the PETS House Rules which pointedly prohibited “un-rotarian” behavior (no violations were noted). Thereafter, a break to the proceedings was declared to give way to the photo-shoot of DGE Boyet with his PEs.

It was a “picture-perfect” moment: Rotarians proud in their Filipiniana finery and artistically arranged in a tableaux reminiscent of those turn-of-the century prints we find in forgotten places. They were set against the lush greenery and majestic trees of the Mimosa fairways, gently lit in sepia by a westering sun low in the Pamapango skies. It was beautiful, as everyone was.

The session resumed with a tour de force lecture by District Trainer PDG Sonny Coloma on the concept of Servant-Leadership that is built into the bedrock of Rotary ideology. The lecture begun with an interactive deconstruction of James Ensor’s politically controversial painting “Christ’s Entry into Brussels in 1889,” then continued through the humanities, theology, art appreciation, history, political science, philosophy, and western literature, before ending in the biblical command to “go into the deep” and to commit oneself – Duc in altum.

Come evening, PETS 2008 reassembled at the lantern-bedecked Oasis poolside for the scheduled Austin Powers Fellowship Party. The fun begun with dinner hosted by DGE Boyet, and was stoked throughout by the masterclass emceeing of PPs Juor, Rhoda, Joji Tan, and Pery Noble, Pres. Rey Madrid and Rtn. Conrad Banal (all from RCMD). Everyone came in costumes inspired by the archetypal characters of that film, or else by other ‘60s icons like the woodsotck flowerchild and the mini-skirted Twiggy. DGE Boyet himself came clad in a sharp black Nehru jacket with a gold chain and “Peace” pendant. The revelry was enlivened by a “best in costume” showdown among the PEs (won by PEs Met Saludo of RC Makati Urdaneta, Roh Sarra of RC Puerto Princesa, Pocholo Chunsim of RC Makati South, and Jun Alcantara of RC Las Pinas Camino Real), practice runs of the “Real Presidents Cheer No. 54”, ‘60s trivia games, charades, chain dancing, and, of course, singing. March birthday celebrants led by PDG Sonny, were also honored with cake and candles.

Day 2 commenced with an early-morning exercise session featuring PP Cory Quirino (RC Makati Legaspi) who energetically led the PEs through traditional calisthenics, not-so-low-impact aerobics, boxing, hiphop, and taebo.  After breakfast, the business sessions commenced, ably and smoothly anchored by PP Harold Dacumos (RCMBA) in the morning, and PP Joji in the afternoon.

Speakers for the morning session were PP Cory on wellness and its importance in the Rotarian’s life, Haribon’s Chris Cerral and Dave Valdez from the WWF on the urgency of environmental concern and activism, and PDG Rudy Estrallado on Club Administration and RI Resources.

Lunch was incorporated into a vastly entertaining but highly educational club meeting simulation exercise, featuring the acting skills of PEs Briggs Merin (RC Makati Paseo de Roxas), Mildred Vitangcol (RC Makati Uptown), Yolly Yorro (RC Las Pinas East), Ed Castillo (RC Paranaque South), Lilly Kho (RC Makati Northwest), Larry Boyer (RC Makati), Menchie Muana (RC Muntinlupa North), Andrew Frondoso (RC Muntinlupa City Center), Roh Sarra (RC Puerto Princesa), Ricky Loyola (RC Makati Bonifacio), and Lenny Carillo (RC Rizal West). Guests at the mock meeting were incoming district officers Sally Tongson (RC Paranaque Metro), Alex Yague (RCPS) and Rene Aguirre (RCPS) who made non-mock real-life announcements as to clustering, inductions, and the governor’s and governor’s team visits.

PP Rene Aquino (RC Parañaque East) then made siesta impossible by delivering a gripping, bombastic, Plaza Miranda-type speech in colloquial Pilipino, daring the PEs to raise as much funds as possible for Rotary’s humanitarian missions. He was followed by PDG Jimmy Cura who, in contrast, spoke softly with his characteristic lucidity and elegance of expression, on the transcendental significance of well-thought out and executed club meetings.

Membership was tackled next, through a team presentation by DGN Sid Garcia (RC Makati) on membership retention and DGN designate (for RY 2010-2011) Ed Alvarez of RC Makati West on membership growth and expansion. The two veteran district leaders and governors-to-be presented concrete and creative roadmaps towards DGE Boyet’s membership goal of 3000 new Rotarians.

The spotlight then turned to the need “to do good and tell the public about it.” Incoming District Public Relations Officer PP Chochit Tobias (RCMBA) outlined the key components of a PR program aimed at publicizing the good works of Rotary, and situated the program within the continuing need to expand the resource and membership bases of the clubs and the district so that Rotary service may in turn be enhanced. PP Juor of the district’s PR Group then elicited and offered concrete recommendations for club-level PR initiatives.

PDG Sonny closed the session by a review of the roles and responsibilities of club presidents, but not before soft-spoken PDG Alex Huang impressed everyone with his self-effacing but powerful ethic of selfless generosity and quiet giving. So inspired were thePEs by PDG Alex that they readily pledged funds sufficient to acquire 120 Paul Harris Fellows, all of which would be credited to the district and club leadership “make dreams real” teams for RY 2008-2009!

The second evening’s party was again emceed by the fellowship gurus from RCMD, on the sprawling grounds of host CP Sonie’s residential estate. It was here that the four PE groups presented their long-practiced production numbers, each designed around four Top 40 hit songs featuring dreams: “Sweet Dreams”, “Fantasy”, “You Make My Dreams Come True”, and “Together in Electric Dreams.” First place was awarded to Group 2 for their portrayal of a community shepherded by Rotary into environmental responsibility, artfully choreographed to the Earth Wind and Fire classic “Fantasy.”

The third and last day of PETS 2008 began with a hearty breakfastat Oasis Hotel followed by breakout sessions facilitated by PDGs Willy Segovia and Jimmy Cura and other incoming district officers, wherein the PEs further refined their targets, timetables, and commitments relating to membership growth and retention, TRF support, and service projects. Following the presentation of the reporters appointed by the various breakout groups, Mass was celebrated by PP Fr. Rocky Evangelista (RC Makati Edsa) whose homily was all about Rotary service as God’s work.

After lunch, it was finally time for the PEs to formally graduate. DGE Boyet and District Trainer Sonny handed out the corresponding certificates to the PEs as they were individually called by PP Rene Aguirre. Recognition was also accorded those among the PEs who attended all three Pre-PETS sessions, the Mid-Year Review and Discon for RY 2007-2008. Later, the PEs would dip their palms in paint and imprint their hands upon the huge PETS banner that served as stage backdrop throughout the seminar.

After the last PE was called to receive his certificate, DGE Boyet finally moved to the podium and took the floor, for the formal adjournment of PETS 2008. By this time, there was already a broad consensus that PETS 2008 had been a profound success, and everyone was already anxious to rejoin their families for the few remaining hours of the weekend. Most expected from DGE Boyet the usual final rousing call to action that is staple PETS diet; no one expected that the biggest moment of PETS 2008 was still to come.

DGE Boyet begun quietly, echoing the solemn dignity of the entry of colors at the opening session two days earlier. The PEs quickly sensed something different in their leader and his quietude soon infected them, compelling them to sit back and listen. Accompanied by soft organ music playing John Lennon’s “Imagine”, DGE Boyet spoke thus –

There was not a dry eye in the hall after this, and when DGE Boyet ended, everyone there – PEs, PPs, and district officers, spouses, children and staff – spontaneously took up the dying strains of the song and in a rousing chorus jubilantly sang what by then had become their anthem: