City Mayor welcome the JCISP National Board

Mayor’s Night

Dagos Tabi sa Legazpi!

by JCI Sen. Jeanette A. Uy

JCI Sen. Noel E. Rosal, City Mayor of Legazpi, welcomes the JCI Senate Philippines national Board and Guests during the Mayor’s Night.

The Welcome Dinner for senators sponsored by JCI Senator Noel Rosal, also the mayor of Legazpi City, last March 11, 2021 at Legazpi City Convention Center, started with an energetic dance number by Legazpi City Ibalong Dancers. With the folk dancers’ eye-catching costumes and rhythmic moves, Albay province’s rich culture, tradition and history were proudly showcased to the guests.

In his Opening Remarks delivered among an audience of 2021 Incoming National Board, National Chairmen, JCI Senators and JCI regular members, Sen. Noel enthusiastically welcomed the visitors to the City of Fun and Adventure and presented the province’s tourist spots and outstanding efforts in implementing health protocols to keep the guests safe and secure. JCI Sen. Gregorio Lipa, on the other hand, as the incoming president of JCI Senate Philippines warmly appreciated the attendance of the senators in said dinner and support of regular JCI chapters such as JCI Legazpi (headed by President Johnson Uy), JCI Daraga (headed by President Arianne Julise Rosauro), JCI Legazpi Dawani (headed by President Leah Buenaventura) and JJC Legazpi (headed by President Mariel Mabilin). Likewise, he emphasized the beauty and relevance of engaging in meaningful fellowships such as welcome dinners to encourage wholesome conversations and lasting connections with fellow JCI members.

More than a mere dinner, the event was filled with fellowship and interactions, not only among fellow senators, but also with regular JCI chapters members, who will be the future of JCI senate chapters in Bicol region. Thus, the welcome dinner opened doors of opportunities to widen the network of JCI Senate Legazpi and inspired the regular members to apply for senatorship once qualified.

Most importantly, the Mayor’s Night served as JCI Senate Legazpi’s contribution to the local government in its efforts of slowly opening Legazpi City to tourists outside the Bicol region, without compromising health and safety, by reviving the tourism industry, eliminating unemployment and improving the overall economic status of the city.

Indeed, a warm welcome to Legazpi City. •

JCI Sen. GarbIn WelComeS the natIonal board throuGh SumptuouS dInner at the mISIbIS

by JCI Mem. Annel San Pablo

A Welcome Dinner for JCI Senate Philippines National Board was hosted by AKO Bicol Partylist Rep. who happens to be a JCI Senate Legazpi Board Member, JCI Sen Alfredo Pido Garbin, JGF at Misibis Bay Resort, Bacacay, Albay.

Visitors from different regions were able to taste the best Bicol delicacies in Misibis Bay, the premier resort destination this side of the region.

Minimum public health standards were strictly followed during the event, while the JCI Senate Legazpi continue to press forward in the new normal. •

The Official Quarterly Publication of JCI SENATE LEGAZPI 3rd Quarter | March to May 2021 7

MeeT The new senaTors

ISABEL L. REYNOSO

Senator No. 79520

You could say JCI runs in my blood coming from a family of multiple jaycee members. My maternal grandfather, JCI Sen. Joselito L. Sarte is currently the oldest living JCI Legazpi Past President. I would grow up listening to stories of his younger years with fellow jaycees such as Judge Cesar Bordeos and they would make the memories seem so amusing. My dad, a member of JCI Parañaque Pambato, would likewise brag that he received his senatorship without having to pass through the challenges of presidency. His meritorious service to the organization as a member alone was enough to qualify for the prestigious recognition.

So is it really surprising to find myself as a JCI Member as well?

My very first foray into the organization as an adult was attending a JCI Lipa induction in 2009. Between the program and beer I found myself falling in love with the excitement, grandeur and fellowship reminiscent of stories I’d heard from my lolo and dad. My boyfriend then, and husband now, Martin Reynoso introduced me to JCI Daraga and without my knowledge even included my name among the charter roster of members. Since that fateful induction in 2009, and despite living in Manila, I would fly occasionally to Albay just to be able to attend chapter activities such as our first fun run in 2012, numerous induction ceremonies, YLEA in far flung barangays and read-a-long activities with visiting US Forces.

Things finally came full circle, when I became elected as JCI Daraga’s 2014 president. Together with Martin who was also president of JCI Legazpi, we took on the challenge of Changing the Future Today. It was not without difficulty, only a few months into our joint term, Super Typhoon Haiyan battered the country. As Oplan Kaagapay Regional Chair and with the entire Bicol partnering together, we were able to deploy relief goods to those affected in Legazpi as well as ground-zero in Tacloban. My most memorable project, Project Liwanag, was a concerted humanitarian mission that distributed solar lights, medical aid and school supplies to the marginalized coastal community of Brgy. Visita, San Miguel Island.

Projects like this, together with many others, has given JCI Daraga perhaps the most recognitions it has ever received in a year: 1 Temiong Award, 1 Merit Award, 1 Training Excellence Award and the first ever Platinum Seal of Efficiency (Ranked 11th Nationwide) during the National Convention additionally 7 Dangal Awards, 1 Merit Award and Platinum Seal of Efficiency (Ranked 2nd Areawide) during the Area Conference that year. Project Liwanag also made it as a finalist in the 2015 Asia Pacific Awards Ceremony in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

It’s these kinds of crazy, imaginative and unconventional projects that have kept me falling in love with JCI. As much as I have given to this organization, it continues to give me so much more. This year alone I’ve attained milestones in my JCI Career. Serving as Area 3’s Award Chairperson, it was an honor to work together with the men of JCI Legazpi as they hosted the 41st Southern Luzon Area Conference. The icing on the cake however, was receiving my very own JCI Senator Certificate and pin from JCI Senate National President Greg Lipa last March 13, 2021.

