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Junior Chamber
International Philippines 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. 2. ROBERTO VILLANUEVA (Deceased) 3. FELICIANO R. BELMONTE, JR. 4. VICTOR JOSE I. LUCIANO 5. CRISPIN C. DY, JR. 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% 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% Professions: Businessman 32.2% 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. Strengthen and upgrade the SECRETARIAT
by accepting local and/or foreign grants and subsidy. |
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