Eventions headed by Kimmy led the first bulb creation and later on we delegated tasks to our members.  We ended at night already and we built 10 Solar Bottle Lights!

Here’s some photo of our production

Video Tutorial on How to Build a Solar Bottle Light

Most of the original 12-man team went back for Cebu in the 10AM flight. Left behind were me, Ramil, and Mark to finalize the documentation of the post-OP.

We, along with the medical team in MMC, were treated to a lunch buffet by one of the sponsors. We also handed out lunch meals to the guardians of the patients as they were to be discharged (save for the last 3 patients) that afternoon. Honestly, I’ve never been called “doctor” as many times as these patients did in my whole life! hahaha! Maybe I should start adding “M.D.” to my name. “Murag Doctor”. hahahahaha! ^_^

After the group photos, me, Ramil, and Mariecar headed to Robinson’s to just tour around. Then we chilled at BlueGre’s for coffee. I really wonder what was in those coffee that we all fell asleep there! hmmm.. I need to get their recipe for my personal sleeping brew here. haha!

To our surprise, the sponsor for our lunch wasn’t done yet! We got a last minute call that they too prepared dinner for everyone! The only place available was at Jason’s. After dinner, we went to Cassado to party! There we were able to meet some of our sponsors too! ^_^

February 17, 2011

The day of the operations. Dr. Marc Achilles Phua, Dr. Alain Senerpida, Dr. Rommel Tan, and Dr. Homer Matias; operated on a total of 19 patients the whole day. With the patient’s age ranging from 5 months to 28 years old. We had four palatoplasty operations and several unilateral and bilateral cheiloplasty operations.

During one of the operations, we were visited by Vice Gov. Steve Solon who observed the procedure and he gave his full support for the project.

ABS-CBN was also there to do a feature for the TV Patrol (Gensan). Too bad wasn’t able to get myself in that video! hehe ^_^

At the end of the day, we had yet another feast! Tuna feast to be exact! Whew! ^_^

February 16, 2011

A group of 12-man team from JCI Mandaue arrived at General Santos City to do their first out-of-town Stream Smiles. We were greeted by the JCI General Santos Twin Star, lead by Pres. Jocelyn Decano, Project Chair JCI Mem. Derick Atoc at the General Santos International Airport.

We had the kick-off program around 1:30PM at the Mindanao Medical Center (MMC), hosted by JCI Mem. Kathrina Ilejay, along with the patients, Dr. Vañez the Medical Director of MMC, and Paul Blow of James Pipa Foundation (US).

After, we head for City Hall to do a courtesy call to Honorable Darlene Antonio-Custodio, the Mayor of General Santos City. There we shared and talked about the Share A Smile project.

At night, we frantically processed and checked the patients for admission to the hospital. We were able to admit 19 patients and ended very late at night. To end the day, we were treated to a feast by the JCI GenSan Twin Star. Honestly, I’ve never seen that much food in one setting! ^_^

That is because I AM JCI.

If I become the change I wish to see in this generation.
If am able to constantly challenge the boundaries of conventional notion,
If I inspire young people to be active citizens, leaders and creators of positive change,
If I am able to take, least of all myself, my work seriously,
If I live every day knowing that I am and always will be the master of my own destiny,
If I am now the personification of hard work, discipline and industry,

That is because I AM JCI.

If I am better today than I was yesterday,
And if I will be better tomorrow than I am today,
All that is because,
And just because,

I AM JCI.”

JCI MEM. MARC A. M. PHUA
2010 LOM President
JCI Philippines- Mandaue

JCI Mandaue Past Presidents with 2011 LOM Pres. Jon. Do the costumes make the men or do the men make the costumes?

IT WAS in 1973 when past president JCI Mem. Sixto  ―Jun Abao and then president  JCI Mem. Sixto  ―Six Castillo convinced me to join the Mandaue Jaycees, now known as JCI Mandaue. I was 23 then and now I’m 61 and still alive and kicking.

My 38 years as a Jaycee have been fruitful and memorable, for Jayceeism has significantly contributed into making me what I am now–more confident, happier and better person and leader.The training experience and opportunities I’ve got in the Jaycee movement had led to my election as president in 1983, thus making me the 20thpresident of the Mandaue Jaycees.

