Rotary Club Cebu welcomes new officers

The Rotary Club of Cebu, one of the well-respected and most-admired civic organizations in the city, recently inducted a new set of officers and directors at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel to pursue the association’s ideal of "Service Above Self" and this year’s slogan of "Lend a Hand."

The incoming office bearers include president Antonio Lozada, vice president Edgar Chiongbian, secretary Eleuterio Ong Vaño and treasurer Bernard Vonn Sia. President-elect is Pericles Dakay.

Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Mar Roxas – a graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University and the Wharton School of Economics and a descendant of a long line of public servants, such as his grandfather President Manuel Roxas and father the late Senator Gerry Roxas, and whose stint at the DTI has created jobs through successful negotiations abroad that have broadened market access of the country’s key export products, such as furniture, electronics and garments, which Cebu is famous for – was the guest speaker.

Although he needed to immediately fly back to Manila, having been summoned by the President to Malacañang Palace – remember Oakwood? – he brilliantly delivered his brief yet substantive message.

Before the end of the evening, a new circle of officers of the Inner Wheel Club of Cebu were also sworn in. They are: President Lita Aldana, vice president Bebe Alcoseba, secretary Alice Belen, and treasurer Tita Antigua.

To the dedicated men and women with a mandate for the coming year, our congratulations and may they be inspired to achieve their dreams in the service of their fellowmen.

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It was not easy to say goodbye to Christiane Wasfy, Cebu City Marriott Hotel general manager, who for some three years-and-a-half was deeply involved in many of the island’s worthwhile activities, from the arts and cultural projects to business and industry programs.

But life goes on and move on we must. In an endearing gathering of friends, colleagues and associates, graciously hosted by the officials of the property at their grand ballroom, we said our farewell. However, the affair also served to welcome the incoming general manager in the person of Karl Hudson. Speaking of the silver lining in every cloud… what more can I say?

We soon learned from the hotel’s executives present, such as the efficient and effective PR lady Dolly Belo and the driven marketing director Carolyn de la Cruz, that New Zealand-born Hudson brings with him a wealth of experience from his 20 years in the world of hotels and restaurants. He first joined the industry where he worked for the Sydney Hilton and later transferred to the Renaissance Hotel, also in the same city. Before he signed up with the Marriott chain, he was the food and beverage director of the Tokyo Bay Hilton, and prior to his new assignment in Cebu, he was acting director of operations for the Shenyang Marriott.

A graduate of marketing management and French language degrees from universities both in New Zealand and France, Hudson is fluent in English, French, German, Japanese and Mandarin.

The highlight of the well-attended get together was the traditional symbolic turnover of leadership and stewardship with all its responsibilities, wherein Wasfy presented a miniature of the hotel to the newcomer, while Fay Paras, marketing director of the New World Hotel in Saigon handed over a warm welcome message from the lady manager’s new home, the Renaissance Riverside Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

To Christiana, our sincerest thanks for making Cebu in your own unique way a better place to live in and all the best in everything you do. To Karl, we say mabuhay, welcome to Cebu.