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DAVAO CITY, Philippines — In a moment marked by prestige, legacy, and long-awaited recognition, nine outstanding leaders from JCI Davao were officially conferred the distinguished title of JCI Senator on March 20, 2026, at the 56th Induction and Turnover Ceremonies of the JCI Davao Senate, held at Acacia Hotel Davao.
The conferment was led by JCI Senator Robert L. Go, CCF, the 2026 National President of the JCI Senate Philippines, in a ceremony that celebrated not only individual excellence—but the enduring spirit of leadership and service that defines JCI.
A Long Time Coming: A Historic Batch of Nine
This year’s conferment carries profound significance. Since 2021, multiple efforts to elevate deserving members to senatorship had been initiated—but only now has the moment fully materialized.
The result: nine new JCI Senators in a single conferment, a rare and meaningful milestone that reflects both patience and persistence within the organization.
With this addition, JCI Davao now proudly counts a total of 205 Senators since its establishment in 1978—further strengthening one of the most respected senates in the country.
More than a number, this moment represents renewed momentum, as the chapter celebrates a new generation of leaders joining its most elite circle.
Meet the Newly Conferred JCI Senators of JCI Davao
The nine newly conferred senators represent a diverse yet unified force of leadership, each bringing a legacy of impact across local, national, and international stages:
- Atty. BJ Bonn Pusta
2025 General Legal Counsel, JCI Philippines - Khen Lexter Ignacio
2024 Head Executive Assistant, JCI Philippines; 2022 National Secretary General - Karl Imanoel Aoanan
2024 National Executive Director, JCI Philippines - Engr. Anthony John Christopher Castro
2025 Local Organization President, JCI Davao - Arch. Carlo Franco Santos
2024 Local Organization President, JCI Davao - Engr. Arthur Dizon, Jr.
2023 Local Organization President, JCI Davao - Michael James Oppus
2022 Local Organization President, JCI Davao - Mamerto dela Torre III
2021 Local Organization President, JCI Davao - Angel Constantine Bajana
2025 ESG Committee Member for Asia and the Pacific, Junior Chamber International
Excellence Proven: Leaders of Distinction
Among the newly conferred senators are multi-awarded leaders whose impact has been recognized at the highest levels of JCI.
Both Engr. Anthony John Christopher Castro and Arch. Carlo Franco Santos earned the prestigious Best of the Best Local Organization President Award during the Area 5 Gawad Mindanao Awards in 2025 and 2024 respectively—a distinction reserved for the region’s most outstanding leaders.
Elevating this achievement further, Arch. Santos also secured the same recognition at the Temyong Awards, the national stage of JCI Philippines—cementing his legacy as one of the country’s top-performing local presidents.
These recognitions underscore what the senatorship represents: not tenure, but transformative leadership that creates measurable impact.
The Highest Honor in JCI
The JCI Senatorship stands as the highest individual honor bestowed within Junior Chamber International. It is awarded to members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership excellence, and sustained contribution to the organization and the communities it serves.
To be named a JCI Senator is to be entrusted with a lifelong identity—one that transcends titles and positions, and instead reflects a commitment to mentorship, legacy-building, and continued service.
Carrying Forward a Legacy of Influence
JCI Davao’s growing Senate includes some of the most influential figures in both JCI and the broader community, including:
- Atty. Mark Peter Quilaneta – 2024 National President, JCI Philippines
- Dr. Berard “Bernie” Al-ag – Former Vice Mayor of Davao City
With the addition of nine new senators, the organization not only honors past achievements—it invests in the future, ensuring that the values of active citizenship, leadership, and service continue to thrive across generations.
A Celebration of Brotherhood and Purpose
More than a ceremony, the conferment was a celebration of shared journeys—of years spent leading projects, mentoring members, overcoming challenges, and creating meaningful change.
For JCI Davao, this moment signals something deeper:
a reaffirmation that leadership, when sustained with purpose and integrity, ultimately finds its rightful recognition.
And for the nine newly conferred senators, it marks not an end—but a new chapter of greater responsibility, broader influence, and enduring legacy.
