"Forget everything else but remember this: Rotary is fellowship, Rotary is service. We gather friends and then together, we go to our communities to serve, to make lives better, to heal hurts, to do good, to make dreams real."

Like you I was very tired getting back to the hotel last night, after the excitement of the business sessions and the evening fellowship. But still, I stayed awake for many hours, after our wonderful fellowship. I felt waves of sadness wash over me as I realized my task for today.

Today, it is my duty to formally close the three wonderful days I spent with the most beautiful people I have ever met in Rotary – you my presidents.

But my sadness was fleeting, and you know why? I realized that the end of the PETS really signals the beginning of our year of service: you, my presidents, and I, your Governor and co-worker. My momentary sadness soon faded --- and I finally slept with a smile on my face.

Holding a PETS is not an easy thing to do, and we could not have done it without the dedicated support of our PDGs, the three host clubs, my AGs, and countless other Rotarians and volunteers.  To all of you and to each and every one of you, from the bottom of my heart: MARAMING SALAMAT PO sa inyong lahat!

Now, I would like to use this final moment to have a quiet talk with my presidents – soul to soul, heart to heart.

I know that you have been bombarded with data and information, dates, figures, targets, "to do" lists, commitments, etc. I know that time is running, and there is pressure for you to manage all these and prioritize them into a doable plan of action. It is easy to be overwhelmed. It is not unusual to be anxious and concerned. So let me share with you some thoughts and suggestions.

It is easily visible that in Rotary, what really matters is the capacity to serve, and effective Rotary service depends so much on membership and funds. More Rotarians, more resources, more resources, more Rotarians. But for what?

To feed the soul of Rotary, and the soul of Rotary, its very reason for being, its alpha and omega – ITS FRIENDSHIP AND SERVICE.

Forget everything else but remember this: Rotary is fellowship, Rotary is service. We gather friends and then together, we go to our communities to serve, to make lives better, to heal hurts, to do good, to make dreams real.

JUST BUILD THE FRIENDSHIP AND ENJOY THE SERVICE, AND YOU WILL SURELY BE THE BEST PRESIDENT YOU CAN EVER BE, AND THE MEMBERSHIP AND THE RESOURCES WILL SURELY COME YOUR WAY.

THIS IS THE ONE FORMULA FOR SUCCESS, AS A PRESIDENT, AS A ROTARIAN, AS A HUMAN BEING.

We have a lot to do, my dear presidents. So I make you this pledge. I will not ask of you anything that I myself am not willing to do. We are in this together. We are a family. No one of us, not a single one of us, gets left behind. We sink or we sail, we fall or we fly, but we will do so together. 

I will be there for you when you are tired. And when you feel drained of energy or ideas, in your thousand and one worries and anxieties, I promise you this:  I will just be at my Reposo office. I will just be a text away, I will just be a fax away, I will just be an email away, I will just be a phone call away.

Call me, my presidents.  Come to me, my presidents.  I am here for you 24 by 7, and I will be with you every step of the way.

However, as you celebrate the many victories you are sure to win along the way, I shall of course expect to be invited, to eat your food, to drink your wine, to sing your songs, and to dream along with you.

So there. They say, when the heart is full, the mouth is empty. I am filled with emotion and I do not know what else to say.

Ito na lang:  It will be my single greatest honor, and one I will treasure for the rest of my life, to serve along side each and every one of you, my presidents.

In your year of service, let us do good, look good and feel good --- so good, real good.

And please keep this in your hearts: I love you all very dearly!!