By JCI Mem. Cheryl A. Galili

MEMBERS OF the Junior Chamber International Philippines (JCIP) in Palawan celebrated the opening day of their Jaycee Week last Sunday, April 13, with a mass sponsored at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral by their local organization managements (LOMs).

LOMs JCI Puerto Princesa Kiao, Oil and Peacock, Inc. were led in the celebration by the JCI Palawan Region whose current national vice president is Celeste Anna R. Formoso, also the editor of this newspaper.

On the morning of the opening, the three LOMs jointly planted trees in support of the City PNP’s campaign to green its compound in Barangay San Pedro. Around 50 active members of the Jaycees, including Junior Jaycees from Palawan Technical College and Institute (PTCI), planted varieties of gimelina, mahogany and other fast growing trees that could later provide shades in the area.

“This tree planting project is in support of the City PNP’s call for private organizations to help plant shade trees in its compound and in celebration of our Jaycee Week in Palawan, which primarily promotes the seven tenets we follow in the Jaycees to be better,” Regan Alili, the president of Oil Jaycees said.

He added that because the City PNP Building is new, there are still no trees planted within its surroundings.

It was followed by a blood letting project implemented by the Oil Jaycees in response to the Philippine Red Cross’ (PRC) call for blood donation to the Blood Bank.

At lunch time, all the members of the LOMs gathered at the Kalayaan Beach inside the Western Command for a get together lunch. “The celebration of the Jaycee Week is the time for all of us Jaycees and our supporters to exult the mission and vision of the Junior Chamber International which is are all directed to creating positive change for the attainment of world peace,” said Gemma B. Medina, the president of Peacock Jaycees.

Formoso, on the other hand, lauded the members of the Jaycees in Palawan for a job well done in implementing projects that benefit many indigent residents.

She encouraged young people in the city to be active in the community and help where it is needed. “I am proud of all of you because your commitment gives value and importance to the seventh tenet of the JC Creed that says service to humanity is the best work of life,” she said.

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By JCI Mem. Malou P. Paglinawan

A supporter of PaSaCalle who bought her ticket at the entrance of Centro get a free TM sim card from JCI Mem. Jo Almira while 2008 incoming president JCI Mem. Gemma B. Medina look on.

THE JCI Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc.’ Siete PaSaCalle sa Centro, a fundraising project for its December project Share-A-Home-Adopt-A-Child-and-Family, was successfully held at the Centro de Benito y Aliva on the night of November 30.

Globe, San Miguel Beer, Coca Cola, iFM 99.9 and Centro de Benito y Aliva were the partners of the local organization movement (LOM) in implementing the seventh year of PaSaCalle or parti sa calle which shall benefit more than 70 children and their families this December when Share-A-Home is implemented.

JCI Mem. Siony and incoming Pres. Gemma get busy during Siete PaSaCalle sa Centro on the last day of November.

More than 500 friends, patrons, donors and supporters of the LOM attended the fundraising event despite slight rain showers, a 20 minute blackout and the holding a simultaneous event at nearby provincial capitol building.

“We are so thankful that despite rain showers and the blackout, people still waited to see what we have in store for them during Siete PaSaCalle. For seven years, they have been supporting this project, and once again, we would be able to implement Share-A-Home come December 24,” JCI Mem. Siony Pilapil, chairperson of Siete PaSaCalle, said during the opening.

Project chairperson JCI Mem. Siony explains what is PaSaCalle to the people who attended the fundraising event at the Centro de Benito y Aliva building compound.

Globe sponsored cash and gave away free sim cards for those who bought tickets at PhP100.00 each. San Miguel Beer sponsored light beverages; Coca Cola sponsored 25 cases of soft drinks; while iFM 99.9 was the official FM station of Siete PaSaCalle during its promotional campaign.

The venue of Siete PaSaCalle, on the other hand, was offered free courtesy of Clink Hagedorn and Girlie Bayron, two of the owners of the building compound.

Other major sponsors were PLDT; Mountain Bay’s Touch, a new medi-spa place in Puerto Princesa; Norkis Yamaha; TGT Vulcanizing and Tire Center, newspapers Repetek and Palawan Times; EMRB Stitch and Frame, BMP Trading, La Niña Loading Station, and Swiss Solar, Inc..

JCI Mem. Gemma B. Medina, incoming president of the Peacock Jaycees, said the “pure and noble intention behind PaSaCalle has made it a consistent part of events in Puerto Princesa that never fail to attract the support of the people” and that for this, she is thankful.

