JCI University confers first International Training Fellow from the JCI Philippines  

      The year 2008 represents a milestone in the JCI Philippines history, not only because the organization is celebrating its 60th founding anniversary, but the NOM’s latest feat that is producing --- for the first time in the history of the organization--- its first ever INTERNATIONAL TRAINING FELLOW (ITF) in the person of JCI Senator REGINALD "Reggie" T. YU of JCI Manila.  ITF is the highest honor (the ultimate distinction) a TRAINER can ever receive from JCI University. An ITF becomes part of JCI University’s design team tasked in the formulation, design and development of future courses of Junior Chamber International.

   Since the JCI certification system was introduced in 1990, many of our outstanding Filipino trainers have attempted, but were unsuccessful, in being conferred with this rank. Thus, while we had so many JCI Prime  graduates, only a handful ever get to become Local, National and --- much less --- internationally-certified trainers. Therefore, a Filipino reaching the highest rank of ITF represents a rare honor, not only for his own local organization, but for our national organization.

      However, it is not surprising for many of us Filipinos, that a person with the caliber of JCI Sen. Reggie Yu was able to achieve this distinction. It can be recalled, JCI Sen. Reggie Yu of JCI Manila only took his JCI Prime course in October 2004 during the Boracay National Convention. He received his certification in an unprecedented record time, first as Certified Local Trainer just over a month since he graduated JCI Prime, and as Certified National Trainer after graduating from JCI Excel Training Design Course in November 2005 at Clarkfield Pampanga. Reggie undertook his Prime and Excel Course under the tutelage of JCI Sen. Teresa M. Alberto, ITF No. 57 as Head Trainer.

      Despite his busy portfolio as Chairman of the National Training Commission in 2005 and Chairman of the National Records and Recognition Commission in 2006, Reggie was able to make great strides by being the first JCI Certified National Graduate in the Asia-Pacific in April of 2007. Later, he was conferred with the rank of International Graduate in August together with Mennen Aracid of JCI Kagayhaan Gold and Richard Denis Tan of JCI Manila. Then, last December 30, 2007, after completing another 25 hours of international training and submission of his own training courses to JCI University, Reggie has been conferred as the title International Training Fellow no. 101 by the JCI University.  More on JCI Training certification.

JCI UNIVERSITY CONFERS "INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE" CERTIFICATION TO THREE  OUTSTANDING FILIPINO TRAINERS

    The year 2007 proved to be an auspicious year for JCI Philippines' training program, as JCI University finally confers the prestigious title of "International Graduate" to three of its members, effectively ending an eleven-year dearth of JCI trainers in JCI Philippines who have reached one of the highest-level certifications offered by the international organization.

    JCI University Executive Director Gunther Meyer announced the addition of three new "International Graduates" in its elite global roster --- in the persons of JCI Member MENNEN M. ARACID (JCI Kagayhaan "Gold"), JCI Senator REGINALD "Reggie" T. YU and JCI Sen. RICHARD DENIS D. TAN both from JCI Manila.

    A JCI Trainer who achieved an IG Level Certification (Level 3) is a MARK OF DISTINCTION and PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE in field of training & adult learning. Prior to this appointment, JCI Senator Santiago T. Joson of JCI Cebu was the first and only "International Graduate" from the Philippines since 1994.

     JCI Member MENNEN ARACID is a human resource professional and e-Learning consultant who has addressed professionals in Malaysia, Thailand, Germany, and the United States. He designed and implemented courses in e-Learning, research, project management, sales and negotiations, facilitation and course design, as well as business communication. He is currently an officer of the Asia-Pacific Development Council assigned to New Zealand. He served as JCI Philippines Presidential Adviser for Training  in 2006. He was the National Executive Director in 2000.

     Mennen led his JCI local organization, JCI Kagayhaan Gold, as its local president in 1999, while heading the National Training Commission that same year. Before that, he was the JCI Certification Commissioner for Area B in 1998. His work experience covers sales, management and operations in information technology, pharmaceuticals, and educational solutions. He has drawn from this wealth of experiences to complement in his15 years in lifelong learning and adult professional education.

     More recently, Mennen represented the Philippines in the Global Battle of the Business Plans at Harvard University in 2005. Mennen is currently one of the professors at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business in Rockwell, Makati City.

   JCI Senator REGGIE YU, on the other hand, is a Certified Public Accountant and an entrepreneur engaged various business interests cover paint manufacturing, advertising supplies trading, and agricultural erosion control services. He currently serves as consultant to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and to various private enterprises.

