Junior Chamber
International Philippines
(Philippine Jaycees, Inc.)
Brief History
Any historical
account of the Jaycee movement in Asia necessarily begins with the
Philippine Jaycees.
It was here that the
first Jaycee chapter in Asia-the Manila Jaycees – was born on December
20, 1947. On March 10, 1948, two delegates from the Manila Jaycees
attended the 3rd World Congress of the Junior Chamber
International held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to petition for the
admission of the chapter to the worldwide organization. They came
back to Manila with charter for the national chamber that was to be
known as the Philippine Jaycees, and the distinction for JC Gregorio
Feliciano for being the first Filipino Vice President of Junior
Chamber International.
Two circumstances may
be said to paved way the way for the Jaycees’ transplantation in Asia
through the Philippines.
1. Its
historical ties with the United States
2. The restlessness
of its young professionals to help the county recover from the ravages
brought by the Pacific War.
From various
accounts in the past, we have known how this involvement begun with
the curiosity of that venerable Artemio Vergel de Dios, still very
much active in the movement to this day, who as a young man read about
the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce in October 1946 issue of the
American Magazine PIC and for with wrote the U.S. Jaycees to inquire
how a similar organization could be established in the Philippines.
By September 12,
1947, Vergel de Dios got the cue from Bob Richards, Executive
secretary of the US Jaycees, who referred him to Bert Talbot, a former
Jaycee from St. Paul, Minnesota, who was then Northwest Airlines
traffic manager in Manila. At about the same time, Talbot got a
letter from Tyrlor Cole, then president of the Junior
Chamber
International, about Vergel de Dios intention, suggesting that he and
Robert Trent, then representative of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters in
Manila, meet with the Filipino.
As advised, the
meeting among the three was arranged and held at the Rotary Room of
the Manila Hotel on September 25, 1947 and initial plans were drawn
for an organizational meeting. These were firmed up in October with a
list of 60 young men to charter members, but only 17 were able to
attend the organizational meeting December 20, 1947, 10 of whom were
Filipinos and 7 Americans. The Filipinos, who were soon to become
prominent businessman and industrialist, were Ramon V. del Rosario,
Oscar Arellano, Rafael Estrada, Fred Benitez, Gregorio Feliciano,
Oliverio Laperal, Jose Mayuga, Eugenio Puyat, Graciano Yupangco and
the one who started it all, Artemio Vergel de Dios. The Americans
were John Bachman, Steve Brodie, Chuck Nelson, Stephen Stonich, Wylie
Young and the two referrals, Bert Talbot and Robert Trent.
By the time the
constitution and By-Laws of the chapter, was taken up and approved on
January 03, 1948, 42 members had signed up. The first board of
directors elected Ramon del Rosario- President, Robert Trent-Executive
Vice President, Eugenio Puyat-Vice President for External Affairs,
Jose Mayuga-Vice President for Internal Affairs, Artemio Vergel de
Dios-Secretary, Gregorio Feliciano-Treasurer and Steve Brodie-Public
Relations Officer.
Having granted the
charter for the national Jaycees Organization in the Philippines, the
intrepid Manila Jaycees fanned out in the provinces to organize
chapters. The first to respond were the young men of BACOLOD,
CABANATUAN, CAPIZ, CAVITE, ILOILO, DAVAO, LUCENA, SAN PABLO, TACLOBAN
and ZAMBOANGA. By the year end, the number of chapters organized had
reached 22.
The first national
convention was held in Manila in April 1949. Following the approval
of the constitution and By-laws of the Philippine Jaycees, the first
set of national officers were elected with Ramon del Rosario as
President.
That same month, 19
Filipino Jaycees led by Del Rosario attended the 4th JCI
World Congress in Brussels. The rather large delegation must have so
impressed the Jaycees from different countries that they voted to hold
the 5th JCI World Congress in Manila the following year.
From Brussels, the
Filipino delegates broke up into five teams for a “Sell the
Philippines” campaign tour to Latin America, Canada and the United
States, with different itineraries, the Filipino ambassadors of
goodwill did their country proud as they spoke at banquets, radio
programs, TV appearances and newspaper and its people, in the process
dispelling ignorance and correcting misinformation then prevalent
about the fledgling republic.
At the 5th
JCI World Congress held in October 1950 at the Manila Hotel, the
delegates were addressed by President Quirino and other officials of
the Philippine Government. A momentous highlight of the assembly was
the election of Ramon del Rosario as world president of the Junior
Chamber International, the first Filipino and Asian to hold that
position. In three successive years, del Rosario earned the
distinction of chalking up three first: first president of Manila
Jaycees, and first Filipino president of JCI. Two years later,
another Filipino, Roberto Villanueva, was elected to the same office:
Other Filipino subsequently elected JCI President were Feliciano
Belmonte, Jr., Victor Luciano and Crispin Dy, Jr.
