All set for the "S Party"

Join the fun as the JCI General Santos "Twin Star", San Miguel Beer and Fortune Tobacco gives you a sunset to sunrise disco party dubbed as the "S PARTY" on October 7, 2006 3:00pm to 3:00am the next day at the parking lot, East Asia Royal Hotel, General Santos City.

This event is also sponsored by Sun Cellular, Mita General Santos, Inasal de Cebu, Progressive Farmas, Wild FM, Killer Bee, Thunder Energy Drink. . . .

"Twin Star" wins 2006 JCI-Philippines Area V e-awards competition

Three of the four project entries of the JCI General Santos "Twin Star" in the JCI Philippines electronic awards (Bidbook) competition garnered the top honors in the recently concluded 2006 JCI Philippines 26th Mindanao Area Conference held on September 1-3, 2006 at Pacific Heights Hotel, Cotabato City.

The three projects, Operation LIMP-CARE (Lame Integration and Management Program thru Crutches Assistance and Rehabilitation Enhancement), Bayanihan Sa Bakawan, a Mangrove Rehabilitation Project at Brgy. Minanga, and www.twinstarjcsonline.tk, the chapter website, romped away with major awards in the Assistance to the Handicapped Project, Best Environmental Program and Best LOM Website, respectively. The other LOM entry, 2006 Jaycee Week, ended as a runner up in the Best Jaycee Week program category all over Mindanao.

The formal yet emotional JCI Philippines Mindanao e-awards nights, which was graced by Mayor JV Ejercito, 1998 JCIP National President, is a prelude to the Philippine Jaycees National Convention which will be held on October 12-15, 2006 at Ubic, Olongapo City.

JCI General Santos "Twin Star", a 59-year old multi-awarded chapter has been known for the conduct of worthwhile projects in the city and in nearby provinces.

“Twin Star” reaps awards in Jaycees Tagaytay Natcon

The General-October 2003 news article. After the LOM won Major Awards in the Tgaytay national Convention

Ends 15-year national awards drought

After three relentless years, three of the four scrapbook-entries of the General Santos “Twin Star” Jaycees won two Major Awards and an Award of Merit in the Bidbook Competitions in the recently concluded Philippine Jaycees National Convention in Tagaytay City on October 9-12, 2003.

“The General”, the LOM’s monthly publication was awarded as the Most Outstanding LOM Publication, while the “PRO-Dog”, a monthly anti-rabies vaccination drive of the LOM with the Rotary Club of Midtown Dadiangas and the City Veterinary Office was adjudged as the winner in the Public Safety Award Category. Meantime, “BATMAN (Be A Total Man) Returns”, a mass circumcision joint project of the General Santos “Twin Star” Jaycees with the Bombo Radyo Phils., Councilor Odjok Acharon, Antonino Foundation, and Mahintana Foundation snatched the runner-up honors in the Future of the Children Award by garnering an Award of Merit.

The awarding ceremonies held in the plush and newly built Tagaytay International Convention Center which is located in a sprawling and landscaped complex owned by the Local Government of Tagaytay became more meaningful and nostalgic as the “Twin Star” Jaycees ended an almost 15-year national awards drought in the Jaycees Bidbook Competitions. The last national award garnered by the LOM previous to these was the Most Outstanding Seminar Speaker which was won in 1986 by the then LOM Secretary-General, “Twin Star” Jaycee Historian and now JCI Senator Larry Sevilla.

JC Sonny Sagalongos, the LOM’s Incoming President, and Past Presidents JC Jose Lasalita, Jr. and NVP Nestor Nolasco received the awards amidst the cheery adulations and ovations of more than a thousand Jaycee delegates all over the Philippines, as the “Twin Star” Jaycees becomes the only LOM in Mindanao to join the Manila Jaycees and Perlas Pasay Jaycees in the elite circle of winners of the Most Outstanding LOM Publication of the Philippine Jaycees.

More or less fifty (50) chapters submitted a record-breaking two hundred twenty (220) bidbbook pre-entry bids, of which one hundred twenty-eight were finished and submitted by at least thirty-eight (38) chapters beating the NatCon’s Opening Ceremony deadline set for the said competitions.

