Philippine Amateur Radio Association Inc. (PARA / DX1PAR)
Philippine Amateur Radio Association Inc. (PARA / DX1PAR)
The Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA) is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in the Philippines. Key membership benefits of PARA include the sponsorship of amateur radio operating awards and radio contests, and a QSL bureau for those members who regularly communicate with amateur radio operators in other countries.
PARA represents the interests of Filipino Amateur Radio Operators/Enthusiast before the national and international telecommunications regulatory authorities. PARA is the national member society representing the Philippines in the International Amateur Radio Union.
PARA is the recognized national umbrella association for the amateur radio service in the Philippines. As the national association for amateur radio, PARA has for its members the different amateur clubs in the Philippines. Under existing NTC regulations, an amateur club can be accredited by the NTC if such club is an affiliate club of PARA.
1922 |
The Amateur Radio Club of the Philippines (ARCP), PARA’s forerunner is organized |
1924 |
The ARCP is absorbed into a larger organization headed by Lt. Hayden Roberts, founder of the Philippines’ most famous station, IPH. This organization is the Philippine Radio Society. |
1925 |
Lt. Haydn Roberts accomplishes first trans-pacific communication between Manila and San Francisco, USA. |
1931 |
The Philippine Legislature enacts Act No. 3846, known as the Radio Control Law of the Philippines. The Radio Control Division in the Bureau of Posts was created to implement Act No. 3846. |
1932 |
In November 27 of 1932, the Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA) was organized. Leon V. Grove, KA1LG, the School Principal of the Philippine School of Arts and Trade located in corner Ayala and San Marcelino Sts, Manila became founding President. In that same year PARA was admitted to the International Amateur Radio Union. |
1936 |
Dr. Edmundo Reyes, KA10R is elected President |
1937 |
John R. Schultz, KA1JR is elected President |
1938 |
Maj. James MacGraw is elected President |
1939 |
Frank C. Swan, KA1CS, is PARA President. The Radio Control Division of the Bureau of Post was transferred to the Department of National Defence. |
1942 |
Ismael “Mike” Vito, DU6IV, licensed as KA7SV in the pre WW2 years and later as KA6FA post war, establishes contact with the headquarters of Gen. Douglas MacArthur in Australia from the Mt. Baloy guerrilla headquarters of General Macario Peralta. |
1946 |
Frank C. Swan, KA1CS is elected President |
1947 |
Teodoro V. Kalaw, Jr., DU1TK, is the first post-independence President of PARA. The Radio Control Division is transferred from the Department of National Defence to the Department of Commerce and Industry. |
1948 to 1950 |
Gregorio Trinidad, DU1GT is elected President |
1949 |
Official DU prefix granted to the Philippines in January of this year. |
1951 to 1952 |
Alejandro Legarda, DU1AL, is PARA President. In 1952, the Radio Control Board, the forerunner of the National Telecommunications Commission, promulgates Department Order 103 prescribing the Rules and Regulations Governing the Amateur Radio Service in the Philippines. |
1953 to 1954 |
Edmundo Reyes, DU1OR is elected President |
1955 to1956 |
Eliodoro M. Claro, DU1CE is elected President |
1957 to 1958 |
Miguel Contreras, DU1MC is elected President |
1959 to 1961 |
Elpidio de Castro is elected President |
1962 |
The PARA Presidency is divided between Dr. Romeo Castaneda, DU1RC, from July to August 1962 and Isaac Cruz, DU1K, from August to December 1962. The Radio Control Division is renamed Radio Control Office. |
1963 to 1964 |
Dr. Edmundo Reyes, DU1OR is elected President |
1965 to 1966 |
George Francisco, DU1GF is elected President |
1967 |
Ronaldo Senson, DU1RS is elected President |
1968 |
Hector O. del Rosario, DU1HR is elected President |
1969 |
Ronaldo Senson, DU1RS is elected President |
1970 |
Dr. Edmundo Reyes, DU1OR is elected President |
1971 |
Caril Pundol, DU1CP and Luisito Pecache, DU1LRP. PARA sets up office at the Madrid Restaurant in Mandaluyong. Radio Control Board promulgates Department Order 13 or the amended Rules and Regulations governing the Amateur Radio Service. It becomes Regulations Part V. |
1972 |
