From Mr. MOA to Mr. Courtesy Call: The Special Projects Saga Continues

If JCI Manila had trading cards, 2025 would have released a very special edition.

Front side: Dir. Josh Aragon
Nickname: Mr. MOA Signing

During his year as Special Projects Director, Dir. Josh developed a reputation so specific it practically became a job description: “Mr. MOA Signing.”

Every week brought another photo: handshake, table, logo backdrop, freshly printed Memorandum of Agreement. Commissioners began to wonder if MOA signings were part of his daily skincare routine.

Soon enough, people stopped asking, “What project are we doing next?”
They just asked, “So… what MOA is Dir. Josh signing today?”

By the second quarter, the nickname evolved.

From Mr. MOA Signing, he became Mr. Machine.

Projects came in waves. Infrastructure builds. Community programs. Partnerships with NGOs, LGUs, and organizations that suddenly found themselves on speed dial. His commissioners were reportedly tired, occasionally overwhelmed, and probably on a first-name basis with their Starbucks baristas. But they were also fulfilled, proud, and very much part of something meaningful.

Under Dir. Josh, JCI Manila did not just plan projects. It produced them almost daily.

By year’s end, the scoreboard was clear. He was awarded Best Director by that year’s Executive Treasurer, Carlo Delantar. And in a poetic twist worthy of a Netflix series, Dir. Josh is now back on the 2026 Board as Executive Treasurer (ET) himself.

Proof that good directors don’t retire.
They just get upgraded.

ENTER 2026: A NEW STYLE TAKES CENTER STAGE, MEET MR. COURTESY CALL

A new year means a new Special Projects Director.

Enter Dir. Rocky Cebrero.

While 2025 was defined by MOA signings, 2026 has so far been defined by something equally important: courtesy calls.

If Dir. Josh was known for signatures, Dir. Rocky is quickly becoming known for strategic visits. In just a few weeks, he has made the rounds to an impressive list of national leaders and decision-makers.

If nicknames were already being finalized, he would currently be called:

“Mr. Courtesy Call.”

And to be fair, he has been busy.

In less than a hundred days, Dir. Rocky has already made significant rounds, including courtesy calls and meetings with:

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso

Senator JV Ejercito, an active JCI member

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla

PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., together with DILG Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez

Congressman John Rurick Padiernos of the House of Representatives

Congressman Brian Poe Llamanzares of the House of Representatives

That is not just networking.
That is practically a national roadshow.

And unlike rumors and captions, we now have actual receipts straight from Dir. Rocky’s own communications.

LEADERSHIP IN CONVERSATION, SERVICE IN ACTION

One of his earliest engagements was a courtesy call with Senator JV Ejercito.

As shared in an official release:

“A meaningful courtesy call with Sen. JV Ejercito, together with JCI Manila led by President Edison Ke, Committee of the Ignacio Gimenez Awards, and the World Congress Committee. A valuable opportunity to exchange insights on leadership, public service, and nation-building.”

The message was clear: build relationships first, impact second.

This was quickly followed by a high-level meeting with the Department of Interior and Local Government.

In their words:

“It wasn’t just a courtesy call—it was a real-talk session about how we can work together to make a bigger impact.”

The discussion with SILG Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla focused on strengthening the Ignacio Gimenez Outstanding Police Service Awards, preparations for the upcoming JCI World Congress, and scaling community projects nationwide.

The attendance list alone looked like a mini-convention: President Edison Ke, EVP Matt Flores, SG Bobbit Castro, ET Joshua Aragon, commissioners, chairmen, and of course, Dir. Rocky himself.

And then there was the visit to Manila City Hall.

During the courtesy call with Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, the JCI Manila Board expressed excitement to align with the Mayor’s local advocacies for Manileños.

The statement captured the tone well:

“With God first as our compass, we are ready to Lead Beyond and create a lasting impact beyond the next generation.”

A courtesy meeting was held with Congressman Brian Poe Llamanzares to discuss the proposed project “Tamaraw Guardians,” an initiative focused on animal welfare and the protection of the critically endangered Tamaraw.

“The discussion centered on engagement, awareness, and long-term conservation efforts. Congressman Brian expressed full support for the initiative and committed to delivering a privilege speech and proposing a resolution to promote environmental concern, emphasizing the importance of partnerships to ensure the program’s sustainability.”

High-level meetings. Strong messages. Clear intent.

The groundwork, at least, is being laid.

MOA SIGNING VS COURTESY CALL: A FRIENDLY CLARIFICATION

For newer members trying to decode the difference:

An MOA Signing is when plans turn official.
It means defined commitments, budgets, timelines, and guaranteed collaboration. In JCI terms, an MOA is usually the moment a project moves from “idea” to “it’s happening.”

A Courtesy Call, meanwhile, is the strategic first step.
It builds relationships, opens doors, and creates trust. Without courtesy calls, many MOAs would never exist.

In simpler language:

Courtesy calls build bridges.
MOA signings send projects across them.

Both are necessary.
But the transition from one to the other is where leadership is tested.

BIG SHOES, DIFFERENT STYLE

No one can deny that Dir. Josh left behind a towering benchmark in 2025. His approach was direct, fast, and MOA-heavy. The results were visible, measurable, and occasionally exhausting for everyone involved.

Dir. Rocky’s style, at least in these early months, is clearly more diplomatic and relationship-driven.

He is starting where many strong Special Projects years begin: access, visibility, and networks.

The question floating around — half-joking, half-serious — is this:

Will Mr. Courtesy Call eventually become Mr. Machine?

The path forward is clear:

Turn courtesy calls into MOAs.
Turn MOAs into projects.
Turn projects into impact.

A YEAR STILL UNFOLDING

It is still February. Less than 100 days into office. The Special Projects story of 2026 has barely begun.

Expectations are naturally high. Comparisons are inevitable. But so are opportunities.

Dir. Rocky has opened doors that many would struggle to even knock on. What comes next will define his own version of success.

Whether he earns an upgraded nickname by the second quarter remains to be seen.

For now, the chapter is still being written.

And in JCI Manila, the best stories always end the same way:
not with meetings — but with meaningful results.