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History of
MARIKINA VALLEY (HOST) LIONS CLUB
On April 18, 1958, the very first Lions Club in Marikina saw the light of day. Fourteen (14) civic-conscious Marikeños met and discussed how they may be able to alleviate the plight of the marginalized sector of the burgeoning town. Several months later with the guidance of Lions International Officer George Barrenengoa and Bayanihan Lions Club President Benjamin Estrella , the Marikina Valley Lions Club was chartered. The Guest Speaker, then Senate President Amang Rodriguez, inducted the Officers and Members led by Charter President Gen. Benjamin G. Molina. The Charter Members were Col. Jacinto T. Gavino, Engr. Quiterio Q. Marcos, Dr. Celso G. Carlos, Atty. Leonardo M. Guzman, Dr. Jose de la Paz, Maj. Avelino Cruz, Cmdr. Cecilio M. Asuncion, Mr Angel S. Trinidad, Mr. Manuel L. Agustin, Mr. Rodolfo E. Concepcion, Mr. Antonio de Leon and Mr. Alfredo Garcia.
Fourteen years later, the members decided to institutionalize the aims and objectives of the Club by incorporating its existence. Thus, on July 05, 1973, the Marikina Valley (Host) Lions Club, Inc. was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Registry No. 5186.
Realizing the need for ensuring that all members keep track of all club activities, it was decided to publish a newsletter. Thus, on April 1, 1983, the maiden issue of Shoestring came out with Past President Desiderio S. Sta. Ana as its Editor.Meanwhile the Club desired to have its own place for holding meetings. Lion Osmundo de Guzman,then Mayor of Marikina, offered a piece of lot along Shoe Avenue, now Munding Avenue. Lion Emelito de la Paz who later became Undersecretary of Justice facilitated the lease. Lion Virgilio Goze prepared the building plan. The cornerstone was laid on March 29, 1981during the 
first term of Pres. Demetrio Paz. But it was only during his second term that the construction was started due to a dearth in funds. Finally, on December 12, 1982 the Clubhouse was blessed and inaugurated.
With an increasing Marikina populace and a growing civic consciousness in the citizenry the need to establish more service-oriented organizations arose. The Club guided and sponsored the chartering of Marikina Heights Lions Club.
With its commitment and dedication to serve the less privilege sector in Marikina and elsewhere the Club had its share of shining moments. In 1991 the Club gained the distinction of having the most number of Melvin Jones Fellows in the entire Philippine Lions Multiple District 301 in the persons of: Cabinet Auditor Brikcio S. Santos, President Ramon T. Bagadiong, Past President Virgilio Goze, Lion Jose S. Buenconsejo, Lion Jovita C. Rodriguez and Lion Rosita S. Boado.
That same year the Club made history when it hit the grand slam by garnering the plum awards in District 301 D2 under DG Artemio Buenaventura, including Most Outstanding Club (out of 54 clubs):
The Club continued its winning streak. In LY 1991-92, the Club ranked 4th Outstanding Club with Pres. Loreto Acejo adjudged Outstanding Club President, Chito Dimaculangan as Outstanding Treasurer, and Diosdado Canta as Outstanding Secretary. Likewise Immediate Past Pres. Ramon T. Bagadiong was Most Outstanding Zone Chairman while Past Zone Chairman Alejo Dumrique was named Outstanding Region Chairman under DG Antonio Ocampo.
In LY 1992-93, the Club gained four additional Melvin Jones Fellows, namely: PRC Alejo M. Dumrique, PP Demetrio C. Paz, PP Rafael F. Valencia and Lion Buenaventura S. Tabo.
That same year, PZC Ramon T. Bagadiong was proclaimed Most Outstanding Region Chairman under DG Virgilio de la Rosa. He made the highest contribution to the District Sightfirst Fund Campaign which earned for the Club 5 more MJFs in the persons of: PP Loreto L. Acejo, Lion Irene M Bagadiong, Lion Teodoro Benitez, Lion Bernardo A. Celzo and Lion Reginald DS.Dumrique.