Dr. Edmundo Reyes, DU1OR is elected President The operation of Mobile Amateur Radio Station on all bands and fixed amateur radio stations in the 2 meter band is suspended until further orders. The operation of Radio Station owned by Civic Organizations and Radio Stations in the Citizen’s Band and the 6 meter band is temporarily suspended. The Radio Control Board issues Guidelines for the use of 2 and 10 meter band frequencies for Amateur Communication Satellites. The following frequencies shall be used as received frequencies: 29.24 and 29.55 MHz, in the 10 meter band. The use of the 2 meter band (144-148) for Police Communication Networks and for other public or private communication systems is prohibited. Licensed Radio Stations previously authorized in the 2 meter bands for civic groups, associations and organization are withdrawn and reassigned to 143.75 MHz. |
1973 |
Ceril Pundol, DU1CP is elected President The temporary suspension of the use and operation of the 6 meter bands is lifted. |
1974 |
Carlos M. Treyes, DU1CMT is elected President On November 2nd, PARA hosts the 4th SEANET Convention at the Philippine Village Hotel in Manila. This is the first time the Philippines will host the Convention. The 2 meter band is re-allocated to 144-146 MHz. Only 146-148 is re-allocated to the Personal Radio Service. OCR-PICAG members with licensed amateur radio stations who are authorized to operate on the 2 meter band are allowed to use the AFP (ORC-PICAG) assigned frequencies for civic action purpose using VHF transceiver equipment. The Radio Control Office was renamed as the Telecommunications Control Bureau. |
1975 |
Jose Mari Gonzalez, DU1JMG is elected President On October 25, the first VHF Repeater in the Philippines is inaugurated by PARA in Manila with the call DU1PAR operating on 144.70 minus 600. This is also the first VHF Repeater in Asia. Owners of licensed Mobile radio stations are required to post sticker bearing the call sign of their respective stations on the radio equipment and at the rear windshield of their vehicles. Amateur radio stations are warned about violating the use of assigned frequencies, emissions, power limitations and the use of unauthorized calls other than those assigned. The QTC Magazine is born. |
1976 |
Nicanor Tinio, DU1BOS is elected President PARA transfers its office to the 17th floor of the Philcomsen Bldg. at Ortigas Ave. Pasig. The reciprocal agreement between the Philippines and the United States is signed. Amateur radio stations are required to file separate applications for each class of service (Amateur Fixed Station, Amateur Mobile Station or Amateur Portable Station). PARA is recognized as the single National Society of radio amateurs in the Philippines and thereby requires all radio amateurs to affiliate or register their membership with PARA On January, Dr. Eduardo Garcia, DU6EG receives his OSCAR Satellite Communication Achievement Recognition Certificate (No. 62) for his “excellent satellite work.” He is the first Filipino amateur to receive an OSCAR award from AMSAT. |
1977 |
Nicanor Tinio, DU1BOS is elected President Holders of Class C Amateur radio Operators License are required to undergo orientation on the proper operation of an amateur radio station for at least one year before they are allowed to directly operate either a base or mobile amateur radio station. |
1978 to 1979 |
Jose J. Tupas, DU1JJT is elected President PARA gains its seat in the Board of IARU region 3 with DU1JJT sitting as Director representing the Philippines. The Telecommunications Control Bureau and the Board of Communications are abolished and integrated into single entity known as the National Telecommunications Commission. |
1980 |
Jimmy Ong, DU1JO is elected President PARA hosts the SEANET Convention in Manila. The use of frequencies in the bands allocated to the Amateur Radio Service in relief and rescue operations during natural disasters or emergencies is authorized provided that for non-amateur radio stations for disaster communications, it shall be limited to the duration of the emergency and to the specific geographic areas only. A single instrument of authority is promulgated repealing (Memo Circular No. 04097-80) Memo Circular 76.5 requiring all amateurs in the Philippines to affiliate or register membership. |
1981 |
