Junior Chamber International (JCI) is a worldwide federation of young professional and entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 40. The National organizations federated to Junior Chamber International are active in more than 8,000 chapters in 123 nations and territories. The mission is to contribute to the advancement of the global community by providing the opportunity for young people to develop the leadership skills, social responsibility, fellowship and entrepreneurship necessary to create positive change. Junior Chamber International was founded in Mexico City on December 11, 1944, when representative from eight nations met to create an organization that would address global concerns. From these eight nations, Junior Chamber has grown to include more than 123 nations and spans every continent.

                 The JCI Headquarters was established in 1951 and is now in Coral Gables, Florida, U.S.A. A professional staff of 35 full time employees provides services to JCI members. Its chief executive officer is Secretary General Benny Ellerbe. JCI is a non-governmental organization (NGO) with active participation in the United Nation Systems, including several UN agencies such as UNICEF and UNCTAD. JCI has cooperation agreements with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Association of Students Economics and Management (AIESEC), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United National Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the Inter- American Foundation (IAF).

                 JAYCEES or JUNIOR CHAMBER is a worldwide association of young people between the ages of 18 and 40, which welcomes all nationality races and religions. This is a unique organization which gives to its members an opportunity to under take projects of a worth while nature in their own communities and at the same time to develop qualities within themselves that will make them better individuals. All member of Junior Chamber, from the World President to the newest member, through a process that is helping them become a better person. Young people who joint the Jaycees get an 

Opportunity for improvement by participation in its internal and external programs, which make them more developed individuals than they would otherwise have been.

                 Junior Chamber is established in 15,000 communities through out 100 member nations. Jaycees International (JCI), the international association of Junior Chambers, is the largest young people’s organization in the world with over 600,000 members. Its membership believes in the principles stated in the Jaycee Creed. It does not have an occupation classification as determination for membership except the age requirement. Basically a leadership training organization, its projects are action oriented.

 THE BEGINNING OF JAYCEES

                 Henry Gissenbier, a young man from St. Loius, Misouri, U.S.A felt that young people acting in a voluntary capacity could fashion new standard of life of their communities. On October 1915; he called a meeting, attended by 32 men, who left up an organization called the Young Men’s Progressive Civic Association. It was devoted to community betterment.

                 The vigor and imagination of the youthful group attached the admiration of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, which on February 11, 1918, asked the young men to consider the title “ Junior Chamber of Commerce” so was the name born.

                 The movement spread, so that by June 1920, the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce marched on to Canada, New Zealand. Over to Asia, over Europe and to Africa. In 1944, in Mexico City, the world organization, the Junior Chamber International was formed and since that date, JCI has fired the imagination of hundred of thousands of young men across the face of the earth.

                 In 1972, the World Organization officially adopted the name, “ Jaycees International”. The Origin of Junior Chamber can be traced as formed the Herculaneium Dance Club with the main objective being the preservation of conservative dance style.

                 Five years later, in 1915, Colonel H. N Morgan, a prominent St. Louis citizen, inspired the members of the dance club to become more involved in civic issues. Giessenbier and 32 other young men formed the Young Men’s Progressive Civic Association (YMPCA) on October 13, 1915. This organization grew to a membership of 750 in less than five months.

THE FIRST WORLD CONGRESS

                 Two years later, In February of 1946, the first World Congress was held in Panama City. This Congress was attended by 44 delegates from different countries. The international organization was formally constituted, a temporary constitution was approved, and the word “Commerce” was omitted from the official name.

                 Erasmo Chambonnet of Panama was elected the second JCI President at that Congress, and Australia and Canada were officially affiliated.

                 In 1948 the JCI Creed was officially adopted at the IV JCI World Congress in Rio de Janeiro, and in 1952 a permanent Secretariat was established. In 1972 the name was changed to Jaycees International; however, 1n 1988 the name was changed back to Junior Chamber International.

MILESTONES

                 Every year, new and exiting advancements and decisions are made in this organization. As it is impossible to list them all, the following are the events that are truly regarded as landmarks in the history of the worldwide organizations.

                 In 1910, the organizations began in Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.A the founder, Henry Giessenbier, had formed the Herculaneum Dance Club with the purpose of bringing about the social elevation of its members.

