Inaugural Address of DG Narciso S.

Salunat
2017 Induction Ceremony
7 July 2017 | Sofitel Hotel, Manila

Thank you very much for your kind words AG Jim Venturina of RC
Vizcaya, and also to Rtn. Martin of RC Cabanatuan North for the
impressive Video Presentation.

To our esteemed dignitaties:

GOOD EVENING!

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First and foremost, allow me to convey to one and all, in the name
of Rotary International under the auspices of President Ian Risely,
our warmest fraternal greetings of felicitations and esteem regard
for joining me and my family to this one of the milestones in our
life and one of the significant events in the District, the hand-over
and induction ceremonies of District 3770.

I am deeply honored and challenged to stand before you tonight

as the newly inducted District Governor of our beloved district.
With great pleasure, I wholeheartedly accept the position as your
District Governor. I also humbly accept the burden of
responsibilities you have placed upon my shoulders. With this,
please join me as we begin our journey and undertake our
Districts plans and programs for the RY 2017-2018. Let us then
all together fulfill in spirit of unity the Rotary’s mission and values
and perpetuate the 4-way test to the best of our abilities. In that
way, by God’s grace, we will make this Rotary Year one of the
best we ever have in the District and deliver the best service we
can for the sake of our poor communities.

My personal gratitude goes to Past Rotary International Director

Guiller Tumangan, our Guest of Honor and Speaker, and Lady
Letty for accepting our invitation. We know that you are very, very
busy with your schedules but notwithstanding you did not fail us
tonight. Your presence this evening will certainly inspire and
challenge the officers and members of District 3770 to make a
higher leap of service. Your brilliance as well as your passion for
Rotary service is magnanimous worthy of emulation. Your words
of wisdom and experiences you have shared this evening will
surely motivate the Rotarians of our District to give full meaning to
this year’s theme “Rotary: Making a Difference”.

Further, I would like to acknowledge the presence of PCRG Chair

Edgar Chiongbian and Spouse Cely. Thank you for the promise
of support to lead us all District Governors and the future trainings
that awaits us. Most specially, we will be expecting from your end
the possible conflict resolution in the Philippine Rotary. If there
are any disagreements, we hope that you will pave the way for
the peaceful reconciliation and mediation.

Furthermore, I would like to congratulate District Governor

George Bunuan for the splendid performance he has made.
(Please stand to be recognized). The numerous
accomplishments, particularly the streamlining of the District, the
fine works, the incredible achievements and remarkable
memories will certainly be written in the history of our District.

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I have seen how you dedicated yourself to make things happen in
the name of service. You are a paragon of a true servant and rest
assured that we will continue the splendid works you have
started. Again, please accept my sincere congratulations.

Also to PDG Ma. Nonette Tiam, the Incumbent Director of PCRG

and the Incoming Chairperson of the District Council of Governors
and Spouse Cris, please accept my sincere congratulations.

At this point in time, please allow me to express my deepest

gratitude to the Almighty Father for giving me the chance to serve
as your District Rotary Leader this year.

I would like also to acknowledge with sincere thanks those

individuals worthy of recognition that contributed to where I am
now.

To my family, especially to my lovely wife, Leilyn, who is and will

continue to be with me through the years and who have
supported me all the way. To my children, Reggie Rose and
Mark Jason, my son-in-law, Hamill Ray and granddaughter
Sophia Angela, you are all my source of inspiration.

To those individuals who have contributed to my growth as true-

blooded Rotarian. It would be at the height of injustice if I will fail
to mention your contributions. You have been the plus factor to
pursue my journey in the world of service.

I could still recall that before I join our prestigious organization, I

do not have a full grasp of what Rotary is all about until when then
Past President Rolando “Andy” Farinas, who was the incumbent
President of Rotary of Club of Vizcaya, hooked me in joining.

He constantly guides me in my initial walk as a Rotarian until I

became the Club President of Rotary Club Vizcaya during the
Rotary Year 2013-2014.

Also, it was during my term as Club President when PDG Pichoy

Ramirez became the Governor of our District and that opens the
door of opportunity to get involved not only in club activities but
also of the District. He was among the past district governors
who believes in my capacity to lead, aptitude to serve, and
competence to perpetuate the ideals of Rotary.

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He encourages me to join a higher level of service for pushing me
become a district governor. History has it, that this humble
representation was the immediate club president who was
unanimously nominated as District Governor Nominee Designate
and unopposed during the final screening of the selection
committee sometime on December 2014.

