EVP Matt Flores Leads the Institutionalization of the Monching Awards for JCI Manila

The Monching Awards Media Launch, held on January 29, 2026, at Kao Manila, formally marked the beginning of a new institutional recognition under the leadership of Matt Elvis Flores, Executive Vice President of JCI Manila and head of the Monching Awards.

Entrusted with institutionalizing the award, EVP Flores presented the Monching Awards not as a one year initiative, but as a long term framework that defines how leadership, service, and impact are to be recognized within the chapter, now and in the years to come.

As the program opened, the philosophy behind the awards was articulated by the event’s emcee, Dan Michael Gallego, Editor in Chief of The Asian Pearl.

“Monching is a name of endearment.
It is the name of a brother, a friend, a mentor, a colleague.”

“This award was never meant to place leadership on a pedestal beyond reach. Its intent is the opposite.
It allows the pinnacle to extend its hand to young leaders and say,
‘My friend, come up to a higher place.’”

These opening remarks framed the Monching Awards as an invitation rather than a distance. It presented leadership as something human, accessible, and continuously passed forward.

Why the “Monching” Awards?

At the heart of the awards is Ramon V. del Rosario Sr., a philanthropist, industrialist, academic, and the first Charter President of both JCI Manila and Junior Chamber International Philippines. In 1947, his leadership established JCI Manila as the first JCI chapter in Asia, laying the foundations of leadership, service, and nation building that the organization continues to uphold today.

Within JCI, however, his legacy has always been personal. He was known simply as Monching, a name that reflected closeness, humility, and brotherhood rather than hierarchy.

The decision to name the recognition the Monching Awards was deliberate. As clarified during the launch, it was not a diminishment of Ramon V. del Rosario Sr.’s name, nor a duplication of existing honors such as the RVR Awards organized by JCI Manila and PHINMA.

Instead, the name captures the spirit in which Monching lived and led. Leadership rooted in relationships, mentorship, and shared purpose.

Institutionalizing Leadership

In his presentation, EVP Flores articulated the intent of the awards:

“The Monching Award recognizes a JCI Manila member whose leadership embodies service, integrity, and impact. Someone who truly leads beyond self.”

He anchored the awards on two guiding principles:

“Honoring excellence.
Celebrating brotherhood.”

These principles, he explained, are meant to ensure that recognition within JCI Manila remains values driven and consistent across generations.

The Award Categories

The Monching Awards recognize leadership across multiple dimensions through six categories.

The Monching Excellence Awards, outstanding projects and initiatives demonstrating leadership, innovation, and impact.

The Monching Impact Awards, community programs creating meaningful change and lasting legacy.

The Monching Enterprise Awards, leadership in business, innovation, and economic resilience.

The Monching Distinction Awards, individual excellence and dedication to the JCI Manila mission.

The Monching Legacy Awards, reserved for those whose vision and leadership shaped JCI Manila’s legacy, including the Ramon V. del Rosario Sr. Leadership Excellence Award.

The Monching Fun Awards, celebrating camaraderie and the lighter side of brotherhood.

A Trophy That Carries Meaning

The symbolism of the Monching Awards extends even to its trophy. The Infinity Loop represents timelessness, leadership that does not end with a single term, but flows endlessly into the next generation. At its center is the JCI Manila insignia, depicted as a radiant sun with a shield, symbolizing unwavering commitment to mission.

Its ascending form reflects nation building, mirroring how collective effort lifts communities and institutions beyond limits. Anchoring the structure is the stepped base, representing integrity, the unshakeable foundation of leadership that goes beyond what is merely expected.

Engaging the Media: The Scale of JCI Manila

During the media question and answer segment, members of the 2026 Lead Beyond Board of JCI Manila shared key data points that contextualized the scale and relevance of the organization behind the Monching Awards.

Responding to questions from the press were Edison Ke, Matt Elvis Flores, Bobbit Castro, Joshua Aragon, Jet Tatel, Francis Deo, and Gab Basiano.

In their responses, the board highlighted that JCI Manila is actively engaged in community development, leadership development, business development, membership engagement and benefits, and national and international relations.

They shared that the organization reaches over 120,000 direct beneficiaries annually, implements an average of 400 projects each year, generates approximately ₱150 million in project value, and creates over ₱50 million in PR and media value.

The board also discussed the diversity and strength of JCI Manila’s membership base, composed of leaders from real estate and construction, financial services, manufacturing, healthcare and technology, franchising, food and beverage, retail, and other service industries.

Collectively, the chapter represents 540 business owners, 600 plus different brands, an estimated ₱10.3 billion in combined business valuation, and 600 plus active members.

These figures, the board emphasized, underscore why institutional recognitions like the Monching Awards matter. Leadership within JCI Manila carries reach, responsibility, and real world impact.

Lead Beyond 2026

The board reaffirmed that the Monching Awards align with the Lead Beyond 2026 theme of JCI Manila. Beyond the Expected. Beyond the Limit. Beyond the Next Generation.

This direction guides the chapter as it prepares to host the 2026 JCI World Congress in Clark, Philippines, positioning JCI Manila on a global stage.

The Monching Awards were never designed to elevate leaders beyond reach. As articulated by both the head of the awards and the emcee, they exist to extend a hand, to invite the next generation to rise, to lead beyond self, and to carry forward a legacy built on service, integrity, and brotherhood.

With EVP Matt Elvis Flores formally setting the foundation and the 2026 Board affirming its scale and direction, the Monching Awards now stand as a long term commitment. Leadership that endures because it remains principled, relational, and always within reach.