                 1915, the first step forward the creation of the Junior Chamber movement was taken in 1915 when 32 young men met at the Mission Inn on October 13, 1915, to form the Young Men’s Progressive Civic Association with Giessenbier as President.

                 1916, In August the organization’s name was changed to Junior Citizens and it was at this time that the initials “JC” were first used. This group became affiliated with the Saint Louis Chamber of Commerce and in 1918 the name Junior Chamber was adopted.

                 1920 On January 21 through the 22^nd, the first National Organization, the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce was formed. Twenty nine clubs around the nation were in attendance. Henry Giessenbier was elected as the First National President. From 1920 to 1944 the Junior Chamber movement crossed international borders. Organization was formed in many countries form five continents.

                 1932 Many actions were taken to form a Junior Chamber International including the creation of the International Executive Council of Junior Chamber of Commerce formed at the Olympic Games in 1932.

                 1944 JCI was born in Mexico City on December 7-11, 1944. Witness to the birth of the organization were 30 delegates from North and Central America. Raul Garcia Vidal, from Mexico, was elected the first JCI President.

                 1946, In February the first JCI World Congress was in Panama City. There were 44 delegates from 16 countries attending. It was at this Congress the JCI Constitution was drafted. Also in 1946, C. William Brownfield from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, drafted the JCI Creed.

                  1952, the JCI Senate was formed through the efforts of 1951 JCI President Phil Pugsley at the 1952 VII JCI world Congress in Melbourne, Australia.

                 1953 the first permanent World Headquarters was established in 1953 at the United States Jaycees War Memorial Headquarters Building in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Philip Van Slyck was hired as JCI’S first full time Secretary General.

                 1955 The rapidly growing World Headquarters moved to its own building on Miami Beach, Florida, USA in 1955.

                 1969 to commemorate the 25^th anniversary of Junior Chamber International, the central World Headquarters was built in Coral Gables, Florida, USA.

                 1972 in 1972 at the XXXVIII JCI world Congress in Taipei, the organization’s name was changed back to Junior Chamber International. This year also marked the first JCI Academy.

                 1989 was a historic year for Junior Chamber International when services were extended to the Eastern European countries of the Soviet Union, Poland and Hungary. The historic trend of 1989 continued in 1990 as more Eastern European countries sought ties with JCI, including Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, and Czechoslovakia.

                 1994 at the XIIV JCI World Congress in Kobe, Japan, the fifth Area of Opportunity- Business was adopted.

                 1996 The JCI Home page on the Internet was established. The JCI Home page is http://www.juniorchamber.com .

                 1999 The World Headquarters enters the world of technology by gradually eliminating the paper documents and sending CD- ROM and electronic main to National Organizations and Board of Directors. The Cyber Business Network is launched and a new electronic directory is the newest feature of the World Headquarters.

THE BIRTH OF JAYCEES IN THE PHILIPPINES

                 The first Jaycee organization in the Philippines was born on December 20, 1972, in Manila. Ground work for the organization was laid by Artemio Vergel de Dios. He had read an article entitled “ Young Men in Action”. In an American magazine and he saw the need for such movement here. He wrote US Jaycees to send him literature about the organization.

                 Artemio Vergel de Dios received a reply asking him to contact Bert Talbot, a former St. Paul Minnesota Jaycee, who was born then in the Philippines. Talbot, together with his assistant Greg Feliciano, invited de Dios to draw up plans for the organization. The first organizational meeting was held at Manila Hotel on December 20, 1947, and among those present were; Oscar Arellano, De Dios, Rafael Estrada, Greg Feliciano, Oil Leperal, Peping Mayuga, Gena Puyat, Monching del Rosario, Graciano Yupangco, John Bachman, Steve Brodie, Chruch Nelso, Steve Stonich, Talbot, Bob Trent, and Wylie Young.

                 On February 3, 1948, the Constitution and By Laws were approved and the following officers were elected: President- Del Rosario; Vice President- Puyat and Mayuga; Secretary – De Dios; and Treasurer- Feliciano. During the third JCI World Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Delegates received the charter of the Philippine Jaycees form JCI President Taylor Cole. The rest of the year, 22 new chapters through out the Philippines were organized. By April 1949, sufficient strength had been gained to organized the Philippine Jaycees and the First National Convention was held in Manila with Greg Feliciano as Chairman of the Executive Committee. During this convention, the constitution and By- Laws of the Philippine Jaycees were approved and del Rosario was elected as first National President.