“The Peacock Jaycees has nothing in heart but the desire to help indigent children and their families this Christmas. With the help of our partners and sponsors, we would be able to help many children again,” she said.

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IN the first ever Regional Council Meeting of the JCI Palawan Region, it was agreed that the planning meeting for the holding of the 61st JCI Philippines National Convention in Puerto Princesa will be done on the second week of January next year.

According to JCI Mem. Gemma B. Medina, president of the JCI Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc., January is the best time to begin discussing plans for the national convention, beginning on the setting up of several committees to handle its implementation.

First RCM of the Palawan Region held at Neva’s Place on November 22.

The RCM, which was attended by the presidents of the three LOMs, the other two JCI Puerto Princesa Oil outgoing president George Vasquez, and JCI Puerto Princesa Kiao Pres. Bennette Tamayo, discussed the national convention following information that the PhP100,000.00 “performance bond” has already been deposited to the account of the NOM.

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The JCI Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc. is only six days away from its big event, Siete PaSaCalle sa Centro, which will be on November 30, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the back of the Centro de Benito y Aliva here in Puerto Princesa City.

JCI Mem. Siony N. Pilapil, chairperson of Siete PaSaCalle sa Centro, shows a promo poster of the fund raising project to officers of the Palawan Region during its first meeting at Neva’s Place on November 22. Looking on were incoming Peacock Jaycees president, JCI Mem. Gemma, Regional Deputy NVP Ian Barroma and Pres. George Vasquez of Oil Jaycees.

The fund raising project will be implemented by the Peacock Jaycees with partners San Miguel Beer, Globe Telecommunications, Coca Cola Bottler’s Corporation and iFM 99.9, said JCI Mem. Siony, the chairperson of Siete PaSaCalle sa Centro.

The project, now running 7 years, is an annual effort of the LOM to raise funds for the Share-A-Home-Adopt-A-Child-and-Family implemented in Puerto Princesa during the Holiday Season. Basically, it adopts about 50-60 indigent children with the help of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

“We are already excited to do this street party because of the tremendous support of our partners. The LOM is blessed to have them all supporting us almost each year, such as San Miguel Beer,” JCI Mem. Siony said.

Siete PaSaCalle shall feature rising Palawan stand up comedian Lovely Amor from Manila, the Free Play band, a raffle draw where a digital camera worth P10,000.00 can be won, a dance showdown for five groups of teenagers between 15-18 years old, and lots of other surprises. Tickets for Siete PaSaCalle cost P100.00 each.

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By JCI Mem. Gemma B. Medina

PUERTO Princesa Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn expressed positive support to the Junior Chamber International Philippines 61st National Convention that will be held in October 2009 in the City to be implemented by the JCI Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc. in cooperation and partnership with the JCI Puerto Princesa Oil and the JCI Puerto Princesa Kiao.

In a meeting last week at Badjao Seafront, Mayor Hagedorn said he is proud that there are organizations of young professionals in the City that are willing to contribute to its good image by doing respectable leadership and entrepreneurship.

Informed of the numerous awards that the JCI Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc. has received from the recently held 27th Southern Luzon Area Conference in Legazpi City, Bicol and the 59th JCI Philippines National Convention in Cebu, Mayor Hagedorn said he can’t find it in his heart not to support the LOM when all it did is bring glory and achievements to the City.

“By 2009, many things have changed in Puerto Princesa. We would have more hotels and more restaurants to cater to the need of the delegates who will join the national convention. You can rely on the City Government’s full support on this project, and we promise to bring the Jaycees an event they will never forget,” Mayor Hagedorn said.

Initially, he has offered the free use of the nearly 10,000 sitting capacity Puerto Princesa City Coliseum for all the events of the forthcoming national convention. The place is located in Barangay San Pedro, and has been the venue of large concerts, graduation ceremonies, convention and other events.

Mayor Hagedorn said the City Government will be honored to welcome the Jaycees in Puerto Princesa to personally demonstrate to them what it is all about and why it is slowly becoming a model in sustainable development compared to other highly urbanized cities in the country.

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Military dentists join Tulong Kalusugan at Sitio Labtay, Napsan on July 28, 2007.

The JCI Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc. (Peacock Jaycees) is receiving an award on November 7, 2007 from the Philippine Marine Corps in Manila for “Tulong Kalusugan: A Medical, Dental and Healthcare Mission for the Tagbanua Indigenous People of Napsan” — a project implemented in partnership with the Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 in Puerto Princesa in July.