Past President JC Allan Licera, the Bidbook Committee Chairman was not able to join in the receiving of the award as he was appointed as one of the Bidbook Competition jurors by the Records and Recognition Commission of the Philippine Jaycees, Inc.

The other entry which got badly beaten by more than ten other Chapter Bidbooks was the The National Jaycee Week bidbook, which ironically garnered the Most Outstanding Jaycee Week Award in the Iligan Mindanao Area Conference last September 6-8, 2003.

IF WINNING ISN’T EVERYTHING…

September 2003 Editorial of The General-The LOM's official Publication- After the LOM won 4 awards in the 2003 Mindanao Area Conference Bidbook Competition in Iligan City.

Ad astra per aspera (to the stars through hardships.)

The name of our chapter has never become more meaningful to us than today. General Santos “Twin Star” Jaycees bespeaks of a chapter that has been for years considered one of the best not only in Southern Mindanao but as well as in the whole Philippine Jaycee firmament. The chapter’s winning ways and long tradition of leadership distinction always would leave any LOM President (who knows his Jaycee history) in awe at the high expectations the chapter’s highest position entails and brings.

Not too long ago, three of the four scrapbooks of the LOM garnered major awards in the bidbook competitions in the recently concluded 2003 Philippine Jaycees Mindanao Area Conference held in Iligan City. This winning may be aptly described as the culmination of the sacrifices and concerted efforts of several past presidents through these years – sacrifices to make a big difference; concerted efforts to bring back the glory days of the chapter.

It is also a manifestation of a chapter’s membership maturing slowly, of a chapter overcoming growing pains, of a chapter trying to expand its horizons, of a chapter trying to sail the uncharted seas.

However, winning is not the be all and end all of everything. It is just a punctuation mark to a long saga of leadership excellence and commitment to community development.

It is the heritage of our past presidents.

It is realizing that going the extra mile is going to where there’s never a lot of traffic.

Please read related Article published in the Sept. 2003 issue of the General

“Twin Star” Jaycees cops three awards in area conference 2003

Three of the four scrapbooks submitted by the General Santos “Twin Star” Jaycees in the Bidbook Competitions of the 2003 Philippine Jaycees Mindanao Area Conference held in Iligan City last September 5-7, 2003, garnered the major awards, while the other was conferred with a certificate of merit.

The projects that earned the major awards were “BATMAN Returns!”(a free circumcision drive of the Jaycees which benefited more than four hundred kids) in the Future of the Children Award Category, PRO-Dog (a monthly anti-rabies vaccination of the LOM with the Office of the City Veterinarian and the Rotary Club of Midtown Dadiangas) in the Safety Award Category, and the 2003 National Jaycee Week Celebration under the National Jaycee Week Award Category. The other which garnered a Certificate of Merit was “The General”, the chapter’s monthly publication.

There to receive the awards in behalf of the LOM were Incoming President JC Sonny Sagalongos, Out-going President, JC Ellie Acuesta, Jr., PP’s JC Allan Licera, Mary Antonette Baltazar, Jose Lasalita Jr, Past NT JCI Senator Hans Chu, NVP JC Nhes Nolasco, SecGen Cecille Salangsangand JC Arthur Temeña.

LOSING SIGHT, BEING RIGHT

July 2003 Editorial of The General-The LOM's Official Publication

A famous poet once observed that we are all manufacturers in a way – making good, making trouble or making excuses. This is quite true as we take a look at the usual state of affairs of every Jaycee chapter, or of the Philippine Jaycees itself.

We see projects bungled because either of poor planning, or lack of it. We see good relationships turning sour. We see friendships disintegrating in the face of controversies and clashing interests. We see good organizations or chapters turning into shambles after a “healthy” and well-contested election. We see our members and officers seeming to lose sight of the very purpose and intent of the Jaycee Movement, we see our very leaders losing their idealism and forgetting their values in the face of the complexities of realities and the challenges of the times. The irony here is that…

All these circumstances have a fundamental and common denominator-Good Intentions. All of these started with the desire to make a good difference. All of these started with the noble purpose of “establishing a permanent world peace”.