THE PURPOSE OF THE JAYCEES

The Purpose of Junior Chamber, inspired by the Jaycee Creed.

 To develop the individual abilities and stimulate joint efforts of young men for the purpose of improving economic, social and spiritual well being of mankind by

      Developing and awareness and acceptance of the responsibilities of citizenship

     Individual participation in internal training program to develop leadership potentials.

   Active participation in planning and executing programs for the development of the individual and the community.

   Promotion of economic development; and

     Furtherance of understanding, good will and cooperation among all men

“Providing the opportunity for you people to develop the leadership skills, social responsibility and fellowship necessary to create positive change”.

 UNVEILING JUNIOR JAYCEES MOVEMENT

 A.       CONCEPT

The Junior Jaycees Organization is a younger counterpart of the Jaycees and was formally organized in 1975.  It adapted the same concept, creed, principles and philosophies of the Jaycees movement.  It builds the youth so that in turn, the youth will help build better communities.

It supports the philosophies of   JCI of contributing to the advancement of the global community by providing opportunities for members to develop leadership skills, fellowship and social responsibility necessary to achieve positive change.

 B.       MEMBERSHIP

The Junior Jaycees is a student-run nationwide youth leadership training organization and its local  organization  members (LOM) are present in some of the major colleges and universities, communities in the country.  LOM members are between 14 to 26 years old.School-based chapters are recognized of course, as extra curricular student organization schools.  Membership of this chapters are open to all college and that it has to comply with the policies, regulations and rules, set by the school.

Junior Jaycees becomes effective and potential membership recruitment base of the Jaycees.  With the early   experience of the JC movement, through JJC Organization, becomes a positive motivation for them to be a member of the organization.

 C.             PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

The Philippine Junior Jaycees is a nationwide youth leadership training organization.  The organization whose members are interested in or engage in self-development and training for leadership.  The various programs and activities, which the members will undertake or render to their respective areas of operation the means for achieving these ends.  The organization looks to be young people of every community to develop primarily their own initiatives- a representative and effective vehicle for services for the community and the nation.

The organization operates on the premise that the development of the individual for life, not just to be able to perform job.  Life is caring, sharing, loving,  understanding and communicating.  Life is much more than just doing a job.  The JJC strives to complete any lack in the development of individual members.

The PJJCI is a non-political, non-sectarian, non-partisan youth organization.  Meaning, it does not support nor endorse any political party, ideas or political personalities.  Neither does the organization leans to favor any religious organization or sector.  Though, political personalities or young people with different political colors and with diverse religious learning can join the organization.

 D.             HISTORY

On one of the many September that passed is recorded at the embarkment of a truly meaningful organization of the young – The Philippine Junior Jaycees.  And as it moves towards its 20^th year, a wholesome desire is carried on, in an aura of leadership example.

The beginning of the Philippine Junior Jaycees could perhaps been started when the Youth Activities Commission of the Philippine Jaycees was organized.  Chapters from all over the Philippines tried to organize projects that would fall under the Youth Activities Commission.

In Cebu City, Cebu Jaycees had their Jaycee Youth Clubs of Cebu, which was an organization of students in high schools.  You can find in the annual publication of the Southwestern University the projects of these young people dating back 1965.

The conception of the organization registered two dynamic JCI Senators, JCI Sen. Jose P. Lardizabal, 1966 Chapter President of the Cebu Jaycees and Jorge Alcordo when at the 21^st Philippine Jaycees National Convention, they created this association of the young.  So inspired by the idea of organizing a younger counterpart of the Jaycees, Davao Jayceeism, spearheaded by JC Rene Al Madrazo founded the Davao Jaycees and thus, the first Junior Jaycees Chapter president JJC Butch Francisco was elected. They had their Davao Junior Jaycees Chapter Presentation and Induction Ceremonies at Davao Insular Hotel on September 28, 1968.

