Starting its 2024 initiatives with Pasay City’s skate park and Ten Outstanding Guro Awards announcement | The 2024 JCI Manila Board of Directors. | From top left to right: Director for Membership Development Armando Franco Olayres, Director for National Relations & Training Marc Peter Rod Te, Vice President for Internal Affairs Edison Ke, President Charles Matthew “Calel” Gosingtian, Executive Treasurer Carmelo Enrico Medalla, Director for Special Projects Dizon Kwok, and Director for International Relations Rob Angel Hong From bottom left to right: Director for Membership Benefits Laurence Tan, Director for Community Development Charles Ratcliffe, Vice President for External Affairs Shih-Hao Hsu, Executive Vice President Carlos Miguel Ochoa, Secretary General Michael Sean Uy, Vice President for Community Affairs Joseph Michael González-Rastrullo, Director for Business & Local Organization Management Matt Elvis Flores, and Director for Youth Development Peter Guan Espiritu.
HeadlinesPH | Meet the visionaries leading JCI Manila’s 2024 Board of Directors | JCI Manila, a prominent leadership development group in Asia, recently celebrated its 76th Induction and Turnover Ceremonies at the Conrad Manila Pasay City. The event highlighted the importance of servant leadership and community service, acknowledging the achievements of the 2023 term and the inauguration of the 2024 Board of Directors. With this year’s theme #Elevate, JCI Manila proudly introduced its newest elected and appointed leaders:
President Charles Matthew “Calel” Gosingtian, Executive Vice President Carlos Miguel Ochoa, Secretary General Michael Sean Uy, Executive Treasurer Carmelo Enrico Medalla, Vice President for Community Affairs Joseph Michael González-Rastrullo, Vice President for Internal Affairs Edison Ke, Vice President for External Affairs Shih-Hao Hsu, Director for Community Development Charles Ratcliffe, Director for Special Projects Dizon Kwok, Director for Business & Local Organization Management Matt Elvis Flores, Director for Membership Development Armando Franco Olayres, Director for International Relations Rob Angel Hong, Director for National Relations & Training Marc Peter Rod Te, Director for Membership Benefits Laurence Tan, and Director for Youth Development Peter Guan Espiritu.
Pasay city’s first ever skate park
| JCI Manila and Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano team up to initiate the construction of Pasay city’s inaugural skateboarding park. |
In pursuit of its goal to empower young individuals and foster positive change, JCI Manila, has joined forces with the local government of Pasay City and One Manila Organization to spearheaded the groundbreaking event for the city’s first ever skate park at Barangay 143 Linear Ecopark.
The inspiration for the initiative stemmed from the gold-medal victory of Filipino skateboarder Margielyn Didal at the 2019 South East Asian Games and her subsequent qualification for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The skate park is intended to provide a safe and dedicated space for skaters to practice, develop, and improve their skateboarding skills.
“2023 marked the beginning of our sport campaign, centered on the development of skate parks and promoting skateboarding in the Philippines. The support of both Pasay City LGU and One Manila Organization for this mission is truly appreciated. It highlights the positive outcomes that can be achieved when diverse groups and individuals work together as a cohesive unit towards a common objective,” said Charles ‘Calel’ Gosingtian, 2024 President of JCI Manila.
This initiative not only aims to produce more local skaters who may one day represent the Philippines on a global stage but also promotes a healthy lifestyle and encourages community involvement, inclusivity, and talent development.
JCI Manila is now looking to expand this project to other areas in the metro such as Manila City and Paranaque City. The Pasay City skate park is slated to begin construction on February 1, with a target completion of two months.
Ten Outstanding Guro Awards 2024
JCI Manila also launched its “Ten Outstanding Guro Awards” (TOGA) 2024 project. The TOGA, now in its third year, is JCI Manila’s flagship program that honors the devotion and enthusiasm of teachers who have dedicated their life to students’ enrichment and holistic learning.
JCI’s project chairman Vjohn Dizon says the main objectives of the initiative are to train 4,000 teachers nationwide in personal development programs such as financial literacy, motivational productivity, and health and wellness, as well as to recognize the top 10 teachers who made a difference in their communities.
To be eligible for participation in the initiative, teachers must meet three fundamental prerequisites. First, the teachers must have at least three years of teaching experience. Second, they must hold a teaching license. Finally, they must get 360-degree testimonials from their fellow teachers, families, and students.
JCI Manila is a group of young professionals, businessmen, and entrepreneurs dedicated to socio-civic activities. Established in 1947, JCI Manila is the oldest leadership development institution in the Philippines and Asia. Its mission is to build leadership abilities in its members and create positive change in the community.
# # #
About JCI Manila
Formed in 1947, Junior Chamber International – Manila is the oldest leadership development organization in the Philippines and Asia. It comprised of four hundred young entrepreneurs and professionals, committed to creating positive change for society. Cutting across race, religion, and countries, JCI Manila’s projects in Community Development, Business and Government, Environment and many more aims to leave a lasting impact and create positive effects for the greater good.