JEANETTE ALVAREZ UY

Senator No. 75921

Jeanette Uy started with JCI (Jaycees then) at the young age of 14 as a Baby Jaycee of Lucena “Mutya” Jaycees. In the same year, she won Best Baby Jaycee during the Southern Luzon Area Conference in September 1997 at Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The following year, she bagged the first prize in the Mottainai International Essay Writing Contest sponsored by Japan Jaycees, taking home $1,000 as cash incentive.

After 16 years of hiatus, Jeanette returned to JCI as a Baby JCI of JCI Daraga in 2013. Since then, she held various positions in the Board of Directors until she accepted the challenge of presidency in 2019. It was the same year she won the Temiong Award for Most Outstanding Member during the National Convention in Iligan City, and hailed as Finalist in the same category during the Asia Pacific Conference (AsPaC) in Jeju, South Korea.

Her presidency is marked with great leaps, such as placing overall 4th place national ranking, Top 9 in trainings conducted (national ranking), Platinum seal of efficiency, Sibol Award, 1 Temiong award, 1 merit award during the National Convention, 5 Dangal Awards and 4 Merit Awards during the Area Conference, including Dangal Award for Most Outstanding LO President (Category 3).

As a past president, Jeanette continues to support and guide the current BOD, train members, chair projects, and recruit BJCIs. To leave a legacy for the incoming batch, she successfully pursued the accreditation of JCI Daraga as civil service organization of LGU Daraga and the Provincial Government of Albay. She went on to serve JCI Philippines Area 3 as its Area Legal Counsel in 2020 and was recognized with a Leadership Award. In this same year, she chaired Challenge Climate Change, an environmental sustainability program utilizing empty coconut husks as breeding ground for mangrove seedlings. This won Merit Award in the category Best Environmental Development Program in both the area conference and national convention in 2020.

Currently, she juggles being the Area Skills Development Director of JCI Philippines Area 3, government prosecutor, member-agency representative to the Bicol Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid19, and a mother to two daughters.

RAMON P. TOMAS

If it were possible, 1989 JCI Legazpi President Ramon ‘Mon’ Tomas would probably choose to live in the sea. PP Ramon fondly remembers his presidency as one focused on marine protection and conservation.

While JCI Legazpi president, he served concurrently as Bicol Scuba Divers Foundation Inc. President. Which is why his flagship projects such as SCUBA-surero and coral reef protection were joint works with fellow sea guardians. It was during his term that the chapter saw the beginnings of what would become known as Coral Genesis. He jumpstarted artificial reef deployment in Albay seas.

After his presidency, Sen. Mon received Presidential awards from the regular organization: in 1995 from current JCI Senate Legazpi President Junie Bordeos and in 2010 from current JCI Senate Legazpi Secretary General Sen. Oriel Maddela. Sen. Ramon Tomas has since then continued in his advocacies and civic work. He readily volunteered to be among the search party for Sec. Jesse Robredo

GLENDORA “GLEN” N. CADAG

I joined the then so-called “Legazpi Dawani Jaycees” (now “JCI Legazpi Dawani”) with the invitation of my friend, then newly-elected LOM President, Glynda Ramos-Alarcon in April 1997.

PP Glynda encouraged me to join the activities then to fully recognized as regular member of this organization. As time goes by, I enjoyed being with the group of young, talented, friendly and down to earth individuals. During PP Glynda’s tenure, I was encouraged to join the 1997 Southern Luzon Area Conference in Puerto Princesa, Palawan with other Past Presidents like PP Theodora Losantas, PP Arlene Gallego, PP Natividad Cardel and PP Ma. Salve Llantada. This was my first fun-filled experience that boost my career in JCI.

In 1998, I was appointed LOM Secretary by then newly-elected LOM President, Sen Dorothy Fernandez-Colle and at the same time appointed as LOM Treasurer due to non-active of the newly-elected LOM Treasurer by that time.

In 1999, I was again appointed by then newly-elected LOM President Ma. Salve Llantada. In 2000, I was elected as LOM President. Then in 2001, I was appointed as Secretary-General of Bicol Jaycees by then NVP for Bicol Sen Baltazar “Butch” Rosal.

DOROTHY FERNANDEZ COLLE

My JCI journey commenced in 1996 as I was recruited by Dawani Jaycee Joy Novilla, I entered during the presidency of past president Natividad Cardel.

After joining several activities, I was awarded most Outstanding Dawani Jaycee for the JCI year 1997-1998. I was elected president of the Legazpi Dawani Jaycees for JCI year 1998-1999. As President, I implemented activities that helped the community specially the elderly.

Moreover, I also implemented a fund-raising project that helped fund the projects during my term. I got to participate in conferences both the area and national conferences. I had the privilege to be part of the working committee during the Southern Luzon Area Conference held in Legazpi City in 2002.

As the provincial tourism officer of Albay, I supported various activities of not just the Legazpi Dawani Jaycees but the Legazpi Jaycees and JCI Daraga as well.

Being part of the JCI Legazpi senate is a dream come true for it completes my journey in the Jaycees.

LAMBERTO DORONELA

2000 LO President, JCI Legazpi 2002 National Vice President for Bicol 2003 Area 3 Vice President