Rotary denies snubbing GMA

The Rotary Club of Manila (RCM), which prides itself of being "the oldest service club in Asia," has sent official word to Malacañang that it did not snub an invitation by President Arroyo for a luncheon meeting last Monday.

The RCM was reacting to reports on the poor attendance of its members during a luncheon hosted by the President at the Palace Ceremonial Hall in honor of the club’s centennial founding anniversary.

Only 16 RCM officials and members, led by their incoming president Cesar Ubaldo, along with 46 Rotary-anns, came to the luncheon, prompting Palace staff to herd into the Ceremonial Hall several officials as well as mediamen to fill the many vacant tables.

Mrs. Arroyo hosted the lunch for the RCM at the Palace to make up for her non-appearance at the club’s Centennial Ball held at the Manila Hotel last Feb.23.

The President sent word she could not make it to the ball and asked Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo to attend the affair as her official representative.

Palace officials told The Star the President did not want to appear in "social gatherings" at that time since it took place at a time skirmishes were taking place in Sulu and a few days after the Valentine’s Day bombing in Makati City.

In a letter to The Star, the RCM took exception to a report that the affair was nothing but a "social gathering."

"The Rotary Club of Manila is not and is farthest from being a social club. It is the oldest service club in Asia and a member of the oldest global service organization, the Rotary International," the RCM said in its letter.

"It was not a simple dancing affair. The whole world was celebrating the event in similar fashion on that same date," RCM pointed out.

The RCM credited their Club, among others, for the eradication of polio in the Philippines as well as in nearly all countries of the world.

The letter, dated March 2, was addressed to The Star and was copy furnished to the Office of the President as well as to Ms. Malou Frostrom, appointments secretary of Mrs. Arroyo.

Notwithstanding the "short notice," the RCM claimed that 47 active members went to the Palace gathering while "a great many could no longer make changes in their Monday schedule or appointments."

During that Palace gathering, RCM disclosed that their incoming president invited President Arroyo to join his inaugural this coming June.