Donato Poblador, DU7DP is elected President, and Luis del Moral, DU1LM is station trustee for DU1PAR. September 26-27: PARA National Hamvention in Cebu City. NTC issues color code ID cards for amateur radio operators. Class A is assigned a blue colored ID, Class B is yellow and Class C is White Edwin F. Zambrano, DU1EFZ is one of the DX Continental leaders for Oceania during the 1981 International DX Contest held on March 6-7 on the 15 meters category. |
1982 |
Jose Mari Gonzalez, DU1JMG is elected President. PARA hosts the 5th International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 3 Conference on June 2-5 at the Century Park Sheraton Hotel in Manila. A special prefix 4D is assigned to be used for one year to any amateur radio station in commemoration of PARA’s 50th Anniversary. |
1983 to 1984 |
Donato Poblador, DU7DP is elected President. PARA publishes the first edition of “So you want to be a ham.” November 24 1984, PARA’s 52nd Anniversary was celebrated at the Quezon City Sports Club in Metro Manila. In the assembly, the new draft of PARA’s Constitution and By-laws was tackled. NTC issues Lifetime Operators License (LOL) to deserving amateur radio operators (NTC Memo Circular 07-04-84). An Interim Amateur Radio Advisory Council is formed. A single District Club for every radio district is organized and all accredited amateur radio clubs are required to register. |
1985 |
Antonio N. Lazatin, DU1LOG is elected President. February 16-17, the PARA National Hamvention was held at GSP Camp CRG in Novaliches Quezon City. This is the first time that an amateur radio hamvention is co-hosted by the umbrella organization of the Citizen’s Band-the CP-COP. August 10, PARA holds its first Congress of Presidents at Century Park Sheraton Hotel. This ushered in the birth of the “New PARA.” November 22, CARL hosts the 15th SEANET Convention in Cebu City. This event also coincided with PARA’s 53rd Anniversary. The amended articles of incorporation and new by-laws of PARA are approved, thus converting the association into a federation of clubs. All lifetime members are incorporated into a club called the “PARA Lifetime Organization” or PLO. NTC Metro Circular No. 05-08-85 is signed recognizing PARA as the national amateur radio organization. The memo states that all accredited amateur radio clubs are required to affiliate with PARA. A National Radio advisory Committee is created to resolve the conflict between PARA and PCARS. The Lifetime Operators License (LOL) is awarded to Edmundo Reyes, DU1OR, Alfonso de Lange, DU1DL, Alex Legarda, DU1AL, George Francisco, DU1GF, Alfedo Hasmin, DU1EH, Hector del Rosario, DU1HR, Joaquin Santaroma, DU1JS, Arsenio Ortazar Sr. DU9AC. May 25, The 4th PARA DX Contest is held. |
1986 |
Antonio Lazatin, DU1LOG is elected President. An official callsign sticker is available and required to be posted at the entrance of the fixed/base station, the rear window of the mobile station and/or on the portable radio equipment (NTC Memo Circular No. 04-05-86). The requirement that all accredited amateur radio clubs affiliate with PARA is suspended (NTC Memo Circular No. 05-05-85). The regulations, guidelines and procedures governing the installation and operation of amateur repeaters is promulgated. A repeater band plan for 10 meters, 6 meters, 2 meters and 70 cm is adopted. 4D42L is set up to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of the Leyte Landing. |
1987 |
Tirso G. Parpan (Teegee), DU1LZ is elected President. July 17-18, PARA National Hamvention at Montebello Villa Hotel in Cebu City, dubbed as “Hamfest’87” it had for its theme “Reaching out to serve.” The rules and regulations governing the Amateur Radio Service are revised and promulgated. (NTC Memo Circular No. 02-03-87). September 5-6, District 1 “Pakulo’87” at the Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong. |
1988 |
Dick Galvez, DU6AF is elected President. September 16-17, PARA National Hamvention in Iloilo City with the theme “Ham Radio in every town” |
1989 |
Jesus Hernandez, DU4BS is elected President. August 10-12, PARA National Hamvention in Davao City. PARA through Art Uy, DU1AU, submits a position paper on the matter of frequency allocations in the 430-440 MHz. In the paper, PARA presents its objections against the re-allocation of the Amateur Radio Service to a limited segment. |
1990 to 1991 |