The awarding will be personally attended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a still tentative venue, according to JCI Mem. Emilyn R. Bayna, president of the Peacock Jaycees.

Pres. Emilyn said it was Lt. Col. Ramon Mabalot, commanding officer of MBLT 10, who informed her about the award.

“We are thankful that our Marine friends thought of us and is giving us this award. This only proves that civic organizations can make successful partnerships with the Marines. Providing support to improve the health of the Tagbanuas and other indigent residents in Napsan was a goal we never thought possible with their support,” she said.

Pres. Emilyn will fly to Manila a day before the awarding to receive the award. She will be joined by incoming president, JCI Mem. Gemma B. Medina and JCI Mem. Siony Pilapil, Peacock Jaycees, VP for Internal.

On July 28, the Peacock Jaycees and MBLT 10 went to Napsan to provide free medical, dental and healthcare services to 1,244 Tagbanuas and indigent residents of Sitio Labtay. The services provided free were milk feeding, medical checkup, tooth extraction, eye glasses, lectures on several health topics, circumcision, sugar testing, blood pressure check and others.

Free medicine were also given, courtesy of several sponsors of the Peacock Jaycees, such as ABS-CBN Bantay Bata, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Western Command Headquarters through Commodore Ruperto Rico C. Borromeo, 6th Civil Relations Group, 570th Composite Tactical Wing through Gen. Lino Horacio Lapinid, City Health Office, Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn and others.

Incoming LOM president, JCI Mem. Gemma B. Medina, pins a pink ribbon to an elderly woman at the City Public Market during the implementation of DibdibangKilos: Kababaihan Laba sa Breast Cancer.

THE all female organization JCI Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc. (also known as Peacock Jaycees) implemented on Sunday, October 28, the project Dibdibang Kilos: Kababaihan Laban sa Breast Cancer (Women Against Breast Cancer) in the City through the distribution of brochures that contain information about early detection of the ailment and pink ribbons that symbolize support to the worldwide campaign to save many women.

Now on its third year, outgoing and incoming presidents JCI members Emilyn R. Bayna and Gemma B. Batongbakal led the implementation of Dibdibang Kilos first at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, to Valencia Street and public market, ending outside in front of the New City Commercial Center located at Lacao Street.

Around 600 pink ribbons and 1,000 brochures were distributed by the LOM joined by more than a dozen of its regular members who were not busy during the weekend.

“The implementation of this project is an opportunity for us women in the Peacock Jaycees to reach out and touch women’s lives in Puerto Princesa because many of them are not aware about how to detect breast cancer early. Early prevention, as they say, is always better than cure,” JCI Mem. Gemma said.

Dibdibang Kilos is chaired by Baby JC May P. Pedrezuela, incoming regular member of the Peacock Jaycees, whose mother is a breast cancer survivor. “I feel honored to be chairing this project because my mother is a breast cancer survivor. We, women, should take care of our health. In breast cancer, early detection can save lives,” Baby JC May said.

Dibdibang Kilos is a project introduced to the LOM by U.S. Peace Corps volunteer Kathryn Brashears whose mother is also a survivor. A parade around the City and a gathering at the Capitol Park Square was held in 2005 under the term of past president Celeste Anna R. Formoso to dream beat the start of a long term project.

Every year, thousands of women around the world die because of breast cancer on a late stage. This means that their death were due to the late discovery of their ailment. Experts advised that if a lump is found on the breasts, examination should be done immediately.

The JCI Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc. is set to implement it’s annual street party fund raising on November 30, 2007 dubbed as “Siete PaSaCalle sa Centro” at the Centro de Benito Y Aliva Shopping and Dining Compound along J. P. Rizal Avenue. This year’s project chairperson is JCI Mem. Siony Pilapil.

     Tickets for PaSaCalle will be sold at PhP100.00. It entitles ticket holders to join a raffle draw where a digital camera can be won. There will also be a stand up comedian who will come from Metro Manila to entertain the crowd with fun and laughter. A dancing competition is already being prepared for local talents in a bid to showcase their skills to residents of the Puerto Princesa.

     Last year, PaSaCalle was held at Backyard Girl, also along J. P. Rizal Avenue. The street party was able to raise enough funds for Share-A-Home-Adopt-A-Child which was held the following month, on December 25, 2006 at the People’s Amphitheater, Mendoza Park.

     San Miguel Beer Corporation will again sponsor the fund raising project along with the business establishments in the Centro de Benito Y Aliva Shopping and Dining Compound being managed by Clink Hagedorn.

