1973 saw the rising to the LOM Presidency
of a very distinguished young man who was erstwhile called Mr. Jaycee. Considered
as the moving spirit of Jaycee leadership for more than two decades, JCI Senator Nestor C. Panlaque became twice the president
of General Santos “Twin Star” Jaycees. It was this year when the
chapter gained prominence by hosting its first ever National Jaycee function – the 5th Mindanao-Joint Regional
Jaycee Convention. He later on became the vice-president of the General Santos
Jaycee Senate and earned himself the distinction of being one of the most awarded Jaycee members of the LOM.
Following the footsteps
of an illustrious Jaycee personality was another Jaycee who was an activist, a member of the Constitutional Convention, and
who almost became the first national officer of the chapter having been invited to be the Auditor-General of by then National
President Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte. Domingo Chi, the 1974 LOM President,
a survivor of a well-fought LOM election, however, had to let go of this opportunity as he was by that time working in one
of the most prominent and so demanding of time multi-national company.
President Doming’s
term was followed by that of Florante “Boy” de Castro whose term was characterized by the members becoming more
political in their approach at leadership. He was succeeded by Alawi “Al”
Alhabsi (1976) who was able to maintain the strength and stature of the LOM. A
lawyer, Rogelio “Bicbic” Garcia assumed the chapter’s top post in 1977.
He was followed by the sons of prominent families, Arturo “Art” Llido who served the LOM from January to
June of 1978, and Roman “Romy” Salazar who served the remaining Jaycee term.
All these years, politics became the by-word.