Eduardo Montalvan, 4F9AED is elected President. PARA publishers “The Amateur Radio LogBook” for Dxers. July 21, First District 8 Hamvention in Iligan City. May 2-4 1991: PARA National Hamvention in Bacolod City. The By-Laws of PARA are amended to include Specialty Clubs as another membership classification and the position of Secretary General is created. July 12. Mt. Pinatubo erupts. Albert Visitasion, DU1AVA, ARES National Coordinator activates the emergency network. Fr. Sony Lumanog, DU3ZZ, Dist. 3 Director and ARES III Coordinator lead the operations in Central Luzon. |
1992 |
Tom Hashim Jr., DU1TH is elected President, and Domingo Mendoza, DU1PX as Secretary General. PARA National Hamvention in Zamboanga City dubbed as “Zamboanga Hermosa ’92” The first comprehensive directory of Amateur Radio in the Philippines is published by Rudy Rojas, DU1RF. It contains a listing of about 14, 000 amateur radio stations. |
1993 |
Rene So, DU2CG is elected President, with Rudy Rojas as Secretary General PARA National Hamvention in Legaspi City. February 24, NTC modifies the conduct of examinations in the NCR by requiring that exams papers be checked immediately after the examinations. PARA signs a Memorandum of Agreement with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodcasters sa Pilipinas (KBP) NTC issues memo requiring Proof of Amateur Activity as a prerequisite for License renewal. |
1994 |
Larmingo Tam, DU9LMT is elected President |
1995 to 1996 |
Robert Garcia Jr., DU6BG is elected President. He resigned in the 3rd quarter of 1996 to be replaced by Larmingo Tam, DU9LMT, as Interim President. November 23-24 1996, PARA National Hamvention at the UP Alumni Hall in Quezon City. |
1997 |
Robert Garcia Jr., DU6BG is elected President, with Ed Reyes, DU1ERV as Secretary General. May 23-24, PARA National Hamvention in Tacloban City. District 7 Hamvention in Siquijor Island. District 9 Hamvention at Balanghay Hotel is Butuan City. |
1998 |
Robert Garcia Jr., DU6BG is elected President, with Ed Reyes, DU1ERV as Secretary General. May 23-25, PARA National Hamvention in Davao City by DARNET. The prefix DU100 is open for use to all interested amateur radio stations for one year in commemoration of the Philippines’ Centennial Celebration. |
1999 |
Erick B. Villegas, DU1EBV is elected President, with Butch Pacana DV1JYO as Secretary General |
2000 |
Serafin A. Nepumoceno, DU1SAN is elected President, with Butch Pacana, DV1JYO as Secretary General |
2001 |
Butch Pacana, DV1JYO is elected President, with Brian Ong Santos, DU1MS as Secretary General |
2002 to 2005 |
Jose Mari Gonzalez, DU1JMG is elected President, with Joseph Sy, DU1DX as Secretary General. PARA got the NTC to issue Callsigns according to class of license. Morse code requirement for classes B and C removed and code speed requirement for Class A brought down to 5wpm. PARA brought down the age limit for an NTC free lifetime license from 66 to 60 with the qualification of being an active Class A licensee for 15 years prior to application. It was also during this time PARA had a Swiss national, who had been operating illegally using the fake callsign DU1ABC for more than 7 years, arrested and jailed then later on deported. |
2006 |
Eduardo Victor J. Valdez, DU1EV President with Ramon J. Anquilan, DU1UGZ as Secretary General The annual convention was held in Clarkfield, Pampanga hosted by Spectrum Inc., ( DX3S) and Spectrum Tarlac (Sigma). This year marked the re-entry of Spectrum Tarlac Inc. as an affiliate club of PARA. Lifetime membership was opened for both local hams and foreign hams. The PARA anniversary and convention was held at the Clark Free Port Zone in Pampanga and was hosted by Spectrum Communications. |
2007-2008 |
Jaime Kho is elected President, with Ramon J. Anquilan, DU1UGZ as Secretary General. In 2007 the annual convention was held in Pili Camarines Sur hosted by CARE INC. (DX4CAR) and in 2008 it was held in Mactan Island, Cebu hosted by CARL INC. |
2009 |
Bienvenido Jose N. Panganiban, DU1BP with Ramon J. Anquilan, DU1UGZ as Secretary General The nationwide effort to recruit new members was beginning to pay off. The presence of new callsigns in VHF showed that a dramatic increase of the ham community. New or revived affiliate clubs since 2007 include DX1PRS, DX1ER, and DX2BBB. Annual Convention was held in Palo Leyte and in November 2009 anniversary celebrations held at the Intramuros Golf Club, the national association implemented the new By Laws by popularly electing the Board of Directors. Subsequently, it was decided to popularly elect the District Directors also. |
