THE TORCH AND THE TROPHY: What the Temiong Stands For (Part 2 of 4)

By JCI Senator Reginald T. Yu
Chairman, National Records and Recognition Commission, 2006
“Father of the Temiong Awards”

The Temiong Awards was never meant to be modest. On the contrary, it was designed to be grandiose and extravagant — a night unlike any other in the JCI calendar, one that would rightly reflect the depth of commitment, the emotional labor, and the sacrifices made by JCI Local Organization Presidents, members, and chapters throughout the year. This was to be their crowning moment — the only evening of the year when they would be honored with full dignity and glamour, in a manner befitting the work they had poured their blood, sweat, and tears into.

In crafting the tone and tradition of the first Temiong Awards Ceremonies in 2006, I made a conscious break from the norm. Gone were the days of Local Organization shirts at the year’s most prestigious event. Gone, too, were the instances of slippers worn by national officers during the very moment we were meant to honor excellence. That culture of casualness had no place at the Temiong.

Instead, I mandated formal wear: dark suits or tuxedos for the gentlemen, formal evening wear or Sunday best for the ladies. It was a declaration that this night was special, and the people being honored deserved nothing less than our full respect and admiration.

And that shift has endured.

Today, the Temiong Awards is not just a recognition program — it is the most awaited event of the JCI Philippines National Convention. It is our version of the Oscars — patterned deliberately after the glamour and splendor of the Academy Awards — because the stories we tell, the impact we celebrate, and the people we honor are just as worthy of standing ovations.

The Temiong Trophy

The Temiong Trophy itself holds a world of meaning. Sculpted by Harold Victor G. Dominguez, a former JCI member from Baguio, it is an embodiment of youth, aspiration, and the noble struggle for change. I drafted the original concept on newsprint in July 2006, designing it to represent humanity at its prime — the very heart of who JCI members are.

Each detail has meaning:

• The left hand shielding the right eye symbolizes the youth’s limited perspective — a nod to the struggles of understanding a world that often resists them, and their still-muted voices in society.

• The exposed left eye represents the yearning to see more, to reach beyond limitations, to explore possibility.

• The right arm folded behind the back signifies quiet confidence and restrained power — the kind of strength that doesn’t need to boast, only act. It is a posture of humility, of quiet fortitude, of courage without arrogance.

It is not a generic trophy. It is a moral sculpture — a reminder that we are all still in the process of becoming, and that leadership is about how we show up in the world, not just what we accomplish.

A Technological & Cultural Shift

Beyond symbolism, the 1st Temiong Awards also introduced a technological and cultural shift: the first fully-integrated, web-based e-Awards system in the history of JCI Philippines.

Before this, awards entries came in the form of bulky, heavy bidbooks — artfully designed but resource-heavy. These were expensive to produce and naturally favored larger chapters who had the funds to commission professionals. One bidbook could take a month to prepare; multiply that by ten bids across four award seasons — Area Conference, National Convention, Asia-Pacific Conference, and World Congress — and many small chapters simply opted out.

We changed that. We leveled the playing field.

The e-Awards system, launched during the 2006 Area Conferences, revolutionized how bids were submitted: structured online forms with write-ups and photo attachments. Suddenly, every chapter had a fighting chance — and they took it.

At the 1st Temiong Awards alone, we received an unprecedented 400 entries. That year, for the first time in memory, smaller chapters — even those from far-flung provinces like Lamitan, Basilan — walked up the stage as national awardees.

It was no longer about budget or flash. It was about impact.

A Platform for Purpose

So yes, the Temiong is not about flamboyance — but it is about honor, elevation, and belonging. It is about giving our best to those who gave their all. And it is about telling them, through every standing ovation and spotlight: we see you, and we thank you.

The Temiong is not about the most flamboyant project or the highest headcount. It is not about which chapter submits the glossiest binder. It is about intention and impact.

The best Temiong entries tell a story. They capture a transformation — of a community, of a leader, of a generation.

Through the years, we have honored:

• Leaders who defied the odds

• Chapters that rose from the ashes

• Projects that changed not only barangays, but belief systems

The awardees span the archipelago — from small-town chapters with big hearts to city-based members with national impact.

It has become, in many ways, JCI Philippines’ moral ledger.

The Legacy Continues

In 2025, now entering its 19th year, the Temiong has gone beyond recognition — it has become part of our national identity.

Under the careful stewardship of the National Awards Commission, the process remains rigorous, transparent, and centered on substance over spectacle.

Read the first part here:

THE TORCH AND THE TROPHY: The Story of the Temiong Awards (Part 1 of 4)