In 1994, Past Cab. Auditor Brikcio S. Santos was elected District Lieutenant Governor, the highest position a Club member had so far occupied in the District. Retired Brigadier General Buenaventura S. Tabo was Club President then.
However, Lieutenant Governor Santos never made it to the District Governorship. District politicking was the culprit. Taking umbrage, the Club shied away from the District. Nevertheless the Club under Pres. Bernardo A. Celzo never wavered in its commitment to serve the marginalized sector in the community.
Wary of being rendered on status quo, the Club was constrained to end its estrangement from the District. Still, the Club continued to maintain a low profile. It, however, never stopped in the delivery of humanitarian service with Pres. Rodrigo C. Santiago at the helm.
LY 1997-98 marked a milestone in the Club’s history with the assumption of President Rosita S. Boado as itsfirst lady president. It came at a time when women were taking more active and visible roles in undertaking humanitarian endeavors.
President Jovito L. Lansang‘s term at LY 1998-99 saw the Club slowly and gradually going through a cathartic period while it continued to work for poverty amelioration.
In LY 1999-2000, the Club recovered its momentum and in no time was back at the mainstream. Thus at year-end, the Club was adjudged 3rd Outstanding Club with Pres. Valentin Villanueva, Sec. Joselyn Crisanta Santiago and Treas. Felizardo Aguilar proclaimed Outstanding President, Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.
LY 2000-01 was a propitious time for the Club. Past Region Chairman Alejo M. Dumrique was elected Vice District Governor. Another Past Region Chairman, Ramon T. Bagadiong was appointed Deputy Cabinet Treasurer by District Governor Johnny T. Co. The Club under the leadership of Pres. Manuel H. Gonzales maintained its ranking as one of the top ten clubs in the District. The publication of Shoestring was resumed after a hiatus 
of about a decade with Sec. Gladiola Bagadiong as Bulletin Editor. A new Melvin Jones Fellow, Lion Juanita S.Dumrique brought the Club’s total to 16 MJFs.
In LY 2001-02, the Club had its finest hour. VDG Alex Dumrique became the 19th Governor of District 301 D2, the very first one for Marikina Valley (Host) LC. It was high time for a perennially topnotch club. In fact, it was seven years late. Past Deputy Treasurer Ramon T. Bagadiong now served as Cabinet Treasurer. Under the leadership of President Oscar L. Duque the Club successfully went through another year of community service. During his term, the Marikina Valley Leo Club was chartered. Two Melvin Jones Fellows bolstered the rank of MJFs bringing the total to 18. These were: PP Manuel H. Gonzales and Lion Johnny O. Aguilar.
LY 2002-03 saw the election of younger leaders – Pres. Jacinto Ramon R. Pinon and Sec. Lilia Suzette G. Pinon. At year-end, the Club bagged the Distinguished Club Performance Award as well as the Outstanding Club Secretary and Treasurer Awards for Sec. Lilia Suzette G. Pinon and Treasurer Jovito Lansang, respectively. Past Cabinet Treasurer Ramon T. Bagadiong once again received the Most Outstanding Award as the District Committee Chairperson for Hearing and Speech Action and Work with the Deaf from DG Susan DV. Brizuela, first lady District Governor of District 301 D2. The Marikina Valley Leo Club hit the grand slam winning the Most Outstanding Leo Club Award with Charter President Joseph Pinon taking the Most Outstanding Leo and 100% Leo Club President Honors.
