President's Message · 2020 Eric Paolo Smith
Our ever strong and supportive JCI Mandaue Presidents
My family
Fellow JCI Mandaue members
Thank you and a Merry Evening to all of you!
Sa panahon ngayon mga bros.. Mmmmm – 5 M’s! Brothers! Sa panahon ngayon.. say it with me! Mmmmm! Masarap Maging Merry Men ng Mandaue! Let’s say it again! Masarap Maging Merry Men ng Mandaue! Please let’s give all of us a merry-go-round of applause!
I want to start by thanking my family – my siblings, and my mom most especially. Ma, you have remained patient and always supportive of the good that this engagement brings on top of my responsibilities to Handuraw and Hale Manna. From Youth for a Livable Cebu, to JCI the inspiration has always been from you and your active citizenship in the fronts of environment, education, and social entrepreneurship. Thank you ma for continuing to inspire us and continuing to guide and support us. This Presidency is also for you!
My JCI journey began back in 2016 upon the invitation of my cousin Charles Tiu and one of my best friends Rod Limpot. Come 2017, I took on the challenge of becoming your Local Training Director under President Richard Labitag. Fast-forward, in 2018 and 2019 I served as your Executive Vice President (EVP) Internal and EVP External, respectively. As I made my way up and actively engaged in the tasks called upon by the positions of service to our chapter, it pushed me out of my comfort zone to deal with different kinds of people and speak before a crowd. It molded me to grow into a more confident person. I want to see many of our brothers take on the challenge, lead a project, become a deputy officer, commit as a member of the board, as a VP then EVP, and grow to become the next chapter President of this strong all-male JCI chapter in the Philippines – JCI Mandaue.
We have gone a long way, and I join our chapter presidents and brothers in saying that we have consistently grown stronger year-after-year. And I shall be the first to say now that it shall not end tonight.
It is important that we always build on the previous years so that we keep an upward growth and impact trajectory. From reestablishing a #BrotherhoodWithPurpose in 2017, we knew very well that it was #BetterTogetherAjaAja in 2018, and so we made sure that #TogetherWeProsper in 2019, and now we strengthen our existing programs, deepen inter-organizational relationships, and re-engage our stakeholders. We are more than ready to #EngageForChange this 2020!
Now you may have a lot of expectations for me as your incoming president. I am sure to continue the gains of the last 3 years but of course I hope to gain even more (not in weight, please Lord! but); gains in terms of more opportunities that will develop our individual skills, and more opportunities that will bring positive change in our communities with reengaged partnerships.
- Through our MandaWeCare Program under our EVP External Nike Cagulada, VP for Community Judee Kwan and deputy Edmar Dionson – we focus on accomplishing our second Daycare center in Brgy. Labogon in Mandaue City with the help of Gwangjeong Presbyterian Church, strengthen the impacts of our existing projects – Hygiene 101, First Aid Trainings among others.
- Pursue more environmental projects under our Think Green Program with the help of our 2016 President Ramil Montealto and resident Marine Biologist VP Rapzkie Geson.
- Get our Merry Fundation program going with sustainable projects on our Merry Merchandise by our VP for Business Archie Arizo and Deputy Jay Pastor and Treasurer Bonidee Capoy.
- Merry Links – Follow through with sisterhood projects with our sister chapters – Boholana Kisses, Bohol Limestone, Chocolate Hills, and Aklan Kalantiao. And maintain our international sisterhoods. VP for International MJ Ortiz, deputy Tim Park, and VP for National Relations Kristoffer Yurong and deputies Pete Lim and Gab Melgo, we are counting on you!
- Re-engage with Alay Lakad Mandaue with the help of Presidents Godo Castanares, Mike Villanueva, and Ramil Montealto.
- On the internal front, complete our JCI Mandaue Red Book, begin the process of updating and amending our constitution, strengthen parliamentary procedures and protocol – we count on you EVP Internal Sam Uy, Sec Roy, Protocol Officer Sam Taguibao, and Legal Counsel Atty. Mike Hubahib, to make this a reality.
- Let’s maximize our Merry Media program by exploiting our online media presence, please VP for Communications Rapzkie and deputy Martin Manalili.
- Build fulfilling and sustainable membership efforts with our Merry ME or Membership Engagement, and Merry Honors programs especially that we aim to be Category 1 this year. We can do this and let’s make this happen, VP for Individual Brad Dablos and deputy Martin Abadia!
- And finally, for all of us Merry Men, let us seriously begin looking for a site for our clubhouse or headquarters.
A lot of things-to-do, a lot of opportunities to better ourselves and better our communities! I am very proud that our 2020 Board of Directors and Deputies have stepped up to the task. After all, I am not the only person being inducted tonight! This is our shared responsibility, and our shared commitment to our chapter. It behooves us to be better with every opportunity.
Brothers, before us are challenging times. Environmental and health crises, geo-political conflicts, corruption, intolerance, continuing difficulties caused by poverty, are just among the few. It is our charge as Jaycees to find solutions in ways that are creative, sustainable, and replicable. Our JCI Values and Mission are the guides to steer us to that direction and imbue us with strong sense of integrity and purpose. Alone we can do so little but together we can do so much! Let us choose to be active participants in our movement that is JCI.
To our sister chapters, our fellow Jaycees, our institutional and private partners, let us work together to address the challenges of the times, build our nation, and become better men and women for others.
To quote Star Trek’s Captain Jean Luc Picard, JCI Mandaue – “Engage!” We are now ready to #EngageForChange!
On behalf of my brothers thank you all for being here tonight to celebrate with us on our 57th year and witness the induction and turnover of officers. We are grateful for your support for yet another year of active citizenship and positive impact, most especially to the brand of service and engagement that is the Merry Men of the Junior Chamber International.