Mensa Philippines members during its 2013 Annual Gathering
Mensa Philippines has had a colorful history throughout its almost 25 years of existence. Here are the highlights of our organization.
1992 Mensa Philippines is established by local members of Mensa International. It holds its first ever testing session on September at the Manila Peninsula Hotel, with over 200 people taking the Mensa test. The organization holds its first ever meeting on October 3, also at the Manila Peninsula Hotel. Mensa Philippines is featured in various media, including Taipan Magazine, and “The Inside Story” on ABS-CBN TV.
1993 Mensa continues getting media attention, with coverage in various publications and even main features about its members in women’s magazines.
1994 Mensa holds MENSART, the Mensa Art Exhibit, featuring various artworks by its members, on June 23 at the Le Souffle Restaurant and Wine Bar at Makati City. The event is a success, with many members seeing their artworks sold. A university chapter also opens at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
1995 Special Interest Groups include the Toast of Mensa Toastmasters SIG, DANSIG (a dancing SIG), a Bowling SIG, a Bridge SIG, a Gourmet SIG, and a Jogging SIG.
1997 Mensa launches its Gifted Child Program courtesy of member Frances Mijares.
1998 Theater SIG, Role Playing Games SIG, Entrepreneurs SIG, and Creative Writing SIG are active. In June, Gert Mittring, Guinness record-holder as the fastest mental mathematician in the world, visits the country. Mensa hosts a forum on Gifted Children in August.
2001 Mensa holds a test session in Cebu City. This aside from continuing regular test sessions in Metro Manila, including a major test session at the Philippine Science High School.
2002 Mensa 10th anniversary featured an Aluminum-themed annual gathering. Members also hold an Oktobeerfest by invading a hapless member’s home in Makati.
2004 Mensa annual gathering featured a highly memorable “7 intelligences” theme that saw Mensans compete in seven different challenges.
2008 Mensa merchandise became available. Aggressive promotions in media, including a Mensa IQ Challenge at Fully Booked in Bonifacio Global City, lead to boost in membership. Interim Mensa website set up at mensaphilippines.blogspot.org.
2009 Website launched under mensaphilippines.org. Mensa Induction Ball held as a truly formal event at Alchemy Philippines. “Mensa Day” held at Fully Booked BGC.
2012 Mensa 20th anniversary celebrated with “ArmAGgathering” themed annual gathering. New crop of board and officers pledge to make Mensa young again.
2013 Mensa Brown Bags—monthly informal gatherings where Mensans get to learn about a topic of interest from a fellow member—launched. Tie-up with the Headway School for Giftedness leads to an influx of very young Mensa members. The Dr. Reynaldo Lesaca Memorial Awards, honoring the late Honorary Chair of Mensa Philippines, is launched.
2014 Mensa holds its first Amazing Mensa Race, which proves to be a success. Brown bags included an introduction to sailing, while the Adventure SIG (SIG-A) begins its ascent (up mountains). Mensa invited to the advance screening of “Scorpion,” a TV series that featured geniuses. The first awardees of Dr. Reynaldo Lesaca Memorial Awards were announced during the himAGsikan Annual Gathering.
2015 Mensans featured in Who Wants to be a Millionaire, leading to some very compelling television moments. Tie-up between Mensa Philippines and Mensa Singapore mountaineers lead to a trek up Mount Kinabalu. Annual Gathering features a premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
2016 Mensa holds its first major qualifying exam in Cebu in fifteen years, leading to the start of an active local chapter. Brown bags include a whisky workshop that educated its participants on the fine art of whisky appreciation.
2017 Mensa launches its revamped website www.mensaphilippines.org, complete with a membership portal, member services, online store, and ASK MENSA ANYTHING, our own version of Quora, Yahoo! Answers and Reddit AMA.