PDG Pichoy Ramirez you are indeed a true friend, a great

mentor, and for being a helping hand in the well-prepared hand-
over and induction ceremonies. Of course, with the help of Lady
Rumelia. You deserve our recognition. Words are not enough to
express our gratitude to you Gov. Pichoy and Lady Rumelia.

To Past District Governor and Most Worshipful Boy Aniag, the

same gratitude is extended for accommodating my request as our
District Trainer. I am very thankful that you have delivered the
trainings our district and club officers needed. Thank you also for
accepting an additional position that is to chair the reconciliation
and mediation committee of our District.

Recognition is also due to Senior District Deputy Governor Dindo

Berino who contributed to the marshalling of the events in our
District. Your technical know-how with your team, Rtn. Martin, DS
for Adm. Veo, and ES Fredel, Rtn. Louie in organizing our events
has contributed to the successful conduct of this occasion.

My sincere thanks also to the RC Cauayan under the able

leadership of Great Class Pres. Danny Alivia for sharing your
talents this evening thru your impressive dance presentation.

Likewise to AG Ruben Sinfuego, thank you for introducing my

family.

Of course, to our talented and popular entertainers, Mr. Anthony

Castelo and Ms. Vina Morales, thank you very much for your
making this affair more colorful and enjoyable.

There are other names too many to mention who guided me to be

the best I could be. They are those who gave me foresight of
what ahead as District Governor. They are my think-tanks that
make our district affairs successful.

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Your incessant encouragement and pledge of support gives me
more courage to face what lies ahead.

The big attendance of 850 Rotarians and guests registered

tonight sets a historic record in our District. This is an
overwhelming show of force and support. And this truly manifests
your readiness to take action, make things happen, and make a
big difference. This inspires me more to perform as District
Governor to lead and bring our District to greater heights.

Fellow Rotarians, my induction and the oath of office I took tonight

is an oath of allegiance to all of you, Rotarians and the people we
serve. This is a personal vow to meet high moral standards and to
deliver the very fine works of service.

I must admit that the task ahead is gargantuan, full of challenges,

and crowded with expectations. I cannot do it all alone. I will need
the unconditional support of every Rotarian in the District and a
little bit of your sacrifice. It may be in the form of your talents,
time and treasures.

As Pres. Rodrigo Duterte said during his inaugural address and I

quote: “No leader, however strong, can succeed at anything of
national importance or significance unless he has the support and
cooperation of the people he is tasked to lead and sworn to
serve.”

As a leader, I love to work with leaders who value teamwork and

more than willing to make sacrifices for the sake of service. I am
fortunate that we have such great leaders in the district. I can
remember on several occasions some district officers working late
with me and even on weekends just to make the job done. They
should have gone home and be with their family, but chose to
help me instead.

To other district and club officers, please help me dig the soil of
service. If we need to have our hands dirty, we should do it just to
deliver the much needed service. If there is a need to have our
clothes dirty just to make things done, we should do it for after all
we are doing this to serve for the glory of God.

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RI President Ian Riseley set out his 7 priorities for 2017-18 which
are all contain in our plans and programs:

1. Membership and club growth. President Ian Risely wants

Rotary membership to grow and have an increase from the level
1.2 Million members where we’ve been squeezed for years. In
our District, the latest update on membership status is we have a
significant decrease from 76 to 68 clubs and around 2000 to 1917
Rotarians. I urge then all clubs to pay their financial obligations to
RI on time.

Our District goal on membership this RY is set at not less than 75

clubs and not less than 2500 Rotarians.

I know that it is a difficult task but I encourage all clubs to do

extraordinary efforts to have a massive campaign to increase
more membership. We hope and pray we can meet or achieve
our membership goals.

With regards to the opening of a new club, I will be with you in

chartering at least 8 new clubs.

2. TRF Giving/Humanitarian Service Project. Raising funds for

the Rotary foundation is important to all of us fellow Rotarians.
Our contributions of any amount will make a big impact that
supports the mission of the foundation.

Our district target for TRF giving for the RY is set at not less than
USD 250,000.

It is worth mentioning that RC Barasoain has started the ball

rolling under the able leadership of their Great President Willy
Jimenez. The club committed 1 Major Donor and 8 Paul Harris
Fellows with a total amount of $15,000 just after their induction
last June 28.

