The Magis of Rotary: Rotary Club of New Manila East Honors a Year of Purpose, Partnership, and Lasting Impact

Inside the storied halls of Club Filipino; a venue steeped in the nation’s civic history, the Rotary Club of New Manila East (RCNME) brought its landmark Ruby Year to a close with the “Magic to Magis” Awards and Recognition Night. The event held last June 10, 2025 was both a celebration and a culmination, a moment to reflect on a year that dared to dream boldly, delivered results at scale, and redefined the true measure of service.

Under the leadership of President Karlo Benjamin Nisce, RCNME’s 40th year became a study in excellence. The club shattered records, earning an unprecedented 34 district honors, including the coveted titles of Outstanding Rotary Cluband Outstanding President with High Platinum Distinction. But as the year’s theme suggested, the true success was never in the magic of recognition alone, it was in the Magis, the relentless pursuit of doing more, serving better, and striving beyond what is expected.

A Night of Honors, A Year of Impact

The evening unfolded as a tribute to purpose, partnerships, and the people who carried the year forward. Every officer and director received the Club Citation for Service Excellence, a symbolic affirmation of the vital roles they played throughout this milestone year.

Athleticism found its place alongside civic service, as the RCNME Basketball Team earned the Citation for Sports Excellence for their third-place finish in the district league, while the Bowling Team, victorious as champions of the 2025 Rotabowl Tournament, was awarded the prestigious Magis of Rotary Presidential Citation, proving that excellence within RCNME extends far beyond the boardroom and into every arena of life.

Among the night’s most moving moments was the recognition of RCNME’s RUDY Scholars, young women from underprivileged backgrounds who, through Rotary’s support, completed their college journeys with distinction. Two graduated Cum Laude, earning the Magis of Rotary Academic Excellence Award, a living testament to education as a pathway out of poverty and toward lasting change.

Celebrating the Exemplars of Leadership and Partnership

The club’s highest honors were conferred on partners who stood alongside RCNME in advancing its mission:

• Aniceto “Chito” Sobrepeña, President of Metrobank Foundation, received the Magis of Rotary - Presidential Lifetime Distinction Award for over a decade of partnership in elevating public service through the COPS Program. His leadership has seamlessly merged civic recognition with nation-building.

• Philip “Boyet” Dy, Executive Vice President of Metrobank Foundation and former Chief of Staff to Vice President Leni Robredo, was awarded the Magis of Rotary - Presidential Distinction for Vocational Excellence for his lifelong dedication to advocacy, good governance, and inclusive leadership.

• Lt. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo received the Magis of Rotary - Presidential Distinction for Leadership Excellence in Service for his steadfast efforts in peacebuilding, community development, and people-centered policing across some of the nation’s most critical regions.

The evening also paid special tribute to the leaders whose dedication, grit, and quiet determination shaped the very foundation of the Ruby Year’s success. Behind every record shattered, every milestone reached, and every award earned stood a team whose commitment turned vision into reality.

• Public Image Director Jullian Anisco,

• Community Service Director Dave Buenviaje,

• Club Administration Director Jan Cabugawan,

• Youth Director IPP Marlon Mañaol,

• Club Learning Facilitator PDS Bong Cruz,

• Executive Secretary Den Macalindong,

• and Presidential Aide Jericho Calderon,

were each conferred the Presidential Distinction for Leadership and Service Excellence, an honor that recognizes far more than titles. It reflects the hard work, the uncelebrated moments of problem solving, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that fueled the club’s historic achievements.

These are the individuals who worked at the front lines of Rotary service, those who built the systems, inspired the teams, and carried the quiet burdens of leadership so that the Rotary Club of New Manila East could rise, break records, and leave a lasting legacy. Their impact was not confined to roles or responsibilities; it is etched into the very soul of the Ruby Year, a golden example to what can be accomplished when leadership is driven by service excellence and clarity of vision.

Additional honors were conferred on those whose contributions continue to shape the club’s legacy of service:

• PP Frankie Singian, RCNME’s 5th president, received the Living Legacy Award, a tribute to his enduring presence, his active participation in club meetings and service projects, and his steadfast dedication decades after his presidency.

• PDG Chito Borromeo and the Nisce Family were collectively honored with the Distinguished Giving Award, recognizing their vital contributions to the Rotary Foundation and their shared belief that generosity sustains the heart of Rotary.

• PP Wil Pamintuan and PDG Danny Fausto were presented with the Club Advisory Excellence Award for their wisdom, mentorship, and invaluable guidance that have strengthened the club’s capacity to grow, serve, and lead.

From Magic to Magis: A Legacy of the Greater Good

As incoming President Majumi “Jums” Boralaza formally assumed the helm, the evening reached its poignant close with the conferment of the Club Excellence Leadership Award to President Karlo Benjamin Nisce, a fitting tribute to a leader who dared to lead with vision, action, and heart.

The Ruby Year marked more than the club’s 40th anniversary, it was a declaration that greatness is not found in magic alone, but in Magis: the more, the better, the beyond, the constant lifting of others in pursuit of the greater good, all for the greater glory of the Almighty.

In doing so, the Rotary Club of New Manila East has shown that legacies are not built by accolades alone, but by how far one is willing to go; to serve, to uplift, and to do more, together.