Believe it or not, considering that I have been a journalist for decades, I am actually camera shy. And I have clocked countless missed moments because of this reticence to being photographed or filmed. Nothing to show as proof of having hobnobbed, interviewed or been in the company of presidents and prime ministers, foreign and local celebs, tycoons and moguls. Once, I was dining with my children in Manhattan. I spotted one table away Mikhail Baryshnikov hiding behind a NYC baseball cap and a bomber jacket. Did I muster enough courage to ask for a photograph even if he was facing me? Shucks, no!
In Hamburg, while everybody was eager to have his/her photo taken with then-Rotary International President-Elect Mark Maloney, I was too shy to jostle with the myriad seekers of a souvenir shot. I was at a disadvantage too; I suck at selfies.
When President Mark was on a visit to the Hall of Friendship, I discovered, lo and behold, that his aide was a good friend of mine, Past RI Director Larry Lunsford. Our friendship goes a long way back, to my International Assembly in 2009 as a District Governor-Elect. But did I get the courage to ask Larry to take my photo with Pres. Mark? Again, no. I just requested that I be introduced (which Larry did) for an exchange of a few words. Lame, lame, lame.
Well, it seems the opportunity has not been lost. As I write this, I have a scheduled interview with Pres. Mark for Philippine Rotary. He is in Manila for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Rotary in the Philippines and in Asia. Thus, there is no reason not to have a photograph with him. Like with former President Barry Rassin, I will instruct Philippine Rotary photographer Elly John Carig to just click away. But then again, with my luck, I am not holding my breath.
The Maloney interview is earmarked for the succeeding issue of Philippine Rotary as the pages of this month’s issue are already full on the new guards of RI, starting with a profile of the new RI president, an interview with President-Elect Holger Knaack who will be here in Manila in November for the Institute, and the 10 District Governors of this Champion Year.
Read her full message in the July issue of the Philippine Rotary magazine.
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