Through the years,
the Philippines Jaycees as an organization has become a byword in
civic projects of varying scope and importance such as setting up
monuments, blood banks and puericultures centers, exterminating
rodents and harmful insects, and campaigning for people to “get out
and vote”. The tragic death of National President Joaquin V. Gonzales
in a plane crash is memorialized by a rehabilitation pavilion at
Welfareville in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, set up under the auspices
of the Philippine Jaycees.
Two projects of the
Philippine Jaycees which have become institutions are the “Voice of
Democracy” oratorical contest among students and the annual search for
the “Outstanding Young Men” of the Philippines.
Also to this great
credit and to this day widely remembered is “Operations Brotherhood”,
a humanitarian project in Vietnam and Laos whose methodology evolved
out of the “Help the Barrio” project initiated by Cesar Climaco in
Zamboanga and later adopted nationwide by the Philippine Jaycees,
under the name “Held Juan”. The essence of “Operation Brotherhood”
was an enlarged and more systematic application of a
Multi-disciplinary approach in helping the needy whose implementation
Oscar Arellano successfully headed.
The rise of Jayceeism
in the Philippine and in Asia paralleled the organization’s phenomenal
growth the world over. By 1952, there were 52 national chambers. In
Asia, the growth of Jayceeism was notably brisk from that year to
1952.
In 1952, there were
only 79 local chapters in Asia of which 37 in the Philippine and 34 in
Japan, with a chapter each in Hongkong, India, Indonesia, Korea,
Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. By 1954, Jaycee chapters had
been organized in Burma, Ceylon, Malaysia and Pakistan. There were
nucleus organizations in Borneo and Laos which eventually become full
chambers with a total of 126 local chapters.
Today, there are 15
national Jaycee organizations in Asia, with the addition of Bangladesh
and Nepal. Under the JCI structure, the region falls under Area B to
which Australia, New Zealand, Guam and Fuji are included.
The other dimension
of Jayceeism is the Jaycee Senate, founded in January 1952 by JCI
World President Phil T.R. Pugsley of Canada to provide a lifetime link
with the organization for elder members and at the same time harness
them for Jaycee extension.
Today, the Jaycee
Senate International has over 43,000 members representing just a
little over one percent of the three million people who have been
Jaycee. This is so because a JCI Senatorship, lifetime title, is
selectively for outstanding performance by a Jaycees whether on the
local, national or international level.
Organization's Brief Profile
CURRENT FACTS
NAME: Junior Chamber
International Philippines better known as Philippine Jaycees, Inc.,
registered under the Laws of the Republic of the Philippines, is
an affiliate of Junior Chamber International (JCI), Worldwide
Federation of Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs.
MISSION: To contribute
to the advancement of the global community by providing opportunities
for young people to develop leadership skills, social responsibility
and fellowship necessary to create positive change.
MEMBERSHIP: Over 4,000
young adults between 18 to 40 from 200 local organizations (LOMs)
or chapters throughout the Philippine archipelago.
2009 NATIONAL PRESIDENT: JCI
Sen. FULBERT C. WOO from the JCI Iloilo, Inc.
HEADQUARTERS: National
Headquarters is located at Philippine Jaycees Bldg., 14 Don Alejandro
Roces Ave., in Quezon City. The three-storey building houses a Secretariat
of seven (7) personnel who provides membership and development services
to local chapters and organization members. Chief Administrative
Officer is an Executive Director who reports directly to the Secretary
General.
NATIONAL EVENTS: The
National Convention is held every second weekend of October. This
year the 61st National Convention will be held in Puerto Princesa City from October
8-11, 2009. The General Membership
meets in this annual gathering to conduct training and business
seminars, as well as undertake its other activities provided in
its annual order of business. Its five (5) Area Conferences is simultaneously
held every first weekend of September of every year.
This year the simultaneous conferences
will be held on September 4-6, 2009 in San Fernando, La
Union for Area I to be
hosted by ilocandi LOMs.; Area II will be in Bulcan to be
hosted by the JCI Marilaw Marilag ; Area III in Lipa City
hosted by the JCI Cavite City Magiting Area IV in Cebu
City hosted by the JCI Cebu Sinulog and Area V in Gen.
Santos
City hosted
by the JCI Gen. Santos Twin Star. All these meetings produce specific
plans for community-based action on issues of leadership training
and business or entrepreneurship. Also during this event, the General
Membership will elect its incoming national officers.