In LY 2003-2004, the Club, for the second time around had a lady at the helm, Pres. Gladiola M. Bagadiong who successfully steered the Club through another year of community service. During the District Recognition and Awards Night, Gov. Leo Santiago conferred to the Club the distinction of being the 3rd Most Outstanding Club in District 
301 D2, out of 56 clubs. The Club also received the New Horizons Award in Diabetes Education from International President Dr. Tae Sup-Lee in recognition of its projects on diabetes awareness, detection and prevention. Likewise, it gained international recognition when its entry, representing District 301 Philippines having won in the district- and nation-wide peace poster competition, was chosen from more than 350,000 entries from 58 countries to win a Merit Award at the Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Pres.Bagadiong, who became the Club’s 19th Melvin Jones Fellow was presented the 3rd Most Outstanding President Award. Treas. Thelma A. Acejo received the “Most Outstanding Treasurer” award while Sec. Juanita DS. Dumrique was conferred “Secretary of the Year”. Pres. Bagadiong was also presented with the Club President Excellence Award pin from Lions Club International President Tae Sup-Lee by Gov. Santiago.
It was in LY 2004 – 2005, that the Club first extended its hands in spirit of understanding and friendship with Lions from across the seas. It forged a twinning agreement with Ulsan Seoboo Lions Club, District 355-I, Korea. At year-end, the Club was chosen one of the Outstanding Lions Club and Gov. Imelda C. Flores presented to Pres. Benjamin Talan, the Club’s 20th Melvin Jones Fellow, the Outstanding Club President award. Treas.Juanita DS. Dumrique received the “Most Outstanding Club Treasurer” award. Meanwhile, District Bulletin Editor Gladiola M. Bagadiong was conferred the “Most Outstanding District Director”. Cabinet Secretary Ramon Bagadiong received an Excellence Award. But the most coveted and esteemed recognition he received was the title of “Lion of the Year”, a Club first.
LY 2005-2006 saw the Club under its 3rd woman president, Lion Juanita DS. Dumrique. A very active and energetic leader, she has drawn up numerous projects aimed to ameliorate the life of the marginalized sector in the community.
In LY 2006-2007, the club made another milestone: Past President Valentin Villanueva became District Governor, making him the second District Governor to come from the Marikina Valley Host Lions Club.
Years later, Lion Year 2013-2014 presented new horizons to the Club. Lion Susan Sardillo introduced innovations to the club by being the first to utilize the E-Clubhouse of Lions Clubs International. Under her term, the club saw the induction of young members, and the Club garnered the following Awards from the District: 2013-2014 Dream Achiever Awards under Gov Cuerpo: Outstanding Club MVHLC , Outstanding President Susan Sardillo, Outstanding Sec retary Juanita Dumrique, Outstanding Treasurer Anne Marie Dumrique and Outstanding Lions Family Award- Dumrique Family.
Lion Susan Sardillo was elected to a second term for Lion Year 2014-2015. During her second term, under the International Theme “Strengthen the Pride”, the Club was awarded Outstanding Club, and our officers hailed as Outstanding President (Susan Sardillo), Outstanding Sec. (Ed de Guzman), Outstanding Treas (Tess Abuel), and Most Outstanding Cabinet Officer (Rayjun O. Abuel).
Edgardo “Ed” De Guzman was elected in LY 2015-2016, and brought further innovations to the club. It was under his term that the Club Newsletter “Shoestring” was revived and converted into digital format. It was also under his term that the Club garnered a Grandslam win at the District Recognition Night for Most Outstanding President, Most Outstanding Secretary (Ruth B. David), and Outstanding Treasurer (Ma. Theresa D. Abuel), Most Outstanding Club, among other recognitions.
Lion Raymundo O. Abuel, Jr. was recently elected by the Club as its President for Lion Year 2016-2017. Under his leadership, Marikia Valley (Host) Lions Club will continue its programs of service to the community through programs aligned with the thrust of Lions Clubs International.
58 Years of Marikina Valley Host Lions Club is our Legacy to Service.
Written By: PP Dr. Desiderio Sta. Ana and PP Gladiola Bagadiong With graphics and text additions by: Sec. Rodel Banares
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.