2010 |
Ramon J. Anquilan DU1UGZ with Rolando B. Pacana, Jr. DU1RP as Secretary General 2010 was the transition year for PARA. The clamor of the members for a change in organizational structure was implemented with the creation of a Management Team complimented by District Managers from each call area. They have a term of office of 3 years starting the year 2011. The Management Team is composed of 5 Directors. The Management Team will select a Chief Operating Officer, a Vice-Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, and a Secretary General. To ensure a more participatory electoral process in the selection of the Management Team and District Directors, direct voting by individuals replaced aggregate club voting. One vote per person, instead of the old practice of local clubs voting like an electoral college. As part of the transition to electronic voting, it had manual voting but the majority opted to vote electronically. Members were given the option to register and vote online, with the last day of voting coinciding with the PARA Anniversary at Kaban ng Hiyas, Mandaluyong City. The 77th PARA Summer Convention was held in Tagaytay together with the 17th International Grand Eyeball (IGEB) on June 4-6, 2010 at Hotel Dominique, Tagaytay City. The IGEB is held in the Philippines every 5 years. Part of the membership campaign for 2010 was to revive student clubs. The UST Amateur Radio Club - DX1UST - was revived with PARA President Ramon Anquilan, DU1UGZ, as club trustee. Orientation seminars were also held towards the formation of student clubs beginning with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. |
2011-2013 |
Eduardo Victor J. Valdez DU1EV, Chief Operating Officer with Rolando B. Pacana, Jr. DU1RP as Secretary General Elected into the Management Team were DU1EV, DU1RP, DU1UGZ, DU1VHY and DV1KC. They elected the following officers, namely: the Chief Operating Officer: Eduardo Victor J. Valdez DU1EV; the Vice-Chief Operating Officer: Ramon J. Anquilan DU1UGZ; Secretary General: Rolando B. Pacana, Jr. DU1RP; Chief Financial Officer: Roberto C. Vicencio DU1VHY. Eduardo Victor J. Valdez DU1EV, Ramon Anquilan DU1UGZ, Rolando Pacana DU1RP, and Thelma Pascua DU1IVT were very active in representing the amateur community at the NTC Amateur Radio Consultative Panel (ARCP). They worked hard with their NTC counterparts in drafting the Revised Amateur Radio Regulations otherwise known as MC 03-08-2012. Among the changes enshrined in the new amateur radio regulations were:
Joint meetings of the ARCP and the Question Pool Committee were held regularly. A more rational syllabus for the question pool was agreed upon and was adopted by the NTC. This allowed PARA to conduct a better and more comprehensive orientation seminar for would be hams. It was during this period that the management team noticed that the ARES logo was a registered trademark of the ARRL. Thus, the ARES was re-named HERO which stands for Ham Emergency Radio Operations. On October 15, 2013, the Philippines was visited by a powerful earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale. Bohol and Cebu were the most devastated provinces. HERO was active in providing emergency communications. PARA members also participated in the relief efforts. On November 8, 2013 Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) made landfall on the Philippine archipelago. It was the strongest typhoon to make landfall in recorded history. All the traditional forms of communication went down and it was the shining moment for amateur radio. Ham emergency radio operatives relayed human welfare traffic from the hardest hit provinces to Metro Manila. HERO relayed the information to the relatives of the survivors in the Philippines and abroad. For a lot of the survivors, amateur radio was their only gateway to the outside world. Members of the Philippine Amateur Radio Association participated in the relief efforts as well. The PARA summer convention in 2011 was held in Tagbilaran City, Bohol and was hosted by the Chocolate Hills Amateur Radio League. In 2012 it was held at Olongapo City and was hosted by the local clubs of District 3. In 2013 it was held at Baguio City and was hosted by GSP Shares. |
