Hightlights of RCI 2nd meeting RY2026-27

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On Cruise Ships, Pencil Sketches, and a Cha-Cha-Filled Night in Intramuros

There is a unique kind of magic that happens when the Rotary Club of Intramuros gathers. On paper, it’s a meeting. In reality, it’s an evening where serious civic duty smoothly glides into good wine, timeless music, and warm camaraderie. Yesterday at the Knights of Columbus Boardroom was no exception.

President Joey got things rolling with a look ahead to our November Induction. He’s been scouting venues, and he dropped a tantalizing idea: hosting the affair aboard a cruise ship in Manila Bay. Whether we actually set sail or stay safely docked will depend on the budget, but the thought alone was enough to stir up some nostalgia. Personally, I’m looking forward to a grand gala. It’s high time we dust off our finest suits and dress with the elegance of the Ilustres of old. To top it off, Batas suggested a high-profile guest speaker who, if secured, will undoubtedly set a grand tone for the night.

Joey also shared updates from a recent courtesy call he made to Intramuros Administration (IA) Administrator Atty. Joan Padilla, alongside Dindo and Earl. It was a productive sit-down, particularly regarding Joey’s plan to transform a portion of Anda Circle into the Paul Harris Garden, complete with a bust of Rotary’s founder. Having previously spearheaded the Padre Burgos Monument inside the Walled City, Joey knows how to navigate the IA review process with seasoned patience. Beyond the garden, we’re looking at a Vision Care project with PFPP, a maternal care initiative from Dindo, updated tourism signages, and long-overdue repairs to our own RCI Center.

Even our digital lives got a bit of order. To save us all from wading through endless non-Rotary memes just to find official announcements, Joey proposed keeping the main RCI group chat strictly business. Earl is drafting a formal Board Resolution to make this standard practice for future terms, while a second "anything goes" chat will handle the rest.

On the community front, there was plenty to celebrate. We tipped our hats to the successful donation of emergency tools to Barangay 105, and praised Dennis for leading the charge on an upcoming August 15 Job Fair in the same area, alongside the Manila Police Department and PESO Manila. It’s a wonderful Economic and Community Development effort aimed at bringing stability and peace to the barangay, and Joey plans to invite neighboring clubs to join forces with us.

Then came a delightfully personal moment. Joey unveiled pencil sketches of the past presidents present in the room, part of a plan to display our portraits at the RCI Center. Batas’s likeness was remarkably spot-on. My favorite detail? The artist generously rendered us all looking a few years younger than the originals—a subtle touch of flair we all quietly appreciated!

After rolling out the raffle prizes—where our newest recruit, Carter, walked away with the grand prize—we adjourned to Knight’s Cafe, and the real heart of the evening unfolded.

The room buzzed as a solo organist serenaded us with everything from Japanese tunes to nostalgic oldies. The food was abundant, and the spirits flowed freely—Singleton, Carlos Primero, Merlot, and Beer finding their way to standard rotation.

Before long, the meeting transformed into an impromptu concert. George delivered a smooth, Sinatra-esque rendition of New York, New York. Batas, finding his song choice missing from the laptop, boldly started singing a cappella before finally getting a track lined up,  but Penny wasn't about to leave without having her turn at the mic. She took the stage with absolute determination, singing so brilliantly that non-Rotarians at neighboring tables paused to listen.   Nelson surprised us all with a powerful, soulful rendition of Anak—may boses pala!

Eventually, I was "coerced" onto the stage to sing What a Wonderful World. Later, Batas and I teamed up for a duet of Besame Mucho, which proved irresistible enough to bring Angie and Penny to their feet, gracefully dancing the cha-cha beside us.

That is the true spirit of Rotary. We come together to build, to plan, and to serve our community—but we stay because of the fellowship, the shared laughter, and the timeless songs that carry us late into the night.

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