As we celebrate our 47th Anniversary and hold our 48thInduction of Officers led by president Godofredo ―Jon Castañares Jr., may I share with you some thoughts on leadership which the Jaycees primarily stand for.

• Leadership is the ability to inspire people to work together as a team under your direction in the attainment of a common goal.
• Leadership is the art of getting others to want to do something you are convinced should be done.
• Leadership is about gaining enough knowledge and wisdom to move people and plans from obscurity and excellence.
• The most effective leadership is by example.
• Some leaders succeed because they are  destined to, but most leaders succeed because they are determined and believe enough that they can.
• Leaders are tireless motivators—quick  to praise and offer personal advice and words of support.
• Leaders put action to their ideas and are willing to carve out new paths, to go where no one else has dared to go.
• Leaders are keen observers—they are alert with both eyes wide open for opportunities to serve.
• Leaders coordinate the brains and talents of others and  inspire them to reach for something greater than themselves.
• Leaders have a sense of humor.  They know how to smile and laugh.
• Leaders make their presence felt in any situation with their words evoking confidence and encouragement.
• Leaders are team builders. They get everyone involved in reaching a goal and realize that two heads are better than one.
• Leaders are decisive. They make objective decisions and make them right.
• Leaders are dreamers and risk takers whose real passion is for others.
• Leaders value time, their most precious commodity, which  they plan well.
• Leaders know how to communicate their visions effectively and how to enlist the cooperation of others.
• Leaders keep learning today, they stop leading tomorrow.
• Leaders prioritize tasks to be done—doing the important things first.
• Leaders love challenges and solving problems others fear.
• Leaders possess these essential qualities: boldness, courage, imagination and strength of character.

by JCI Sen. REGINALD T. YU, ITF 101 President, JCI Senate Manila

What adulatory words can be written, we often wonder, that haven’t already been penned, to grant justice to the supreme sacrifice that a true soldier makes in combat? Last February 8, General ANGELO “ANGIE” REYES – a soldier and a gentleman till the end – fought his final battle against his enemies and made the supreme sacrifice in defense of his loved ones and the good name which he sought so hard to preserve.

Indeed, for a man who saw honor and personal integrity as inextricably linked to every fiber of his being, his untimely death played a long, somber tone of sorrow. For not only did his family lose an extraordinarily devoted husband, father and grandfather, it also put a tragic end to what might have been many more promising years of exceptional leadership… one whose personal gifts and irreverent sense of humor helped smooth the rough edges of an otherwise provocative life.

Born on March 17, 1945 in San Miguel, Manila to Pablo S. Reyes of Binangonan, Rizal and the former Purificacion Tomas of Malate, Manila, Angie Reyes rose to become one of the most academically gifted military commanders in the Philippine Armed Forces. He completed his secondary schooling at the Cubao High School in 1960 where he graduated as the class valedictorian. In 1966, he was among the top ten graduates of the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City. He then proceeded to acquire two Masteral degrees, namely: Masters in Business Administration from Asian Institute of Management in 1973 and Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University in 1991. He also took up International Defense Management Course in Monterey, California in 1983. And in 1987, he graduated No. 1 in Trust Operations Management Course conducted by the Trust Institutes Foundation of the Philippines at the Ateneo Business School which eventually earned him a scholarship to the Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.

The occular inspection last January 22-23, 2011 hosted by JCI General Santos Twin Star with the able leadership of LOM Pres. Jocelyn Decano, took the JCI Mandaue delegation, comprised of the President and JCI Members Michael Brian Yu, Marc A. M. Phua, and Mark Leo Chang, to the impressive facilities of Mindanao Medical Center, a tertiary hospital located at Cannery Road, City Heights, General Santos City.

The group had the pleasure of meeting JCI Twin Star members, past presidents and senators. They likewise had the honor of discussing plans with the MMC Medical Director and General Surgeon Dr. Joseph Cyril Bañez, Participating ENT-Plastic Surgeon Dr. Homer Matias, and Vice-Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon.

General Santos City is that province we would all like to end up at, with all the delectable barbecue, lechon, and yes, tuna! to whet that city appetite.

We all look forward to the realization of the joint Stream Smiles Mission come February 16-18, 2011, to be capped off with the JCI Twin Star Induction and Turn-over Ceremonies on the 19th of February 2011.

“Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men — the other 999 follow women.” – Groucho Marx

Leadership, while intimidating, has the power to transform.

JCI Mandaue 2010 President  JCI Mem. Atty./Dr. Marc Achilles M. Phua truly believes that great leaders are consistently teachable. While information flows from the top, zest for information and knowledge will do the same. A leader who recognizes this learns not only from his position but from his followers as well.

The Presidency of a prestigious organization such as JCI MANDAUE is a challenge taken on by only best and bravest of JCI members. For Pres. Marc Phua, the presidency was the start of the great opportunity highway brilliantly disguised as a steep mountain climb. In his words, “…it is the Holy Grail of being a JCI Member: a trial by fire by which our relentless and undeniable selves will be unleashed to the world…“. This was the philosophy with which he rose up to the occasion with much eagerness and anticipation.

He understood that the JCI Mandaue Presidency was far more than a title; it was and still is a pedestal from which the other members witness both the old and new means to being better, and carry on.

During his term, Pres. Marc took a firm grasp of the JCI Creed, Mission and Vision of the organization, making a conscious choice to adopt them as his core personal values, and influence others to follow suit.

Aside from fulfilling the function of first identifying the chapter’s needs, and then providing the tools for fulfilment, Pres. Marc also endeavoured to provide the instruction necessary to attain and maintain optimum productivity.  He was dedicated to implementing new ideas for he recognized the power behind reinvention, and the unparalleled potential of an individual who constantly changes himself, to stay flexible, adaptable, and to continually improve those around them.

Pres. Marc has always been motivated by the welfare of the chapter in contrast to the prospect of self-aggrandizement many leaders succumb to. Motivated by the welfare of the team rather than his or her own agenda, he was always willing step aside if necessary to insure it. To him, team unity paralleled team productivity.

When dealing with his members, Pres. Marc saw to it that he would never play one member against another as a tactic, realizing that unity of purpose, when grounded in the integrity of the vision, would always lead to increased productivity and progress. It was always important for him to observe great integrity and assume the role of keeper of ethics.

Pres. Marc looks forward to formally turning-over his office to incoming LOM President for 2011 JCI Mem. Godofredo “Jon” Castanares, Jr. on March 2011. As he starts to serve as the 2011 BOD’s Immediate Past President, Pres. Marc shares some pointers and qualities on what he feels it takes to lead that “motley crew” we know as JCI Mandaue:

1. Charisma. A whole world of difference from what we call Charm, this is one of those leadership qualities that is hard to define; like beauty, you know it when you experience it. It is one of those experiences that would compel a follower, when told to “go to hell!” to actually look forward to the trip, believing fully well that the latter would only do so to follow this leader, the only person he recognizes as capable to get him to and back.
2. Vision. Pres. Marc has always been obsessed of becoming a Futurist, a personal fantasy he doesn’t readily admit to everyone. This involves the creation of a compelling picture of the future, a desired future state that people identify with. By creating this vision, the leader provides a means for people to develop commitment, a common goal around which to rally, and a way for people to feel successful.
3. Flame. A leader must exhibit the passion that fuels the chapter’s vision…. becoming a beacon of energy and enthusiasm. He must love what he does and it must show! A leader is the light that ignites others into action and helps make dreams become realities and the impossible… possible.
4. Focus. A good leader steers his organization toward prioritizing and achieving their objectives. He helps his members set clear goals by breaking them down into smaller, unfrosted ‘execution-able’, measurable goals. They differentiate between long- and short-term objectives and ensure that members understand the part they play and their responsibility for making it happen.
5. Fairness. Self-aware, authentic and a person of integrity, a leader keeps his ego in check and is humble and self-confident enough to encourage and accept challenges and points of view that are opposite of his own. A leader must arm his followers with the resources necessary to ‘win’ first and then judge performance accordingly. He trusts and empowers the members and insists on the truth at all times.
6. Fitness. Leaders must be fit for the job and its responsibilities. Pres. Marc realizes that even he himself fails miserably at this requirement, but recognizes that not only must a leader be knowledgeable, hard working, experienced, committed, and competent, he must be of such physical capability as to run a 10 kilo-meter marathon every day. Running a JCI chapter even under the most ideal of conditions is no less physically demanding!
7. Flexibility. Stuff… and sometimes sh*t happens!  A leader, especially one who is into it for self-improvement must welcome change, expect change, and prepare for change.   ”…we must become the change we wish to see in this world…” –Mahatma Ghandi
8. Intellectual stimulation. A lover by heart, but an Academic by circumstance, Pres. Marc has experienced the benefits of constant reinvention, and thus believes that leaders should show new ways of looking at old problems, and that they must continuously challenge the existing boundaries and the mental prisons people put themselves into.
9. Inspiration. The ability help people be better than they were yesterday, even when the change starts only in their minds, is the ability to inspire. To inspire requires a decent understanding of psychology, and a lifetime of practice.
10. Fun. It’s all right to loosen up and be a little silly at work.  The beneficial correlation between a worker’s  attitude and the amount of work that gets done has been proven in many studies. Take your work seriously, not necessarily yourself!
11. Self-Mastery. Often the greatest barrier to success is not our parents, nor the environment, nor the President; it is ourselves. This is also probably the most selfish personal agenda a leader can have, for he will benefit from it, even after his term ends.
12. Hard Work/Industry/Discipline. Not much needs to be said about these qualities, except that these are the most important, and without them, none of the other qualities would matter.