2014-2016 |
Thelma C. Pascua Chief Operating Officer DU1IVT with Roberto C. Vicencio DU1VHY as Secretary General2014On May 16-18, 2014 the PARA Summer Convention was held in Iloilo hosted by PARC Iloilo. Thelma C. Pascua DU1IVT was elected as the Chief Operating Officer, along with Roberto C. Vicencio DU1VHY as Secretary General, Sulpicio Henry M. Legaspi, Jr. DU9DOC as Chief Finance Officer, Rolando B. Pacana DU1RP as Vice-COO and Eduardo Victor J. Valdez DU1EV as the 5th Board member of the Management Team. The Amateur Radio Consultative Panel (ARCP) was reconstituted with DU1EV, DU1UGZ, DU1IVT and DU1VHY as members from the amateur radio community. ROYAL, Inc. organized the DU8-DU9 Eyeball on September 27, 2014 in Cagayan De Oro City. On October 14, 2014 an Orientation Seminar for NTC personnel including Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba was held at the NTC. On this occasion DU1UGZ confided to Commissioner Cordoba that PARA needs a new home. As a result, Commissioner Cordoba offered PARA to hold office at NTC Building on the 4th Floor, adjoining the Multipurpose Hall. Going into the last quarter of the year, the PARA Lifetime Achievement Award was established by the PARA Board. After a nomination and deliberation process, the first awardee was Greg Ella DU1GE during the 82nd PARA Anniversary held at BF Homes, Paranaque City. It was also then the winning entry of the PARA Ham Emergency Radio Operations (HERO) logo contest won by DU1EV, was announced and the marker was unveiled with Deputy Commissioner Delilah F. Deles as Guest of Honor. Towards the end of December, two (2) strong typhoons namely Ruby and Seniang, hit Northern Samar and Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur respectively. HERO was activated from Dec 3-10 and from 27-30, 2014. By the end of December 2014, the total number of members stood at 1,593 with four (4) new affiliate clubs. 2015The MOA between NTC and PARA drafted since November 2014 was signed at the beginning of 2015. By end of February, PARA started vacating office at BSP NHQ in Manila to hold regular office at NTC in March 2015. The following month, the PARA Summer Convention and International Grand Eyeball was held in Naga City hosted by CARE, Inc. By mid-April, the PARA So You Want To Be A Ham handbook was reprinted with an updated, bigger-sized and easily readable edition. On July 30, 2015 the 1st Metro Manila wide Earthquake Drill (ShakeDrill) was held. PARA was invited and participated as part of the Rapid Emergency Telecommunications Team (RETT) Command Center beside at Camp Aguinaldo. DU1 clubs actively participated in the exercise. By October 2015, the new and user-friendly PARA website was launched with Rom DU1YQ as the webmaster on pro bono basis. A well-attended PARA 84th Anniversary was held in Marikina Polytechnic College on November 29. Important events included the awarding of the Posthumous Award to Jose Calderon DV1ANV which was given to his son in behalf of the family and the holding of the 1st Go Kit Contest. GlobalSET 2015 in IARU 3 was conducted towards the end of the year, as a fitting concluding activity of the year. By the end of 2015, the total number of members was 2,017 with nine (9) new affiliate clubs. 2016On February 18-20, 2016, the 2nd RADSHOW held at SM MOA, PARA had its booth and conducted the orientation seminar as a requisite for the on-site licensing examinations. The 83rd PARA Ham Radio Convention was held at the grounds of Silliman University in Dumaguete City from April 8-10, 2016 hosted by NORAD 7. PARA Lifetime Achievement Awards were accorded to Jose R. Confesor DU9JC and Jose Mari Gonzales DU1JMG. DU1UGZ started a project to introduce digital communications to the amateur radio community through the establishment of a hybrid digital-analog repeater – Yaesu DR-1X System Fusion Repeater. Hams who contributed to the effort were Billy Villegas WE6DX, Joel Pastor WJ1P, Butch Pacana DU1RP, Jojo Vicencio, Ramon Anquilan DU1UGZ, and DU1IVT. It is hosted courtesy of Nas Ona DU1ON. In May 2016, through the persistence and efforts of the ARCP amateur members, Office Order 75-06-2016 Guidelines in the Application for Amateur Radio Examination and Issuance