HISTORY: The first
Junior Chamber was organized in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. on October
13, 1915. On December 11, 1944, representatives from eight (8) nations
met in Mexico City and the world organization-Junior Chamber International
was founded. In 1974, the movement crossed the Pacific and the Manila
Jaycees was founded with the approval of its Constitution on December
20, 1947. By 1948, eleven new chapters were organized in the following
key cities: Cebu, San Pablo, Bacolod, Zamboanga , Davao, iloilo,
Lucena, Cabanatuan, Capiz, Cavite and Tacloban.
The first national convention was
held February 11-13, 1949 at the Manila Hotel. The former Hon. Ramon
V. del Rosario, Sr. was elected the first National President.
HOW THE JAYCEES ATTAIN ITS
GOALS: The Jaycees operates of the premise that the development
of individual character and personality will result in better communities
and eventually, a more peaceful world. The organization may be described
as a University of Leaders--the students are its members; the curriculum
is leadership development; and its campus, the world.
PROGRAMS: The JCI
Philippines (Philippine
Jaycees, Inc). evolve around four (4) areas of opportunity. These
areas offer numerous activities for members to acquire or refine
their leadership skills and provide multiple channels for communities
to benefit from the Junior Chamber experience. The four (4) areas
of opportunities are:
INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITIES:
Jaycees offers opportunities for personal development. Seminars
such as Leadership in Action, Personal Dynamics, Effective Communications,
and Goal Setting, among others, help members to improve public speaking
skills, learn leadership skills, improve their communications abilities
and enhance their personality.
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES:
The JCI Members provides the member immersion program in his community,
becomes aware of its needs and implements to answer those needs.
In this key area, Jaycees become catalysts for positive change,
serving the greater good of the society. The JCI Members put into practice
the skills they have developed through service to their communities,
to the country and to mankind.
INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:
The JCI members make available very impressive international opportunities.
In this area, the member can derive awareness of what is happening
in other cultures, and helps the member to establish a network of
professional and business connections throughout the world. The
Jaycees offers its members the opportunity to contribute towards
world peace, simply by creating goodwill and friendship with their
fellow JCI members from other countries. In brief, the Jaycees provides
young people the opportunity to succeed. It offers the challenges
that make life more meaningful, worthwhile and personally rewarding.
BUSINESS AREA OF OPPORTUNITY:
Junior Chamber International since established in 1915, almost around 400,000
of its members all over the world are offered or involved in some
business networking activity and working on their own for another
company or preparing to open their own business. It is definitely
a federation/organization of young leaders and entrepreneurs. And
among the Junior Chamber’s program thrusts are: (1) to give
emphasis on entrepreneurship (2) to enable young people to have
an active role and voice in the business community and, (3) to learn
how to conduct business through their leadership skills and become
successful leaders in the business industry.
Business opportunities give Junior
Chamber the chance to enhance the economics life of the community,
by conducting projects to increase business productivity. Economic
progress can be achieved by visiting successful companies to learn
how they conduct their business, and by inviting successful entrepreneurs
to speak at monthly meetings. Junior Chambers can conduct training
sessions on how to enhance company operations and promote free enterprises
as the best way to achieve economic justice.
Many National Organizations and chapters
organize special trade missions to other countries to establish
business relations and exchange technology; organize small investment
clubs; publish business directories, and other relevant activities.
At World Congress, trade seminars encourage members to practice
free enterprise and develop business contacts or networks.
THE JCI PHILIPPINES (PHILIPPINE JAYCEES) ITS MEMBERS
Since the founding of Junior Chamber
International Philippines 57 years ago, the organization continues
to assume key roles in the international arena. Among the past JCI
World Presidents coming from the Philippine Jaycees not to mention
those who held elected international positions as Exec. Vice Presidents
and Vice Presidents are:
1. RAMON V. DEL ROSARIO , SR.
1951 JCI World President
(Manila Jaycees)
- Served a s Ambassador of the Philippines to Japan
and now heads the PHINMA Group of Companies
2. ROBERTO VILLANUEVA (Deceased)
(Manila Jaycees)
1953 JCI World President
3. FELICIANO R. BELMONTE, JR.
Manila Jaycees
1976 JCI World President
- Former General Manager of Government Service Insurance System
(GSIS) and head of various government corporations i.e. Manila Hotel,
PAL, Member of the House of Representatives and currently Mayor
of
Quezon City, Philippines.
4. VICTOR JOSE I. LUCIANO
1985 JCI World President
Quezon City Capitol Jaycees
- He is now a successful businessman.