If only we give importance to experience and the lessons it will give us; if only we try to see things in another man’s view point, not just our own; if only we can listen more instead of being too engrossed with sharing our good ideas and opinions to others; if only we can share a single minute of our busy time for a worthwhile endeavor or project; if only we put our personal interest as always the last and the least consideration; if only we can see project not as an object to attain and accomplish but rather, as people moving towards a goal; if only we step back from the drudgery of the rat race and try to reflect on our true missions as men and Jaycees; if only we can recreate the Jaycee vision that has lighted the path of our former great leaders; if only we practice a little more introspection and decide on changing ourselves first before taking on that enormous task of changing the world; if only we care more for others…

Only then we can say, we truly are Jaycees.

“That government should be of laws rather of men…”

August 2003 Editorial of The General-The LOMs Official Publication. The editorial touches on the oakwood seiged by the Magdalo Soldiers on July 2003.

Time and again, we have seen Philippines, our beloved country and the only truly democratic state in Asia wracked by coups and destabilization efforts led by influential people of our society, and the military. This phenomenon seems to indicate that our political system is indeed so weak and flawed that the messianic leaders of these efforts have reasons to believe that any attempt to grab power pays or is worth the risk. That may be so since no coup plotter or “destabilizer” has been significantly punished for his so called “crime against the state”.

Granting that the sentiments of these coup plotters are true, there is no enough reason for any well-meaning and responsible Filipino to jeopardize our country’s ailing economy just for this “noble” pursuit of purging our government of corrupt and inept officials, or booting out the “illegal president” from Malacañang.

What makes the latest military caper very depressing is that it was led(or were they led?), by the young officers of our Armed Forces. These gun-toting people seem to believe that any change in the system would require the use of force, understandably so since they are graduates of a military academy. However, they should have borne in mind that their primary duty as soldiers of the republic is to defend the state, uphold the law and protect the duly constituted authority. Their “armed demonstration” in Oakwood Hotel is a wayward interpretation of this vow, to say the least. In fact, it is a complete departure to the principle of civilian supremacy over the military. We must put a stop to this military adventurism and deal all these misguided military elements, idealistic they may be, with appropriate education at democracy and appreciation of the rule of law.

Let justice be done though heavens may fall.

To be or not to be….

January 2003 Editorial of The General-The LOm's Official Publication

When the LOM decided to publish “The GENERAL”, it was for the sole reason of providing the “Twin Star” Jaycees information and updates of the goings-on in the Philippines Jaycees and Junior Chamber International.

The then LOM President, JC Ceasar Capili told his Jaycees peers, “If we have to do it, let's shoot for the moon.” Loud and clear, his message reverberated in that small room where the LOM Boardwas having a meeting. The challenged was thrown, and ultimately it was accepted.

The rest is history as his words turned into a very wonderful reality – The GENERAL won as the Most Outstanding LOM Publication of the Philippine Jaycees. Little did we expect that in shooting for the moon, we'll eventually land among the stars!!

This experience has taught us a lot of lessons. We now know that nothing worthwhile and fulfilling is achieved if we do not go the extra mile. We now know t h a t prro b l e m s a re j u s t opportunities in disguise. We now know that every notable accomplishment starts with that bold decision to try. We now know that in THE JAYCEES, as well, as in LIFE, things do not just happen. As another portentous Jaycee Year unfolds before our eyes, we are expected to do better, to try harder.

Are we up to the challenge?

PUTTING AN UNCOMMON EFFORT INTO A COMMON TASK

February 2004 editorial of the General-The LOMs Official Publication

“Who is my neighbor?”

One of the most common problems faced by any LOM is sustaining a certain number of Jaycees as its Chapter membership base. Time and again, most LOMs get caught in a vicious cycle of recruiting young professionals and entrepreneurs, screening them, letting them undergo the OTS as well as other basic Jaycee seminars, letting them handle small projects, and presto!, the LOM has a new batch of Jaycees. But usually because of a very tight Chapter calendar, most of these new Jaycees are left on their own to discover and appreciate the organization and its promise of opportunities.