I hope that other clubs will follow.

And tonight, we have here a Special Guest, my very good friend

who is a nonRotarian, who promised to be a Major Donor in the
person of Engr. Mario Nicolas, a successful businessman, the
owner and President of MN Electro-Industrial Supply and
Services and soon to be a Rotarian. Please rise Engr. to be
recognized.

Let us all strive hard fellow Rotarians to increase our TRF givings.

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2. PUBLIC IMAGE AND AWARENESS. Promoting a positive
image and awareness provide vital information to communities
around the world that Rotary is a credible organization that
meets real needs.

A positive image makes members proud and even motivates

them to be active participants in their club and district affairs. It
even attracts potential members to join.

Our district goal is to build 21 new Rotary markers in 21 areas

within the district at the strategic and conspicuous locations that
the public can see. We will finish this in 6 months.

As promised, half of the construction cost will be shouldered by

this representation.

I encourage all the clubs thru their Great Class Presidents to also
work for other public image programs that promote Rotary like:
posting information thru club/district websites, social media,
advertisements in news papers, magazines, billboards and buses
and other ways.

4. Peace. Fellow Rotarians, let us all remember that Rotary was

conceived for fun, friendship and service. Let us live up to that
principle. Let us win friends and remove barriers. We know that
there exist internal conflicts as there are also heartaches. But we
know that there will always be a space in our hearts that says:
“Let us be happy and forget the past.”

I want to emphasize what I said before that the best justice that
we could give to the district is forgiveness without condition. Let
love reign in our hearts for love is the solvent for the hardest
heart.
As what Jean-Francois Cope once said “I invite everyone to
choose forgiveness rather than division, teamwork over personal
ambition."

To all our beloved PDGs, you are the source of our inspirations.
You are considered to be the great pillars of the district with great
achievements and accomplishments worth emulating.

Please help Gov Siso in resolving all conflicts and settling all
disputes to achieve true peace and harmony in the district. If this
happens, we could place our beloved district again in the limelight

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and bring it to greater heights. Let us transform our beloved
district into peace-loving and peace-building district.

5. Literacy/education. In line with the program of PDG Juliet

Riseley, the district, thru the Club Officers and AGs with the kind
assistance of my spouse, Lady Lenilyn, is set to enhance reading
literacy among school children and promote the same among
adults who are non-readers.

Based on statistics, more than 775 million people over the age of
15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population.
Our district goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to
support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in
education, and increase adult literacy. Let us support education
for all children and literacy for children and adults.

We will strengthen Rotary’s Programs on Rotaract and Interact in

the different schools.

Tomorrow, I will be speaking before the crowd of Rotaract for their

2017 PESETS in Bulacan. We will train and engage them to be
the future leader of Rotary and be the hope of our nation.

6. Wash in Schools. WASH in Schools does not only promote

hygiene and increase access to quality education but also support
national and local interventions to establish equitable, sustainable
access to safe water and basic sanitation services in schools.

WASH in Schools aims to improve the health and learning

performance of school-aged children – and, by extension, that of
their families – by reducing the incidence of water and sanitation-
related diseases. Every child friendly school requires appropriate
WASH initiatives that keep the school environment clean and free
of smells and inhibit the transmission of harmful bacteria, viruses
and parasites.

This is one of our priority programs in the district.

7. Protection of the Environment. We have coined a slogan

“DAMAYAN: SAGIP KALIKASAN” for the first activity of the
district in July wherein every Rotarian is expected to plant at least
one tree per Rotarian. More than one tree per Rotarian would be
an excellent achievement. If possible, each club must adopt a
place to nurture and conduct the tree planting.

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We Rotarians should be an epitome of making a difference by
preserving Mother Earth’s gradual diminishing of its beauty and
natural resources and instilling awareness of Rotary’s concern for
the environment thru the implementation of tree planting activity
within the district. We will all target to plant not less than 2000
trees in the district.

I am glad to learn that some clubs have already conducted tree

planting activities.

Fellow Rotarians, thru this road map, let us join our hands
together in the spirit of unity and solidarity, allow ourselves to be
a gift to the world while serving humanity and by God’s guidance
certainly, we can make a big difference this year.

In closing, let us all enjoy the night as we will be entertained by

the talented and gorgeous Ms. Vina Morales.

Thank you. Mabuhay ang D-3770! God Bless Everyone!