History of Junior Chamber International Philippines “Angeles Culiat”

In 1976 a rich and forested land was cleared for the settlement of a family and was called Culiat, which eventually became a town in 1892 and was renamed Angeles in honor of its founder and patron saint, Los Santos Angeles Custodios (The Holy Angel). Since then, the settlers have strived in developing this piece of land; and in 1951 a young man named Artemio Simpauco have envisioned more for the people of Angeles when an organization like no other caught his attention. This was the moving spirit that binded the 55 Angelenos who met at Chu-Chi restaurant to form the Angeles “Kuliat” Jaycees in 1951.

BIRTH OF JUNIOR CHAMBER INTERNATIONAL ANGELES “KULIAT”
It was Mr. Artemio S. Simpauco, whose father was then a representative from Tarlac, who brought up the idea of organizing the Jaycees in Angeles City. He saw how the non-government organization in his father’s district become an effective avenue of service to the community.

During the first meeting, there were 10 Angelenos present which included Pat Catacutan, Romeo Cura and Max Lorente. On the third meeting, 45 more heeded the call and so a total of 55 Angelenos became the Charter Members of Angeles “Kuliat” Jaycees under the leadership of Art Simpauco.

The charter Members were: Cadio de Guzman, Louie Von Heiland, Joe de Jesus, Johnny Joseph, Eddie Nepomuceno, Geromin Nepomuceno, Sitong Pamintuan, Bert Paras, Dodi Tinio, Nilo Tinio, Titot Tinio, Fred Trinidad, Dado Arceo, Paul Basilio, Pedro Baula, Joe Cayanan, Dading Lacson, Ofring Lacson, Tiring Lazatin, Fred de Leon, Jake Paras, Vic de la Paz, Cial Quiambao, Ompong Rojas, Quitong Galura, Doc Galura, Dady Galura, Vic Gomez, Bill Moore, Chito Moran, Nereng Naguiat, Serge Naguiat, Mars Santos, Arting Simpauco, Bart Tablante, Bencing Tancungco, Bill Viray, Jim Woolverton, Dick Yabut, Maning Cruz, Fon Cruz, Joe Chua, Ben Dayrit, Tony de Leon, Rody Llamas, Dick Lumanlan, Serving Miranda, Conrad del Rosario, Scotty Salvon, Charlie Sandico, Reme Abad Santos, Johnny Uy, Buding Valdes, Mari Valdes and Tony Villanueva.

It was on February 2, 1952 when the formal charter presentation was made through the effort of a former Ambassador Amelit R. Mutuc, National Secretary of the Philippine Jaycees, with the guidance of Tarlac, the sponsoring chapter.

Under the stewardship of Artemio Simpauco, the charter members have not left a single National JCI affair unattended, not a single National JCI project left unimplemented and a number of local projects were likewise executed even prior to its charter presentation. For these the Angeles Kuliat Jaycees got the award for the “Most Number of Projects Executed Prior to Charter Presentation” during the National Convention in Baguio City in March 1952. In addition to these a special award was also given to the chapter which was the “Most Impressive Charter Presentation” that made history in Junior Chamber International – Philippines.

While there is every reason to be happy about, the recognitions and the chapter being accorded by many, the tragic and untimely death of our re – elected National President, Jake Gonzales, after the conclusion of the National Convention, caused deep sorrow among our charter members. In order to manifest their tangible sympathy, a resolution was presented to the Municipal Council of Angeles to name the portion of Henson st. from the railroad track to Abacan Bridge, Jake Gonzales Boulevard, which was duly approved.

The year 1991 was a milestone in Angeles City when Mt. Pinatubo erupted and devastated the city which pulled through until the next year. Kuliat Jaycees rose above their own predicament and vigorously responded to the situation and launched several projects geared towards the recovery of the struggling and disheartened community. To cap this most exhilarating and uplifting moments, the Kuliat Jaycees garnered recognition and awards: one (1) ASPAC award, thirteen (13) Area Conference awards, five (5) National Convention awards and one (1) World Congress award.

HOSTING THE AREA ONE CONFERENCE
Just after the unfortunate eruption of Mt. Pinatubo and the recovery of the community the chapter hosted the Area Conference in 1993 which was held mainly in Century Resort Complex. Activities included helicopter ride touring the disastrous consequence of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Delegates were also given the chance to shop in the duty free store s in Clark Air Base and also tried their luck at the Casino Filipino.

PROMINENT YEAR
In the year of 1995, the chapter headed by Joselito T. Reyes had gone about a long list of activities that stretched from humanitarian assistance, chapter development to international affairs as the partaking of twinning with the Chung-li Jaycees of Taiwan, Jeju Jaycees of Korea New York Jaycees of USA. Due to the frivolous chapter members hard work the chapter won the “Outstanding Humanitarian Assistance Project Award” in all four (4) awarding events; Area Conference in Olongapo, National Convention in Cebu, Asia Pacific Conference (ASPAC) in Cheju and World Congress in Glasgow. Other than these the chapter also topped the Junior Chamber International Philippines Excellence Award (JCIPEA) and also won the “Overall Most Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award”.

HOSTING THE NATIONAL CONVENTION AND FIRST CULIAT NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Due to the calamities the community have endured from the 1992 Mt. Pinatubo eruption until 1994 when rainy season further damaged Pampanga due to the rampaging lahar, the chapter have hosted and established linkage with almost all major chapters in the country who flocked the city to distribute relief goods and other form of assistance, eventually became more fruitful when the chapter won the bid for 1997 National Convention in 1995; the National Convention was held at Holiday Inn Resort, Clarkfield, which was fervently venerated. And when 1997 came our own beloved member Josel Reyes was also elected National President.

THE FIRST LADY PRESIDENT
After so many years it was amended at 2006 for the “K” in Kuliat be changed into “C” for Culiat for the reason that it has been used and spelled that way through out the existence of the chapter. Other than the amendment of the change in the name of the chapter another awaited as 2007 came in. Through the years it was always a man who has lead to the stardom of JCI – Angeles “Culiat”. At the year 2007, a woman was elected to run the chapter. Jean Mc Tavish Mandap, had started her administration with a promising bang when she organizes the Sagip Bicol Project which helps hundreds of people after the Milenyo and Reming Tropical Typhoon which devastated the city. After this project she went further and gone towards the marketing of JCI, increase of funding for the chapter and promulgation of the opportunities of JCI. She and her board composed of 3 men and 7 women including her were inducted on January 19, 2007 at Casino Filipino.