The Pinnacle Club Philippine Chapter officially launched on July 24, 2019, aiming to expand membership among former AFP Chiefs of Staff and Major Services Commanders.
The Pinnacle Club Philippine Chapter, led by LGen (Ret'd) William K. Hotchkiss III, held its official launch event on July 24, 2019, at the AFP Commissioned Officers' Club (AFPCOC) in Quezon City. The event marked a significant step towards formalizing the chapter's structure and expanding its membership.
The primary goal of the launch was to formally organize the Philippine Chapter by registering with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This will enable the chapter to attract a larger number of advocates from among former Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Major Services Commanders.
The event was well-attended, with forty-one (41) individuals present, including thirty-five (35) former Chiefs of Staff and Major Services Commanders, six (6) currently active officers, and two (2) members of the Pinnacle Club Philippine Chapter Secretariat (also former military officers).
In his opening remarks, LGen (Ret'd) Hotchkiss recounted the origins of the Pinnacle Club, highlighting the initial idea proposed by MGen (Ret'd) Goh Yong Siang in 2008 to foster continued camaraderie among retired defense chiefs and service commanders in Southeast Asia. He emphasized the importance of promoting this bond with succeeding generations. The Pinnacle Club of ASEAN was formally established in 2014, with LGen Hotchkiss and Former President Fidel V. Ramos as Founding Members. LGen (Ret’d) Hotchkiss extended an invitation to the former Chiefs of Staff and Major Services Commanders present to join both the Pinnacle Club of ASEAN and the Philippine Chapter. MGEN Padilla subsequently presented an overview of the Pinnacle Club of ASEAN, the Philippine Chapter, recent activities, the mission of Pinnacle Philippines Inc., and the intention to register with the SEC.
Gen Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr., AFP Chief of Staff, expressed his gratitude to the senior AFP officials for their contributions to the AFP and the nation. He voiced his full support for the formalization of the Philippine Chapter and anticipates future collaborations.