President Marc looks wistfully at the most prestigious office that he has had the honor to run in 2010. As he steps down to give way to better men, he embraces the prospect of newer, bigger, and better opportunities that await a JCI Past President. As he takes his leave, his last words as President are these:

“        I AM JCI.

If my charisma is the magnet to which my friends are drawn,

If my vision is the means to see light in the darkest of dawns,

If my passion is the enthusiasm of my followers,

If my focus reveals purpose in the lives of others,

If my integrity leaves men more authentic and straightforward,

If my fitness allows me to run the entire world,

That is because I AM JCI.

If I become the change I wish to see in this generation.

If am able to constantly challenge the boundaries of conventional notion,

If I inspire young people to be active citizens, leaders and creators of positive change,

If I am able to take, least of all myself, my work seriously,

If I live every day knowing that I am and always will be the master of my own destiny,

If I am now the personification of hard work, discipline and industry,

That is because I AM JCI.

If I am better today than I was yesterday,

And if I will be better tomorrow than I am today,

All that is because,

And just because,

I AM JCI.   ”

Well, I had the pleasure to spot her frolicking along Archbishop Reyes Avenue just across Ayala Center. She was a happy figure together with her now-expecting mom, and a cousin.

View Melody being featured on MagTV August 2010 Stream Smiles

Of course her shyness betrayed the overflowing joy she felt when she saw me, one of the guys who made her feel anxious during that three-hour ordeal at the O.R. We don’t blame her though, its tough just being a kid, let alone one who looks a lot prettier now!

JCIM IPP Marc Achilles M. Phua

Mabuhay!

Let the warmth of the Philippines welcome all of you as we host the JCI Asia-Pacific Conference in 2011. This will be the 8th time that the Asia-Pacific Conference will be held in our shores and we are extremely excited to put together all our previous experiences to bring you the most memorable one in your JCI careers.

Together with the Department of Tourism, our co-hosts JCI Iloilo, JCI Philippines and all our other JCIP Local Organizations, we look forward to showcasing the best of what the Philippines has to offer. Be treated to our renowned Filipino hospitality as we bring you a weeklong schedule of JCI trainings, seminars, networking, tours and fellowships.

A 7,107-island archipelago, the Philippines is rich in culture and tradition. A kaleidoscope of the modern and the old; of bustling chaotic urbanity and tranquil white sand beaches. An array of dining feasts that leaves nothing lacking for the palate (Make sur

e to try the “Balut” and other Filipino delicacies). With a multitude of eco-tourism travel packages, you will definitely want to extend your visit. Golf enthusiasts will marvel at the affordable rates and magnificent courses our cities have to offer.

Experience! Explore! Enjoy!

We look forward to seeing you all here in Manila for the 2011 JCI Asia-Pacific Conference.

JCI Sen. Pablo Francisco “Jing” Ortega Carlos III
Conference Director
2011 JCI Asia-Pacific Conference