The Philippine Jaycees now JCI Philippines is the first nationally organized leadership development organization established in Asia. It began when two delegates from the Manila Jaycees, Gregorio M. Feliciano and Jose N. Mayuga, attended the 3rd World Congress of the Junior Chamber International held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to petition for the admission of the chapter to the world-wideorganization. They came back to Manila on March 10, 1948 with the charter for the national chamber that was to be known as the Philippine Jaycees, and the distinction for Jaycee Gregorio M. Feliciano for being the first Filipino Vice-President for Asia of Junior Chamber International.
This involvement earnestly began with Artemio L. Vergel de Dios, who read about the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce in the October 1946 issue of an American magazine, PIC and forthwith wrote the UnitedStates Jaycees to inquire how a similar organization could be established in the Philippines.
By September 12, 1947, Vergel de Dios got the cue from Robert H. Richards, Executive Secretary for External Affairs of the United States Jaycees, who referred him to Bertram J. Talbot, a former Jaycee from St. Paul, Minnesota, who was then the Traffic Manager of Northwestern Airlines in Manila. At about the same time, Talbot got a letter from Taylor S. Cole, then World President of the Junior Chamber International, about Vergel de Dios’ intention, suggesting that he and Trent, then representative of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters in Manila, meet with the Filipino.
source: JCI Senate Philippines website
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