5. CRISPIN C. DY, JR.
Makati Jaycees
1997 JCI World President
- a prominent and successful businessman.
WHERE ARE THE GRADUATES NOW ?
Among the Jaycees, past and present
members, assuming leadership position in government as of 2005 are:
1. Philippine Senate – 4 out
of 24, or 16.67%
2. House of Representatives – 25 out of 218, 0r 12.14%
3. Provincial Governors – 3 of 76, or 3.75%
4. City/Municipal Mayors –
20 out of 1,559, or 1.28%
5. Cabinet Secretaries/Under/Asst. Secretaries – 7
6. Government Corporations – 4
7. In Diplomatic Posts – 3
CURRENT MEMBERSHIP PROFILE
Total current membership (age 18 to
40) total 3,500 excluding active associates of past members numbering
more than 6,000 and an auxiliary group of Junior Jaycees, numbering
over 3,000 members operating in more than 250 communities across
the Philippine archipelago. The Philippines Jaycees, Inc. is an
authentic people’s leadership training and development organization
with members coming from all walks of life, of divergent professions
and careers. It is a rural-based, national organization with 85%
of total chapters in the countryside and the rest in highly urbanized
centers, countrywide.
1. Age group: 18-20 regulars or 6.0%
21-25 regulars or 17.4%
26-30 regulars or 30.8%
31-35 regulars or 25.1%
36-40 regulars or 20.7%
Professions: Businessman 32.2%
Private Employee 14.9%
Government Employee 9.6%
Teacher/Professor 6.4%
Engineer/Architect 5.7%
Nurse/Other Allied 5.0%
Business Executive 45%
Banker 43%
Accountant 3.6%
Medical Practitioner 3.4%
Student 3.1%
Government Official 1.9%
Dentist 1.9%
Law Practitioner 1.5%
Farmer 1.0%
Others 1.0%
JCI Philippines (PHILIPPINE JAYCEES) LANDMARK PROGRAMS
The Philippine Jaycees initiated,
organized and continues to confer among the most prestigious awards
in the Philippines namely:
1) The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM)
in 1962; in which initiated by the Manila Jaycees
in 1959 as the Ten Outstanding Young Men;
2) The Outstanding Policemen of the
Philippines (TOPP), 1967, initiated by the Quezon City “Capitol”
Jaycees in 1965
3) The Voice of Philippine Democracy
(VOPD) a nationwide oratorical competition on the value of freedom
and democracy is another institutional project of the Philippines
Jaycees since the 1950s.
The Jaycees undertake annual activities
to help raise funds for government programs for the out-of-school
youth and street children. One of such projects is the ALAY LAKAD
an annual walk-for-a-cause held nationwide. This was originally
conceived in 1972 by the Makati Jaycees.
PHILIPPINE JAYCEES AS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
The JCI Philippines, being the University
of Leaders, is the only special non-formal training institution
that provides non-stop leadership training and development to its
members, as well as for non-Jaycees who want to avail of its training
expertise and facilities. It is accredited by the Professional Regulation
Commission (PRC) as a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Provider.
More so, it is an accredited Corruption Prevention Unit (CPU) of
the Office of the Ombudsman, among other accrediting government
entities.
HOW THE PHILIPPINE JAYCEES
SUSTAINS ITS OPERATIONS?
With its limited annual operating
budget, almost 90% is derived from membership dues and 10% from
various ways and means activities.
Through 59th years non-stop operations,
the Jaycees survive mainly through the spirit of VOLUNTEERISM. Elected
National Officers commit to shoulder in part all their traveling
expenses related to national projects and institutionalized programs.
All of its programs and projects are conducted on self-liquidating
basis. Resource mobilization for projects and programs then becomes
the main areas of training in local as well as national and international
operations.
JCI PHILIPPINES, INC. (PHILIPPINE JAYCEES) PREPARES
ITSELF FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS
Under the able leadership of NP
FULBERT C. WOO
The country’s economy affects
the growth of membership nationwide, both in quality and quantity
considering that 85% percent of members are from rural areas. To
counter this adverse effect, we have come up with the following
strategies:
1. Actively participate in the
ENTREPRENEURSHIP program and promote SUSTAINABLE COUNTRYSIDE DEVELOPMENT.
2. Establish a PUBLISHING HOUSE.
3. Organize a TRAINING CENTER
4. Increase in membership base via handsome add ons.
5. Mobilize the entire resources, including the past awardees in
the volunteering efforts to gain goodwill, understanding, public
confidence.
Strengthen and upgrade the SECRETARIAT
by accepting local and/or foreign grants and subsidy.
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