Sampaguita Jaycees, Inc. was chartered in September 1976 as the FIRST FEMALE CHAPTER in the Philippine Jaycees history. Baby Nabong presided over the chapter's toddler steps. A total of twenty-eight members formed the nucleus of the group. Annie de Guzman took over the helm of the chapter and spearheaded its aggressive thrust into national involvement. As a result, she was elected as JCIP-EVP for 1979 at the National Convention in Zamboanga. This was another "first" for the chapter, because it made Annie the first (ever) lady executive of the national organization. The succeeding administration under Lia Seelin saw the chapter notch a milestone when it won a Certificate of Merit for Outstanding New Chapter during the year's Metro Conference. The chapter also won the Most Outstanding award for the Government Affairs with its EDICOP (Education Information Campaign on the Parliament) in the Baguio National Convention the same year. The leadership of Liz Mariano reached a high-water mark in 1980. The Metro Conference held in Pasay City gave the chapter several major awards - Most Outstanding Chapter in Community Development, Certificate of Merit for Most Outstanding Chapter, and Certificate of Merit for Most Outstanding Publication for Sampaguita Scent. At the Iloilo National Convention, four major awards went to the chapter, namely, Most Outstanding Chapter for Category III, Most Outstanding Chapter in Community Development, Most Outstanding Regular Publication, and a Certificate of Merit for Ways and Means. It was also this year that Sampaguita Jaycees was elected as a member of the Asia-Pacific Lady LOMs Council, the first and, at the date, only members from the Philippines. To cap off, Liz was elected chairman of that council for 1981. It was Grace Chan's turn for the chapter presidency, and the year was marked by a deep involvement in Area and national activities. Another ''first" was achieved that year when Sampaguita won the Outstanding Chapter in Environmental Improvement Award at the Berlin World Congress. We were one of only two Philippine Chapters that won Major awards in that World Congress. In the same year, Sampaguita won five Certificates of Merit at the Area and National Conventions, as a testimony to the chapter's continuing quest for excellence in it’s programs and projects. By this time, the chapter had produced the first two lady JCI senators in the country - Annie de Guzman in 1979 and Liz P. The year was further highlighted by Liz Mariano's election as Vice President for the Metro Area for 1982. A Sampaguita Jaycee sits at the helm of the Metro Area organization in the person of AVP Liz Mariano. Maricar Gutierrez is president of the chapter. The other officers are raring to make the year another memorable episode.
