BATCH HIRAYA PRESIDENTS: THE PANDEMIC AND VIRTUAL PRESIDENT

By: Christopher M. Aquino, 2020 President of JCI Daraga

Hiraya is a deep ancient Tagalog word for vision. Since it is year 2020, with a bit of cleverness, the 2020 Batch of Local Organization Presidents’ of JCI Philippines voted that their batch name would be Hiraya, Vision 2020 indeed. We have been called to lead this year because we have the same feathers, we share the same attitudes and views, but most especially because we are all visionary leaders.

Last October 8, 2019, I woke up with a poker feeling and the only thing I know that day will be the day where we will be prepared and trained for our one year to lead, which is day 1 of the annual Presidents Academy. No excitement or whatsoever, not even a little one, but as we drove nearer to CWC, I felt a strange feeling of excitement.

As I enter the lobby of the training area for registration, I see the same old faces, longtime friends in JCI and now my batchmates. This added to my excitement and I began to realize that perhaps this is one of the reasons why God directed me to finally take the presidency after 8 years.

Recounting the 3-day Presidents Academy at CWC, Pili, Camarines Sur; we were all so hype, happy and excited for our one year to lead. We have been boosted to take the plunge into presidency considering the challenges that awaits. We cannot wait to roll the plans we have for our one year to lead and make it more memorable and impactful.

Who would have thought that beyond the happiness and laughter we shared, the greatest challenge awaits? A challenge that will change us and will test our capacity; financially, physically, and most especially, mentally and emotionally.

During our transition period which started a day after the National Convention until December 31, and our first month as presidents, a downpour of catastrophic events welcomed us. There were several earthquakes that jolted Mindanao, the wildfire in Australia, Typhoon Tisoy, and the eruption of Taal volcano and not to mention, the tragic death of NBA superstar, Kobe Bryant.

On the early days of March which is the third month of our leadership, the game changer came. The one that changes the landscape, the COVID-19 pandemic. When it entered the scenario, our 2020 vision slowly shattered and as time passed by and things got worse, hope started to fade and eventually got lost.

It was easy for others to say that our batch will tell a unique story. That our one year to lead is one of a kind, and so on, but they would never know the negative mental impact it created on us. There were so many frustrations. We felt all the negative feelings and acknowledged them before we got up and went back. Perhaps, to some, it will take too much time before they can move. After all, we heal on different phases.

I cannot deny the fact that our midyear e-academy last June lit a little fire during our darkest days. It helped us realize that we should not quit. Rather, we should continue with the battle and be challenged by the circumstances. It is funny to think that our 2020 LO theme is “Challenge to Change” which I coined years ago as I prepare for my presidency.

As 2019 closes, I have read some online articles that year 2020 is a year of change since it is a start of a new decade. Some people claimed that a big shift will occur this year. And all of these became real. We have shifted from the physical world to the virtual world, and this is one of the biggest changes that has ever occurred so far because of the pandemic.

We have been tagged as “Pandemic Presidents,” or “COVID-19 Presidents,” but one thing struck me was when we were called “Virtual Presidents.” Yes, we are, but I prefer to call us as “Change Presidents” because other than the changes happening in the world right now, we are being changed. The darkness we have been through, that we felt like we were being buried. But the truth is, we have just been planted to grow, to grow into big trees with strong roots and a strong foundation.

I know, to some of us, it may look like we have accepted it. But digging deep down, we have not yet. At the end of the day, we have to remind ourselves with the first tenet of our values, “that faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life.” There is the reason why we experience this and that reason will be prevailed in the right time by our God.

To my fellow batch Hiraya Presidents, from the beginning we have learned to always adjust to the situation but this situation is different. JCI moves on with one year to lead and it is hard for some of us because our vision 2020 felt like it was shot at the bin, and because of this terrible pandemic, it can never be done again. It is really hard to accept our fate right now and I know this will haunt us in the years to come. But yes, we will tell a different story. A story of how we have surpassed everything. A story when we were being tested, when we endured the pain but still carried it out gracefully. A story of how we became so close to each other because of our situation. A story where we were locked down but strive harder to continue to serve humanity.

In the future, we will be seating with each other during fellowship. We would talk about this and we would laugh at

this by that time. We will not remember these days anymore, but we will remember the moment that changed our one year to lead, our vision 2020. With you, I never had regrets for choosing to lead my chapter this year 2020.•