It’s done and over with. I, along with several other hard-working members of the organization have been unceremoniously kicked out.

When I joined JCI Davaoena Daba Daba, I had one goal: to challenge myself. And what a challenge it has been. From being a new member to a Deputy member of the Board of the Directors to being appointed as Secretary-General, National Chair, and Area Director. There is so much that can be said about the struggles I have been through as a member. So much intrigue, so much mud-slinging and character assassination has been done to discredit me. I have tried to rise above it all as I stood by my commitment as a JCI Member.

I would like to believe that I have performed my duties to the best of my abilities keeping in mind that my goal was to challenge myself. And I don’t regret any of it, as I was able to work with and be with some of the best people I could have never met had it not been for JCI.

Despite all of the mud thrown at us, we kept our silence, we chose the higher ground. We refused to fight but instead continued to work keeping in mind our commitment is to the organization. And that whatever it is they sent out way, we can overcome it through hard work.

But it is not to be. We have been eased out of the organization without any due process. Contrary to the JCI tenet that “Government should be of laws rather than of men,” this incident clearly shows that for some, this is an organization where personalities, personal motives, and agenda are more important than due process, protocol, and law.

While I have conceded that it is really not to be and I have accepted this defeat, we have not yet given up totally.

For now, they have won. And with this loss, I have experienced great pain. But I remain hopeful that this loss will be temporary.

To the people who have made my short-lived JCI career memorable and bearable, thank you! Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

Daghang salamat and a big big thanks to:

• my Daddy Louie and Mommy Ching;
• my uncles and relatives in the JCI, Pres John, Uncle Nonoy, Uncle Tan, Uncle Flo, and Uncle Dion;
• my mentors RVP Anna and AVP Steve;
• our Past Presidents Ate Marilyn and Ate Leah;
• my recruiter VP Lani and my batchmate Mary Jane;
• my recruits Karla, Kat, and Meloi;
• our members and babies Kezia, Kim, Yassy, Miming, Eula, Jade, Veda, Joan O, and Joan G;
• NP Bernard and NEVP Christine for all the support and for entrusting me with Liter of Light;
• my trainer NTD Kenneth;
• our brother chapters JCI Binmaley Sigay, JCI Dagupan Bangus, JCI Cauayan Bamboo, JCI Iriga, JCI Makati, JCI Fort Bonifacio Taguig, JCI Cebu, and JCI CDO Inc;
• selected members of our father chapter JCI Davao Inc. esp to the Chubuffers who stayed true and honest Kuya Noel, Wewe, SG Carlan, Kuya Renauld, and Kuya Jun;
• Kalakbay friends who have made this journey even more fun and interesting;
• other chapters and JCI members who helped us along the way;
• and to all the people I had the pleasure of working with as a JCI Member.

It has been a great honor and privilege to have worked with all of you and I do hope this is not the end of it all. I shall still continue to fulfill my duties as Area Officer and as National Chairman. And I continue to hope that a much better opportunity will come along.

No words can express the amount of gratitude I have in my heart. The experiences and lessons I have gained outweigh all the pain and hardships. I can honestly say that I have achieved my goal to challenge myself. And I, along with the girls, have become better people.

There is no bitterness in my heart. Only a much bigger flame of desire to challenge myself even more.

For now I retire as a Daba Daba.

Live. Love. Learn.