    He joined JCI Manila way back in 1991 and progressively climbed up the organization's ladder, serving as Publications Chairman from 1993 to 1999, before being elected Director for LOM Management in 2000, Executive Treasurer in 2001 and Secretary-General in 2004. In 1999, he was appointed Area Director for Publications and head of the Metropolitan Manila Jaycees news organ, before assuming the editorship of JCI Philippines official national publication in 2000. He was later appointed to the organization's National Secretary-General portfolio in 2002. He assumed the Chairmanship of the National Training Commission in 2005 and, in 2006, was tapped to Chair the National Records and Recognition Commission. A prolific writer and inspiring speaker, he has authored "Forging Vanguards," a commemorative book on the first 50 years of JCI Manila in 1998, and "Beyond Leadership," a handbook on the past 57 years of JCI Philippines in 2005. Because of his work, he was tapped by Junior Chamber International headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, for a Diamond Anniversary book  project to chronicle their 60-year history in 2004.

     A recognized authority in the JCI movement and a multi-awarded JCI Member, he was conferred the "Most Outstanding JCI Member of the Year" Award during the Metropolitan Manila Area Conference (2001, 2004); JCI Philippines National Convention (2001, 2003), JCI Asia-Pacific Conference (2002, 2003), and the JCI World Congress (2004). Later, he was awarded a "grand slam" in every local, national, and international conference as the "Most Outstanding JCI Senator of the Year" Award in 2005.       

    JCI Member  RICHARD DENIS D. TAN  was appointed as the 2007 JCI University Coordinator For Asia-Pacific (Area B) by 2007 JCI World President Scott Greenlee during the 2006 JCI World Congress in Seoul, Korea. He was likewise designated as the 2007 Presidential Assistant for Trainings in JCI Philippines by our 2007 JCI Philippines National President Glenn B. Santos.

Richard is currently the managing director of his own management consulting and training firm focusing on small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), family-owned businesses and promising local startups. He is likewise an independent financial advisor representing local and offshore brokerages that offers wealth management advisory services and investment and insurance products to high net worth individuals (HNWI) in the Philippines. Moreover, Richard is the Philippine representative of The Vibrant Edge which is an Australian-based corporate training firm. Richard holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Asian Institute of Management. He also has a Diploma in Public Management and Bachelor degree in Statistics from the University of the Philippines.  

Richard joined Asia’s First and Seven Times Most Outstanding Chapter of the World – JCI MANILA – in 2001. He was first elected as Director for National Relations in 2003. Afterwards, he was elected as Vice-President for Internal Affairs in 2004. As JCI MANILA Vice-President, he became the overall JCI E-Awards Bids Chairman of his Local Organization that led to his chapter garnering 30 JCI Major Awards during the Local Area Conference, NOM Convention, Asia-Pacific Area Conference and World Congress. It was perhaps the biggest awards haul for one year in his chapter’s glorious history. Richard was later appointed as Secretary-General of the 25-chapter strong Metropolitan Manila Area under National Executive Vice-President JCI Sen. Jose Amado L. Mamuric in 2005.  

Richard co-founded the JCI MANILA Training Institute in 2003. During the next three years, it achieved a rare grand slam for his chapter by being awarded with the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Most Outstanding Individual (Leadership Training) Development Award by JCI Philippines.  The most important achievement of the JCI MANILA Training Institute happened during the 2007 JCI Asia-Pacific Conference in Chungli in Taiwan when it was awarded with the JCI APDC Training Program Award.  

Richard has attended all of the JCI Official Courses, namely: JCI HEAD TRAINERS Course (2007 JCI AsPac in Taiwan), JCI SELLING BASICS and JCI BIZLAUNCH (2006 JCI World Congress in Seoul), JCI EXCEL (Clark Field, 2005), JCI ACHIEVE Train-The-Trainers (Manila, 2005), JCI LEAD (2005 JCI AsPac in Macau) and JCI PRIME (2003 JCI AsPac in Cebu). Aside from the Philippines, Richard has trained JCI Members in Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia. He has attended 4 International Area Conferences and 1 World Congress. 

Richard is a JCI Certified Head Trainer for JCI ACHIEVE and an Assistant Trainer for JCI DESIGNER, JCI PRESENTER, JCI TRAINER and JCI PRIME. Just recently, Richard was conferred with the rank of International Graduate (IG) by JCI University. . 

     It is hoped that, with this new appointment, other trainers in JCI Philippines would aspire for even higher training certification levels from JCI University.