Davao to host confab of Y’s Men, May 8-10

THE Y’s Men Club of Metro Davao will host the national convention of the worldwide organization at the Waterfront Insular Davao Hotel on May 8-10.
This was learned from Jose N. Valenzuela Jr., Y’s Men Metro Davao president, who said that officers and members and their ladies numbering close to 200 from all over the country are expected to attend the convention.
Major features
Lawyer Leoncio “Nonoy” P. Villa-Abrille, a veteran civic leader, has been appointed convention chairman.
He said some of the notable events in the convention are the attendance of Asia President Yaz Okano, the installation of the 2015-2016 regional officers, regional leadership training, and the organization of a national Y’s Menettes (ladies and spouses) clubs.
He said members of the families of participants will also be treated to tours of the city’s cultural and eco-tour destinations.
Villa-Abrille said Y’s Men clubs to be represented include those in Cabanatuan City, Young Professionals of Metro Cabanatuan, Palayan City Achievers and Developers, Tuguegarao City, Manila Central, Manila Downtown, Makati Sampiro, Makati Golden, Raha Rhilippines, Y’s Men and Y’s Women of Metro Quezon, Manila Union, Negros Occidental, Metro Iloilo, Cebu City, Midtown Cebu, Metro Cebu, Talisay South, Dumaguete, Ormoc and Metro Davao.
Paciencio Rosalem Jr., who as Y’s Men regional director is currently the highest ranking officer of the organization in the Philippines, said this is only the second time that Davao will host the national gathering, the first being in the late 90s.
Y’s Men, YMCA
Rosalem also explained that the Y’s Men was born in Toledo, Ohio, USA in 1922 to support a local chapter of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). The first Y’s Men Club was founded by Judge Paul William Alexander together with a group of other young men.
Y’s Men International is now oriented to serving the worldwide YMCA, the largest non-governmental youth organization, Rosalem said. He said Y’s Men is a club of “men of and for the Y,” that’s why it was named the Y’s Men Club.
As part of the preparations of the Valenzuela-led host group, committees have been formed to take care of the various aspects of the national convention.
One strategy is to expand the membership base of the organization through recruitment of new members. Another strategy is to involve the officers and members of its sister association, YMCA, Davao headed by Fernando “Boie” Ongkingco Jr., in the hosting activities, Valenzuela said. AMA