At 12:00 noon, the Vice President had a luncheon meeting at the Peninsula Manila Hotel, Makati City with the Rotary Club of Makati (RCM). RCM is the first Rotary Club in Makati and is also the second largest in the country (after Rotary Club of Manila). Its members, composed of businessmen, professionals, and respected practitioners from various industries, meet every Tuesday where they invite and exchange views with guest speakers from government, business, the academe, and other sectors.

In her speech, the Vice President emphasized the value of exemplifying the true essence of leadership in ensuring inclusive development. “Now, more than ever, we need leaders who will inspire others not just to follow, but to lead as well. Leaders who will set aside their personal agenda, and effectively engage and start working with our people. We need to create a community where each one is given the opportunity to lead and grow. Because in the end, the fate of our country lies not in the hands of a strong leader, but in the collective courage and action of our people. But for all these to flourish, we all must create an environment where ordinary Filipinos can speak freely, engage the government without fear, and expect results from such engagement. This is not the government’s job alone; the responsibility lies in all of us.”