In order to propagate and promote the ideas of the movement, the Davao Junior Jaycees conducted several tours in Dumaguete, Bohol and other neighboring places.  But despite the fact that it was launched with high hopes of a polished and established organization, it failed and lost its aspirations, brought about by, yet poor leadership. In 1971, all these youth clubs vanished in thin air.  The extinction of the organization became apparent.

In 1973, JCI Sen. Felicano ‘Sonny’ Belmonte, Jr., then JCP National President under his Affairs Commission laid down a year long program for implementing the Accent on Youth project nationally.  It disseminated information on the rationale of the AOY project, guidelines, on organizing and on effective operation of the Youth Councils and on the choice of the projects to be undertaken along the lines of health, welfare, recreation and education.  These were published as part of the 1973 JCP Program Manual.

During Belmonte’s administration, other traditional projects were likewise being encouraged such as the organization of University Youth Councils and Jaycee Youth Clubs carrying out the anti-drug abuse program.  Jaycee chapters nationwide sponsored the creation of Youth Councils in various schools, which was accepted as a proper vehicle for civic action projects required by the government as a condition for graduation from secondary schools.

Other Jaycee chapters organized Junior Jaycee Chapters as a younger counterpart in their locality. The Jaycee belles of Cainta, Metro Manila, who were either daughter of Jaycee members or young beauties in their locality often held meetings or seminars only to be interrupted or disrupted by boyfriends who dropped by to pick them up for a date. To solve this problem, the Cainta Jaycees thought by inviting the guys into the club under the new Jaycees organization.

During the provisional years of the Cainta Junior Jaycees, headed by JC Manny Duldulao, he registered the organization in the Philippine Jaycees as its auxiliary unit in the Philippine Jaycees inspired other chapters in Metro Manila to organize auxiliary units too. With the encouragement and motivation of JCI Sen. David Chua-Unsu, 1974 JCP national President and past JCI Vice President, the formation of Junior Jaycees by the Jaycees in Manila and the nearby provinces sprouted fast.

Then on November 30 to Decmber 1, 1974, the first Metro Manila Conference was held. This was hosted by the Manila Junior Jaycees at the University of the Philippines, Padre Faura with the theme “Youth for a Brighter Tomorrow”. It was participated by the Cainta, Marikina, Capitol, Manila and Parañaque Jaycees and a resolution was passed to make the Junior Jaycees Movement a national organization.

After the successful regional conference, the Jaycees of Metro Manila decided to elevate the movement from regional to national level. The Philippine Jaycees, Inc., through the leadership of JCP Sen. David Chua-Unsu, the Philippine Junior Jaycees as a national organization and as an auxiliary of the Philippine Jaycees Inc.

Thus, on March 1975, a circular from the Philippine Jaycees entitled “Kabataan ‘75” was issued by Rogelio Rayala. The circular contained among the others the guidelines on how to organize JJC Chapters in the respective localities together with their timetable of organization and a sample constitution and by-laws of a Junior Jaycees LOM. 

In the same circular, the timetable for the first JJC of the Philippines National Convention was scheduled for October 1975 during the semestral break of the classes. It was how rescheduled to December 16-18, 1975 with the organization registering some 60 Junior Jaycees Chapters from all over the Philippines of which 23 chapters attended.

The first National Convention of the Junior Jaycees of the Philippines was hosted by the Mandaue Junior Jaycees at the St. Joseph’s Parish Hall. The first National President was JJC Ma. Elizabeth Marcelo of Caloocan Junior Jaycees. Appointed at the first JCP National chairman for the Junior Jaycees was JC Rogelio Rayala. The theme of the said convention was “A United Youth for the National Development”. Metropolitan Cebu junior Jaycees was the chapter to be awarded as most outstanding LOM of the Philippines. The National Constitution and By-laws of the organization was drafted it was also agree during the convention what every year Junior Jaycees will hold its convention in the Month December.

In 1979, during the 4^th Jaycees of the Philippines National Convention held in Cavity City, the general assembly changed the name of the organization from Junior Jaycees of the Philippines to what is today the Philippine Junior Jaycees. At present, the Philippine Junior Jaycees has undergone tremendous changes due to its colorful history and outstanding Youth leaders it has produced. Today, the organization has grown into a strong and dynamic youth movement, surviving on its own challenges and obstacles in the past and now foresees a brighter future.