IMC History

By Ronaldo B. Moraleta, M.D.

It was on the fateful night of September 25, 1996 when a group of officers and members of Magic Circle Philippines held a meeting at Lou Hilario’s former residence at Dita St., San Antonio Village, Makati. Present then were Ferdinand Flores, Cris Castro, Ronaldo Moraleta, M.D., Marcelino Alviz, Laurence Chew, Ibarra Deri, Leo Domapias (Leodini), David Elefant, Ramon Ello, Lou Hilario, Rannie Raymundo, Renato Samson and Jose Luis Valenzuela.

The group discussed the formation of a magic club that is more efficient at fulfilling the group’s vision of uplifting the standard of magic performance in the Philippines and spreading the public appreciation of it. Lou Hilario suggested the name Inner Magic Club, thus the birth of IMC.

Through the efforts of Attorney Cyril Regalado, the club was formally registered as a non-stock, non-profit organization with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 1997 with SEC # A199701908.

Initiated primarily by Ronaldo Moraleta, M.D., with the help of then President Ferdinand “Chubby” Flores and Cyril Regalado, Inner Magic Club became Charter Ring No. 328 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians on July 30, 1997. Charter members of Ring 328 are: Herman Gil Aquino, Ronaldo Moraleta, David Elefant, Rosauro Julio, Renato Samson, Edison Chua, Ferdinand Flores, Cyril Regalado, Marcelino Alviz, Jesus Elbinias, Leo Domapias, Mark Soriano, Emily Miranda, Vincent Hugo and Napoleon Perez

It was also on this month that Filipino magicians gained worldwide recognition in the realm of Magic, as IMC represented the Philippines for the first time at the 20^th World Congress of Magic, more popularly known as FISM, in Dresden, Germany. Cyril Regalado even competed in the close-up competition.

Oozing with enthusiasm, the Club staged its first public performance on October 17, 1997 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Little Theater. Titled Salamangka Atbp. – A Journey to the World of Magic was a huge success! After the show, IMC appeared on numerous TV and charity shows, thus bringing magic entertainment to millions of homes and to ordinary people.

In 2003, as spearheaded by Cris Castro, IMC together with other magic clubs in Asia, founded the Asian Magic Association, an alliance that aims to unite the major Magic societies in Asia. Cris Castro eventually became, and currently seats as, one of its directors. Another piece of good news that elated the IMC membership: during the First Asian Magic Convention held on September 24 – 26, 2004 at Fuyong, Shenzhen, China, Marcelino Alviz bagged second place in the Close Up competition.

Inner Magic Club stays focused on its goals. Its future looks bright, as it marks another page in Philippine magic history. In September 8, 2007, it staged Magic ‘To (The Next Level), a bigger production of the previously best locally produced magic show of 2005, the original Magic ‘To.