However, most LOM officers tend to forget that running an organization that is voluntary in nature requires a deeper understanding of human nature and behavior, and the dynamics of the organization, as well. Or maybe on hindsight, it is just that most of the officers and even us, members, get too engrossed with the various chapter activities, more so with the fellowship that every Jaycee function brings. The more serious Jaycees, on the other hand, are too pre-occupied with monitoring their respective pet projects to ensure that come Area Conference, National Convention, ASPAC, or even World Congress, such projects would garner recognition in the bidbook competitions. Or maybe, we animatedly get caught up by the exciting world of Jaycee politics.

Many would say though, that any member’s active participation and intense involvement in the LOM affairs largely depend on the LOM President’s charisma, his vision for the chapter, and his relentless drive to achieve something for himself, in particular, and for the LOM, in general.

We have to be reminded that the President is not the Organization. While he may lead the chapter, direct every officer to do a certain task, provide motivation to every member, any president can only do so much. We must remind ourselves that it is the general membership and not the president that determines any LOM’s organizational culture and atmosphere. It is the general membership that can make or break any chapter because it is the one that ultimately decides on crucial issues

Devil in Details

March 2005 Issue of The General Magazine-The LOMs Official Publication

Just like a very common yet extremely excruciating torture where water is allowed to continuously dropped onto one’s forehead, one of the most distressing challenges to any LOM management is the administrative gridlock that may consequently happen when everybody seems busy pursuing one’s big project. More often than not, LOMs get too catatonically engrossed in this kind of pursuit that they end up implementing even the simplest of projects haphazardly. And at day’s end, we would ask ourselves, have we done something significant?

It is often told among successful managers and leaders that in situations like this, the secret of success lies not in doing work, but in recognizing the right man to do it”. As managers and leaders, we subconsciously select or pick somebody who could fill in our simple incompetence. Put it in milder words, we seek people who could complement us.

Translating visions into realities requires not only identifying specific goals and setting directions, but also creating a plan of action, and converting them into a comprehensive program of either single-thrust plans or standing projects that are easily implementable.

What comes next is the projects legwork’s daily grind. Here lies the importance of a well-oiled machinery, of having the right people for every job, of effective communication, of charisma, of dogged persistence and of the will to make a real difference.

It is here that any manager or leader would realize that having a great aim is not enough. There must be strong determination to attain the set objectives.

Between the great things we cannot do and the small things we can do, the danger is that we shall do nothing.

Twin Star host grand recruitment night

JCI GenSan “Twin Star” champions coastal community cause

GSC - Advocacy gets a novel and a more profound meaning in the Jaycees as the Junior Chamber International General Santos “Twin Star” launches its coastal community management program with Minanga Urban Poor Settlers Association, Inc. (MUPSAI), a people’s organization entrusted with the rehabilitation and development of at least five hectares of Sarangani Bay’s coast beside the Buayan estuary.

The joint undertaking which was formally inked in a formal Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signing during the 41st Annual Installation of Officers and Induction of New Members at Ecopark, this city, and duly witnessed by Jaycee delegates all over Mindanao bespoke of the social responsibility of the Jaycees towards its environment and the local community.

Newly elected “Twin Star” LOM President JCI Member Julius Q. Trinidad and MUPSAI President Dan Arroyo were both pleased with the joint venture as they promised to closely coordinate with each other to ensure the program’s success.

Though the survey is yet to be fully concluded, part of the initial plans for the program are the conduct of a mangrove rehabilitation program, conduct of health and social awareness projects, and leadership development, capability-building and self-reliance trainings and seminars, among others.

Assigned as the Interim Committee Chairman tasked to oversee the survey for the said program is JCI Member Edwin Ravelo.

As part of the confidence and goodwill building measure, the JCI General Santos “Twin Star” had already conducted a mangrove tree planting and medical mission last April 17 and April 20, 2006, respectively.