FOUR chapters of the Junior Chamber International, or the Jaycees, from Northern Mindanao received recognition during the 35th Gawad Mindanao Awards. The annual Mindanao-wide awards and recognition program for JCI was held at the CAP Auditorium in Davao City last September 5, 2014.
JCI Bai Lawanen and its president, Cachor Reyes, went up the stage to receive the Merit Award for Best Sports Development Program – Rafthon: Raft, Bike, Run, and Fellowship in the City of Golden Friendship while JCI Bukidnon Maragway, headed by LO president Jamie Marie Gellor, brought home The Gawad Mindanao Award for Best New Local Organization. “It was such a surreal experience,” said Jamie,
“It's the camaraderie that got us through, and it's the camaraderie that makes us, Bukidnon Maragway, yearn to achieve more.”
The JCI Kagayhaan Gold, the sole coed chapter of Cagayan de Oro, won two Merit Awards for Best Public Health Program – Tulong Para sa Barangay Tuburan and Best Environment Development Program – Think Green Y4: Ridge to Reef.
The chapter also won two Gawad Mindanao Awards for Best Local Growth and Development Program – A Babies Night Out Y3 and Best Sports Development Program – Touch Rugby Program: A Tale of Grassroots Development for the Sport of Rugby where the chapter was able to conduct a free touch rugby clinic in Mapua Elementary School in Barangay Mapua, Balingoan, Misamis Oriental.
JCI Kagayhaan Gold 2015 president, Richmond Anthony Alfonso, and his 42 strong membership was able to conduct a Medical, Dental, Optical, and Free Haircut Mission at Barangay Tuburan, a hinterland barangay of CdeO which is an hour of rough road travel from Lumbia.
Think Green is a National Project of JCI and the chapter has been conducting the said activity for the fourth straight year. This year, the chapter was able to plant 250 seedlings of Narra and Mahogany trees in Barangay Awang, Opol, Misamis Oriental, an extremely deforested area, and conduct a coastal clean-up and plant 5,000 mangove propagules along the coastline of Bulua. This was made possible through the partnership of JCI KG and its sister chapter, the JCI Macajalar 24K, as well as other organizations such as the Philippine Air Force.
The biggest winner for Northern Mindanao was JCI Macajalar 24K who bagged four Merit Awards and four Gawad Mindanao Awards.
President Ana Friza Borcena and her M24K ladies won Merit Awards for Best JCI Week Celebration – Living the JCI Values: JCI Week Celebration, Assistance to the Handicapped – Artsada: Art Class Initiative for The SPED Children of West City Central School, Best Public Relations Program – M24k Multi-Platform Marketing: Souvenir Program, and Best Fund Raising Program – M24k Fund Raising Program: Pera Pera Paano ka Ginawa.
Their Gawad Mindanao Awards include Best Environmental Development Program – M24K para sa MacBay, Best Civic Involvement Program – Sa M24k may Forever: Masayang 24 na Kasalan, and Best Local CSR Program – A Partnership Forged in Gold. The chapter has been very active in conducting community project all year long specially in the areas of environmental awareness and education.
Proving that M24K ladies have both brains and beauty, Princess Lalwani was declared 1st Runner Up for the Public Speaking Competition, and on a lighter note, fellow M24K member Cese Dosdos was also declared Best Dressed Female of the Night.
Both JCI KG and JCI M24K also received the Efficiency Award. Also, both chapters received a Plaque of Recognition as both ranked in the top ten chapters in Mindanao, JCI KG is ranked 6th overall while JCI M24K is ranked 3rd.
In the highlight of the night, Friza was named Most Outstanding JCI Chapter President.
“I especially would like to focus on projects that would give the most impact in the community. The fundamental goal of my presidency is to live up to the theme of JCI Macajalar 24K for 2015: One Vision, One Macajalar,” said Pres. Ana. “I am very grateful for all these awards but what is more important is that we were able to create positive change in the community where we belong.”
The Junior Chamber International is a worldwide organization and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. There are four chapters in the city: JCI Cagayan de Oro, Inc. is the all-male chapter; JCI Bai Lawanen and JCI Macajalar 24K are all-female chapters; and JCI Kagayhaan Gold is the coed chapter. Also, there are three neighboring chapters namely JCI Manticao, JCI Bukidnon Century, and JCI Bukidnon Maragway.