Today is our election day. I am not going to openly endorse anybody. This is contrary to our cherished traditions. In our club, you would not hear any campaign speeches. Save for the past presidents, everyone is a candidate. But you would see no one pushing himself for a position by enumerating his virtues and enumerating the vices of a perceived rival. No member is promising Valhalla ( the Norse version of Heaven ) to his supporters should he get elected. Instead, everyone is avoiding attention lest he be considered for election. To be President of the Rotary Club of SFU or at least a Director is an honor. However, everyone is looking for an excuse to say 'pass, muna' without disappointing those who believe in their capabilities for leadership. In my case, I was hoping that my turn to bang the gavel, would be delayed by one or two more years. I had previously been Director of the International, Youth, Community and Vocational Services of our Club, and so I was requesting that I be given a chance to cAdmittedly, there were times that I felt I made the wrong decision. Like last week when I was Judge for the more than 50 lanterns at the Town Plaza entered by the various barangays in San Fernando La Union. Just to be there, I had to refer 3 paying patients requesting for my services to another Radiologist and perhaps in the process lose the patronage of these patients forever. As I was there, soaked in the rain, amidst the blinking lights of some really strange-looking 'parols', having spent more than 2 hours judging these 'creations' using some other person's 'overlapping' criteria, I felt that everything was so 'surreal'. What am I doing here, I asked myself ? I should now be home, warm and comfy, watching a ' Batman of the Future' video with my kids! I don't know anything about symmetry and beauty, except perhaps, for appreciating the figure and faces of the ladies I see hanging around ADG Rey Bonifacio ( Rey says that these ladies are his secretaries and aides who help him in his various businesses )For those who are elected, especially the President-Elect, be not afraid ! If the past record of our Club is anything to go by, almost every member will pitch in and help. There will be minor intrigues, but this will be overshadowed by genuine camaraderie and the good feeling you get by doing something worthwhile.