     JCI Mem. Siony said she is honored to chair this year’s biggest flagship project for the benefit of many indigent children in the City of Puerto Princesa. “I am really looking forward to this event, and I hope that with the help of my colleagues, this year’s PaSaCalle would be able to raise enough funds once again.”

The JCI Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc. is bidding to host the Philippine Jaycees’ national convention in 2009, according to incoming president JCI Mem. Gemma B. Medina.

    “We are very eager to do this because Puerto Princesa, now converted into a highly urbanized city, has so many to offer. We have everything that the NatCon needs, add to that the fact that we are the cleanest and greenest city nationwide, we’re also suitable as venue of this once a year activity of all Jaycees in the country,” she said.

    The members of the LOM will tag their campaign “Amos Tara sa Puerto Princesa!”  or “Let’s go to Puerto Princesa” in English.

    JCI Mem. Gemma said at least a dozen members of the Peacock Jaycees will be at this year’s national convention in Cebu to rigorously campaign for Puerto Princesa.

     “Puerto Princesa is the gateway to Palawan, the country’s Last Frontier. Here alone, we have the underground river and Honda Bay Islands to boast among others , and we’re sure our colleagues in the Jaycees will find our place fun and truly an unforgettable experience,” she added.

    The City has both high end hotels and affordable pension houses to accommodate more than a thousand domestic and foreign tourists; an 8,000-capacity coliseum that can be a convention and conference center; traditional transport services, such as tricycles; mobile communications, like Smart and Globe; Internet cafes, great restaurants; a wide selection of island souvenirs from shirts to wood crafts; and many more.

    Aside from the subterranean river, the City is also known to be the home of the Crocodile Farming Institute that was a first in the country under the RP-Japan Joint Partnership, great white sand beach coves, mangrove adventures and treks, and a host of other nice places to visit.

    Known also as a seafood lovers’ paradise, Puerto Princesa in Palawan has rustic-type restaurants that are in today, such as Kalui, Kamarikutan, Neva’s Place, Balinsasayaw, Bilao’t Palayok and Jo’s Inato, among others.

    “We are hoping that since the NatCon has never been done in Puerto Princesa, we will achieve the support of everyone,” JCI Mem. Gemma said.

From left: NVP Claudette, Reina, Cecille, Siony, incoming NVP Teng, Pres. Emilyn, incoming presidente JCI Mem. Gemma, and PP Malou.

TEN MEMBERS of the JCIP-Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc. successfully and gainfully joined the 27th Southern Luzon Area Conference of the Junior International Philippines for Area III on September 7-9, this year in Legazpi City, Bicol.

President Emilyn R. Bayna of the LOM Chapter headed the delegation with incoming president JCI Mem. Gemma B. Medina and National Vice President Claudette E. Sendaydiego of the JCIP-Palawan Region.

During the SOLAC, the members of the LOM participated in the tour guiding seminar, extemporaneous speaking contest, digital photography seminar, Search for Ms. Solac (Area III), the plenary and other activities made fun and exciting by the JCIP-Legazpi, this year’s host.

Most memorable during the area conference was the dinner sponsored by the local mayor on top of Lignon Hills that overlooks glittering Legazpi at night. In the daytime, Lignon has a good view of the perfect cone of the volcano — still remaining the best sight in Bicol despite hundreds of lives lost due to a recent typhoon that sent big boulders of rock down below.

A tour of the Cagsawa ruins was also unforgettable in the agenda of the members who joined other LOMs in getting to know the town. Unlike before when it still has souvenir shops and houses in the surrounding areas, the church ruins now look over a wide cavity-turned-river after the typhoon. One noticeable thing is that the residents of the place have quickly recovered from the incident to continue their lives, hoping for better chances in the future.

In the awarding ceremony held on the last day, the JCIP-Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc. received the following out seven bids or entries: JCI Mem. Emiyn R. Bayna (Outstanding LOM President-Area III); JCI Mem. Gemma B. Medina (Merit Award, Outstanding JCI Member-Area III); Tulong Kalusugan: A Medical, Dental and Healthcare Mission for the Tagbanua Indigenous People of Napsan (Best Public Health Award); and Bingo Serbisyo (Best Fund Raising Project). Past president and incoming national vice president JCI Mem. Teng Formoso also won second in the extemporaneous speaking contest.

The area conference became an opportunity too for the newly organized chapter JCIP-Puerto Princesa Kiao to participate for the first time in a Jaycee activity. The LOM was represented by JCI members Mike Dinglasan, Noel Viceral and Gie Abu.