Philippines
38th National Convention (24th-26th May 2013)
At
the invitation of The Apex Club of Philippines to attend their 38th
National Convention, Apex Club of Penang responded positively and was represented
by 3 Penang Apexians, namely Apn Lee Kai Eng (Club President) , Apn Edward Mai (
Chairman of Apex Penang Education Fund) & Apn Mike Ong (IRO).
Our
flight took off on 21st evening from Penang International Airport
and we were connected to Manila by Cebu Airlines in the early hours of 22nd
May. We were joined at the LCCT, at Sepang, by Apn Stephanie Chee ( National
President). After three hours thirty minutes in the air, we touched down at
Iloilo City on 22nd May 2013, at 8am.
Initially,
all 4 of us were home hosted by Apn Dexter. Apn Dr Arokianathan Michael later joined us to
make it more fun with 5 Malaysians in his beautiful double storey home. While
Stephanie had a room to herself, the 4 men shared a room upstairs which was
rather spacious . Everything in the big house seemed fine until we had a shower pipe burst in the early next
morning. Mike was the ‘culprit’ but he maintained that he never meddled with
it. We were all up at 7am from the gushing
sound of the broken shower pipe.
We
started our field day visiting the day-care centre at Poblacion-A, Leganes,
Iloilo. We met up with municipal social welfare and development officer Lolita
P.Camarig and the day-care centre worker Elena G.gonzaludo. At that visit,
President Lee consented to finance the cost of building an extended kitchen. The material cost and labor was estimated to
be approximately 30,000 PESO. According to the centre worker, the extension work
can be finished in 2 months.
In
front of the day-care centre, there was play-ground where Leganes Apex 45 had donated a few outdoor exercise machines for
the public. We were informed that even senior citizen would utilize them for
regular exercise. Definitely, this public amenity is very popular for both
young and old. Upon the suggestions by their Newly Elected Vice Mayor Apn Alan
and from further appeals by Apexians of the Leganes Club, Apex Penang President
Lee graciously agreed to donate for the construction of 2 more exercise machines at the play-ground.
On
the second day ( 23rd May), after breakfast we went for the School Teaching Aids Hand-Over Ceremony at
another Poblacion Day-care Centre. These Teaching Aids, valued at some RM2,000, were
donated by Apn Yeoh Ching Sing of
Singapore in collaboration with Apn Edward Mai.
In
the afternoon, we had a simple ceremony of MOU signing with the Guihaman-Buntatala
Elementary School, Leganes where 5 units desk-top computers and one lap-top were donated to the
school as Apex Club of Penang computer
literacy project to Leganes. The costs of the desk-top computers were sponsored
by Apn Edward Mai while President Lee sponsored the lap-top cost. The ceremony
was witnessed by President of Apex Leganes Apn Alain A. Pulmones, Apex Philippines
National Vice President Apn Nonoy Ubal, Apex Deputy Global Chairman Apn David
Israel Sinay, Mary D Guardialao and Apn Manvin V. Real of Apex 45 and the School Principal Mr. Henry Mota. We
had refreshment and some delicious, home made ice-cream from the teachers.
Later,
we proceeded to the second school, Gagamutan Norte Elementary School, for a
similar MOU ceremony. This school was
some 3 kilometers away from the first one. We were received by the School
Principal Mrs Trinidad D. Simpas. The
ceremony was witnessed by the School PTA President Roscel B. Superior, District
Supervisor Mrs. Mary P. Gustilo and Antonio S. Madiazo of Leganes Apex 45. After
that ceremony, we were served coconut juice syrup with some cut local fruits.
It was indeed refreshing at the weather was hot. After a hard day’s work, our entourage adjourned to a restaurant. It was a night of food
and fellowship.
We
woke up early on 24th May for an early flight to Manila. On the way,
we stopped by a day-care centre where Apex Leganes had been supporting in the
past but somehow been abandoned due to some technical issue. It was agreed to allow the Apex Leganes and their
newly elected Mayor to tackle.
After
this brief visit, we had to hurry to the Apex Global Meeting which Apn Stephanie
had to attend. Despite the heavy traffic, we managed to arrive at the Manila City at 3 pm, in time for Apn Stephanie
to attend the Meeting, held at Garden
Suite, Malate, Manila. The hosting club was Apex Club of San Pablo City.
Whilst
the Apex Global Meeting was on, some of us took the opportunity to visit Fort
San Diago. A historical fort which was built some time in the Sixteen Century
by the Portuguese. We hired a guide and were taken for an hour tour before we went
back to our hotel for rest.
The
next day was the 38th Apex Philippines National Convention and
follow by Gala Dinner in the same hotel ball. The theme of the year was “Making
Apex Better through Innovation”. I
wonder what will our Malaysian Apex theme of the year will be……..After the gala
dinner, many of us were eager to move out for a evening stroll and to do some
last minute shopping. There were big shopping arcades there as well. We were
told that fun and happening of the night was just around the corner. Some of
us, ended up in the Cow-Boy Pub not far from the hotel. We all drank beer with catchy phrases like “Send me a
girl”, which came in a barrel. Beer was cheap…….
Next
morning, we had a walk around the shopping area. As Apn Mike took another
flight with Apn Edward Mai, Apn Stephenie Chee and myself left around 12 noon to catch our 14.10 flight 5J
499 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The taxi fare to the
airport was only 200 peso.
We
reached LCCT, Kuala Lumpur in the evening and I hopped onto a connected flight AK6118
to Penang and reached home 9pm.
It
was indeed a wonderful trip to The Philippines. On behalf of Apn Edward Mai and
Apn Mike, I would like to take this golden opportunity to abundantly thank our
host, Apn Dexter and all the Apexians of The Philippines for giving us a
memorable trip there. Hope to see you again.
From
the desk of Lee Kai Eng
Apex
President 2012-2013