of ARSL & RAOC and 76-05-2016 Guidelines in the Issuance of Special Permits for the Use of Vanity Callsigns and Special Event Call Signs in the Amateur Radio Service, were issued. In August 2016, DU hams attended the Tokyo Ham Fair and DU1IVT was invited to talk on the experiences on emergency communications of PARA members during Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) and other calamities including inputs from its active clubs RADNET 5 and ACCESS 5 of Leyte. Super Typhoon Lawin hit Cagayan and other northern Luzon areas on October 20, HERO was activated. UMARC member DV1YIN and other hams travelled to Isabela to respond. During the 84th PARA Anniversary at the Marikina Hotel & Convention Center in November with almost 600 attendees, highlights were the 2nd Go Kit Contest and CW Challenge, announcement and induction of elected officers/directors for the next term and amnesty for unregistered radio equipment, with Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios as Guest of Honor. Typhoon Nina hit Catanduanes and affected large part of DU4 and DU1 with HERO activation on Dec 24-27, 2016. By the end of 2016, the total number of members was 2,322 with twelve (12) new affiliate clubs. |
2018 |
November 2018 – Roberto Jose C. Vicencio DU1VHY with Alex Laguisma DU3AL as Secretary GeneralOn November 2016 during the 86th PARA Anniversaries held at the Marikina Hotel and Convention Center, Roberto Jojo Vicencio, DU1VHY was elected to the Executive Board of PARA. In their first organizational meeting, he was elected as Chief Operating Officer, along with Dr. Sulpicio Henry Mendez Legaspi 4F9DOC as Vice-COO, Roberto Reyes DU8BTZ as Chief Finance Officer, Alex Laguisma, DU3AL as Secretary General and Thelma Pascua DU1IVT as Director to serve the 2017 - 2019 term. By the end of 2017, the membership strength was recorded at 2,231 paid members with ten (10) new affiliate clubs. The summer convention on April 21-23, 2017 was hosted by FARE 8 in Dipolog City. In 2018, there was a slight dip in paid members with 1,952 with three (3) new clubs. That year, the summer convention held on April 6-8, 2018 was hosted by the Cebu Amateur Radio League (CARL) in Cebu City. By 2019, paid members almost doubled at 3,727 with twelve (12) new clubs. The summer convention held on April 5-7, 2019 was hosted by ACCESS 5 Inc. in Tacloban City. The 2017 – 2019 term was marked by continued growth in membership due to the aggressive holding of ham radio orientation seminars by PARA and its affiliate clubs. PARA's website and the PARA Facebook page which is maintained as a strictly members only page renewed annually, were the primary external faces of PARA in the social media. The PARA Facebook page serves also as the repository of club activities aside from the individual pages of each club and contains the threads for the Ham Emergency Radio Operations (HERO) activations for each calamity. HERO continues to be a very reliable source of communication during disasters and natural calamities. The National Traffic System remains as the primary HF network for the whole country. Both NTS and HERO as complementary systems were given needed impetus during the term of Jojo DU1VHY as PARA COO. Notably, Jojo DU1VHY served as Chairman of both the NTS and HERO. On the regulatory side, the Amateur Radio Consultative Panel (ARCP) regularly convened and Chaired by the NTC has Jojo DU1VHY, Eddie Valdez DU1EV, Thelma Pascua DU1IVT and Ramon Anquilan DU1UGZ as members representing the amateur radio community. The engagement with NTC resulted in numerous changes and reforms from 2017 to 2019. Among them are :
As part of its commitment to train and encourage the youth, PARA’s affiliate clubs were encouraged for continued support of the amateur radio program of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and the Girl Scouts of the Philippines through the JOTA/JOTI and INFEX events, respectively. PARA Orientation team travelled to different locations in the Philippines to conduct ham radio orientation seminars. Of special note are the engagements in Cotabato twice, right before and immediately after the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Over a dozen new amateur radio clubs were established during the term of this management. Overall, growth of Philippine Amateur Radio has been unprecedented. |
