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History

INTRODUCTION

SIKAP-BUNDOK is the acronym for “SAMAHAN SA IKAUUNLAD NG KAPALIGIRAN, PAMAYANAN AT KABUNDUKAN”. Its official English name is MECSO, which is the acronym for its official English translation “Mountain, Environment and community Service Organization”.

SIKAP-BUNDOK is a Philippine-based mountaineering-oriented outdoors club with strong environmental and service ethics. It also emphasizes internal discipline and skills training among its members in particular, and encourages the same among the local mountaineering community in general.

It is one of the few local clubs with a well organized series of training courses for members and non-members.

THE FOUNDING

The club was founded by seven former members of another local club in the aftermath of a dispute regarding the re-direction of that club from a purely “fun-oriented” organization to a more environmentally friendly, service and training-oriented one. Reynaldo F. Cuyugan led the group

It was formally organized in February 16, 1994 at the then Philippine Airlines Building No. 1, in Legazpi Village, Makati, Metro Manila.

THE NAME

Initially, it was named PALFECSO, acronym for Philippine Airlines Foundation Environmental and Community Service Organization. It was so named in view of the close relationship of the founding president with the PAL Foundation. It was thought that the club could serve as the environmental and community outreach arm of the foundation.

Soon enough, it was realized that the name might severely limit the ability of the club to establish linkages with or solicit support from other organization. On April 28, 1994, at the same venue, the new name SAMAHAN SA IKAUUNLAD NG KAPALIGIRAN, PAMAYANAN AT KABUNDUKAN (SIKAP-BUNDOK) was formally adopted after two rounds of voting.

Also adopted was the official English name in expectation of future relations with non-Philippine organizations. The founding president suggested both names.

THE LOGO

At the same meeting, the official logo was adopted. The husband-and-wife team of Jacques and Jackie Bernardo suggested the design concept. Abe Medenilla, a friend from the old club, did the final artistic rendering. The ellipse was chosen since the earth is not a perfect sphere; the mountain part is obvious; the three huts and the fields to the right represent the communities, while the sea, the sky, the birds and the sun represented the environment. There are seven birds because there were seven founding members.

THE FOUNDING MEMBERS AND THE FIRST SET OF OFFICERS:

  • Reynaldo F. Cuyugan – Chairman & President
  • George P. Ordona – Vice President
  • Jacques S. Bernardo – Operations Manager
  • Jacqueline B. Bernardo – Treasurer
  • Cristita B. Dimacali – Secretary
  • Alfonso J. Mangabat – Director
  • Ma. Edeliza M. Tangonan – Director