We approach the new biennium amid numerous global crises.of climate change, deepening armed conflicts and acute food shortage in many parts of the world. In the Philippines, we are faced with a critical rice shortage escalating prices of oil and an expanding Muslim insurgency in Mindanao. The Visayas region is reeling from the devastating effects of typhoon Frank never yet experienced in recent memory.

As soon as the euphoria of the recent Taipei Convention tapers off, SIPR braces itself for the myriad tasks ahead. During the first month of my term, I have presided over many installations of officers and induction of new members, giving me inspiration and hope that SIPR will prevail in the goals that it had set for itself this year. I dream of increasing membership and bringing the number of clubs to a hundred at the end of this biennium. I have created new committees, the Nurturing Committee meant to strengthen weak clubs among others. We have mobilized our IT team to upgrade our SIPR website, dormant during the last few years, started with computer literacy training for the SIPR Board, aimed to enhance our communication capabilities, streamlined our reporting system, making it easier for presidents to prepare reports. [click here for full message]