The Courage to Go First

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Inside Premier's 12th Induction and Handover Ceremonies

Every Rotary club holds an induction ceremony.

Very few tell a story.

The Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro Premier chose to tell one.

Inspired by the timeless elegance of Casino Royale, members and guests arrived at Limketkai Luxe Hotel dressed for an evening of black ties, evening gowns, and sophisticated casino-inspired décor. Tables were adorned with playing cards, poker chips, and subtle nods to the world of James Bond—not to celebrate games of chance, but to illustrate a simple truth.

In the end, the strongest hand is never the cards you're dealt.

It's the people sitting around the table.

That message quietly unfolded throughout the evening.

A Year Unlike Any Other

Before welcoming a new president, the club first celebrated an extraordinary chapter in its own history.

For the first time, leadership had been shared by three presidents—Emma Chris Louise Along, Monique Cajardo, and Alisa Trena Olano—fondly known throughout the year as the Premier Triumvirate.

What began as an unconventional solution became proof that leadership is not always about one person standing at the front. Sometimes, it is about three leaders choosing to trust one another enough to carry the responsibility together.

Their service was recognized with Premier's Leadership Award, accepted by President Alisa on behalf of the Triumvirate. More than a plaque, the award carried a tradition unique to the club: it bore the signatures of every living Past President of Premier, symbolizing that leadership is never carried alone. It is built upon those who came before and entrusted to those who come next—a tradition the club proudly adopted from the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro East Urban.

It was a fitting tribute to a Rotary year defined not by convention, but by collaboration.

"Premier Did It First."

Past District Governor John Mark F. Sarraga has watched Premier grow since before it even received its charter.

His message was less a speech than a reflection on what has become the club's identity.

"Premier did not create extraordinary people. Premier attracted them." 

He spoke of a club that has never been content with simply asking whether something has been done before.

Instead, Premier asks a different question:

"Is there a better way?" 

That mindset has shaped the club from its earliest days.

Long before hybrid meetings became common, Premier experimented with bringing meetings to members. During the pandemic, when traditional recognition ceremonies became impossible, the club redirected award funds to The Rotary Foundation in the honorees' names, turning recognition into lasting impact. When leadership succession presented a challenge, Premier responded not with hesitation but with an unprecedented three-president model.

Innovation, Sarraga reminded everyone, is not about getting everything right.

It is about having the courage to try.

"Protect your values. But never become bound to your methods." 

A President Who Never Planned to Lead

That spirit of growth found its perfect continuation in incoming President Mae Grace Pilapil Siao.

Unlike many leaders, Siao did not join Rotary with aspirations of becoming president.

She joined for a much simpler reason.

"I wanted to serve." 

A top-performing automotive sales professional, she confessed something many in the audience found surprising.

She was shy.

Public speaking terrified her.

Yet Rotary has a way of gently asking members to take one small step outside their comfort zones. First, someone invites you to help with a project. Then to chair a committee. Eventually, someone asks you to lead.

Before you realize it, the person who never imagined becoming president is standing at the podium accepting the responsibility.

"Rotary also creates lasting impact within us," Siao reflected. "It transforms volunteers into leaders. It turns acquaintances into lifelong friends. It helps us discover strengths and confidence we never knew we possessed." 

It was perhaps the evening's most powerful reminder that Rotary changes not only the communities it serves, but also the people who choose to serve them.

Welcoming New Faces

The evening also marked the beginning of new Rotary journeys.

Jaynah Boado, Suhairah Magomnang, and Precilla Joy Alwag were inducted as the club's newest members, joining a fellowship committed to Service Above Self.

Outstanding service was likewise recognized, with Atty. Edgar Requilme receiving the club's MVP Award as Rotarian of the Year, while Charlyn Macaraeg-Benitez was honored with the Rookie of the Year Award as Premier's Most Outstanding New Rotarian.

Guests also received commemorative calendars featuring the club's projects from the past Rotary year—a keepsake that served as both a reflection on lives already touched and a reminder that the work continues.

The celebration concluded with a lively performance by JENZPEAK, one of Northern Mindanao's most enduring bands, bringing members and guests together in fellowship long after the formal program had ended.

We Are All Aces

Although the evening embraced the glamour of Casino Royale, it quietly subverted its central premise.

Casino games often celebrate the single winning hand.

Rotary celebrates something else.

Throughout the club's teaser campaign, one image kept appearing: the Ace of Spades.

By the end of the celebration, the meaning became clear.

The ace was never meant to represent one person.

It represented every Rotarian.

Every member who volunteers after work.

Every committee chair who quietly solves problems behind the scenes.

Every new member willing to say yes.

Every past president who leaves the club stronger than they found it.

Every leader courageous enough to try something no one has tried before.

Perhaps that is why Premier continues to leave its mark—not because it is searching for extraordinary people, but because it creates opportunities for ordinary people to do extraordinary things together.

Or, as President Mae Grace reminded the club in closing:

"Creating lasting impact isn't about doing one extraordinary thing. It's about doing ordinary things, consistently, with compassion, generosity, and a genuine desire to serve." 

And if the evening proved anything, it was this:

The best hand isn't held by one ace.

It's held by a club full of them. ♠️

More photos may be found here.

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