Boy Scouts of the Philippines

This article is about the youth movement. For the military unit, see Philippine Scouts.

Boy Scouts of the Philippines
Emblem of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Motto: Laging Handâ! (Always Prepared!)
Filipino	Mga Batang Lalaking Iskawt ng Pilipinas
Headquarters	Manila
Country	Philippines
Founded	October 31, 1936
Founders	Joseph E. Stevenot Jorge B. Vargas Carlos P. Romulo General Vicente Lim Judge Manuel Camus Arsenio N. Luz Gabriel Daza
Membership	1,464,765[1]
Chief Scout	Benigno Aquino III
National President	Jejomar Binay
Secretary-General	Jose Rizal Pangilinan
Affiliation	World Organization of the Scout Movement, Asia-Pacific Scout Region
Website http://scouts.org.ph/
Scouting portal

The Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) (Filipino: Mga Batang Lalaking Iskawt ng Pilipinas) is the national Scout organization of the Philippines. Its mission is to imbue in the youth the love of God, country, and fellow men; to train young people to become responsible leaders; and to contribute in nation-building.

The BSP was chartered under Commonwealth of the Philippines Act No. 111 on October 31, 1936. Its predecessor was the Philippine Council chartered by the Boy Scouts of America in 1923 through the work of Filipino, American, and Chinese businessmen and interest groups.

The Boy Scouts of the Philippines began in 1923 with the establishment of the Philippine Council of the Boy Scouts of America, as an American possession at the time. The Philippines became an independent Scouting nation in 1936, with the transition of the Philippine Council into the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. In 1940, the Girl Scouts of the Philippines was founded. In 1959, the 10th World Scout Jamboree was held in Mount Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna, the first world Scout jamboree held in Asia.

The current National President of the BSP is Jejomar Binay and its Secretary-General is Jose Rizal Pangilinan.

History

Scouting history of the Philippines can be traced back to the American occupation of the islands. The first documented formation of a Scout troop in the islands was that of the Lorillard Spencer troop of Zamboanga formed in 1914 by a U.S. Navy Lieutenant named Sherman Kiser.

Sherman Kiser was initially assigned to escort American charity worker Caroline Spencer in Sulu. Mrs Spencer saw how Filipino boys could benefit from Scouting and discussed her ideas with Kiser. This suggestion was natural for Mrs. Spencer as her son, Lorillard Spencer was quite active in Scouting in the United States, hence the name of the troop. Kiser was reassigned however to Zamboanga, but he followed through with Mrs. Spencer's suggestion and formed a Scout troop composed of young Muslim boys. Upon learning of the formation of a new troop, Mrs. Spencer sent monetary support to purchase uniform and construct a headquarters.^[2]

Philippine Council BSA

More troops were organized through the years, mostly organized by American missionaries and servicemen in the island. The growing number of scouts was the reason why the Rotary Club of Manila wrote to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in New York. The letter was a request to formalize Scouting in the Philippines starting with Manila.

The BSA responded by sending Samuel W. Stagg as the special field scout commissioner to the Philippines. At the same time, Philip D. Carman, a U.S. army Major stationed in the Philippines who was on leave back in the United States, followed up the request with the BSA in New York.

On October 5, 1923, the Manila Council of the BSA was formed. The new council was initially funded through the help of various civic-organizations namely: the YMCA, Knights of Columbus, Masons, Elks, Filipino and Chinese Chambers of Commerce, the U.S. Army, the Catholic and Protestant churches, and the American Legion.

In November 1923, the Rotary Club advised the BSA that the council had been organized. On December 27, 1923, BSA Deputy Scout Executive, Dr. George J. Fisher cabled the endorsement of the BSA by chartering the council as a first class council. In addition, the BSA gave the council jurisdiction to the whole Philippine island instead of only Manila as originally applied for. This officially created the Philippine Council-BSA..

Other historical events

1931, experimentation on Sea Scouting and Cub Scouting.

1933, the Philippine's first participation in an international Scouting event. The Philippine Council sent delegates to the 4th World Scout Jamboree in Budapest, Hungary, as part of the American contingent.

1934, Rover Scouting was introduced. BSA's Shanghai Scout district was placed under the supervision of the Philippine Council.

1936, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines was founded by virtue of Commonwealth Act 111 signed by President Manuel L. Quezon. The charter members are Joseph E. Stevenot, Jorge B. Vargas, Carlos P. Romulo, General Vicente Lim, Judge Manuel Camus, Arsenio N. Luz, and Gabriel Daza.

1947, the Philippines' first participation as an independent scout organization (BSP) to the 6th World Scout Jamboree held in Moison, France.

1953, First Wood Badge course was conducted at Camp Gre-Zar in Quezon City.

1954, 1st Philippine National Scout Jamboree held in Rolling Hills, Balara, Quezon City.

Dr. M.V. de los Santos served on the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1957 until 1959.

1959, 10th World Scout Jamboree held in Mount Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna. First world Scout jamboree held in Asia.

1963, the 24-member delegation of the BSP to the 11th World Scout Jamboree in Marathon, Greece, perished in an aircraft crash off the coast of Bombay, India. Streets in the South Triangle District in Quezon City were named in memory of the Philippine delegation.

1971, Antonio C. Delgado is elected Chairman of the World Organization of The Scout Movement. The first Filipino to hold this position.

1973, Golden Jubilee Jamboree was held at Mt. Makiling, Laguna

1979, 6th National Jamboree at 3 places (Isabela, Cebu, Davao)

1983, 7th National Jamboree at 4 places (Baguio, Goa Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Zamboanga)

1993, The Philippines hosted the 1st ASEAN Scout Jamboree.

1987, 8th National Jamboree was held in Baguio City from Feb. 21-27.

1997, The 2nd World Scout Parliamentary Union held in Manila.

2007, The BSP 14th National Jamboree was held.

2007, BSP celebrated the 100 years of world scouting

2009-2010, The BSP hosted the 26th Asia Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree last December 28, 2009-January 3, 2010. This is the 3rd APR Jamboree that Philippines hosted.

2011, The BSP 15th National Scout Jamboree was held.

2011, The BSP celebrated the 75 years of Philippine scouting.

After Jorge B. Vargas, other Philippine recipients of the Bronze Wolf, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting, include Sir Gabriel A. Daza in 1965, Hermengildo B. Reyes in 1967, Ambassador Antonio C. Delgado in 1971, and Jorge M. Cui in 1979.

Ranks, programs and ideals

The Scout emblem incorporates elements of the flag of the Philippines.

Scouts must earn the Membership Badge prescribed for the program they belong prior to working on the ranks.

KAB Scouting

• Young Usa (Young Deer)
• Growing Usa (Growing Deer)
• Leaping Usa (Leaping Deer)

Boy Scouting

• Membership
• Tenderfoot
• Second Class
• First Class

Senior Scouting

• Membership
• Explorer(Second Class)
• Pathfinder(First Class)
• Outdoorsman or Airman or Seaman
• Venturer or Air Venture or Sea Venture
• Eagle

Sections

• KID Scouting (Kabataang Iminumulat-Diwa or Children to be Introduced to Virtues) is for boys 4 to 5 years of age.
• KAB Scouting (Kabataang Alay sa Bayan or Children Offered to the Nation) is for boys 6 to 10 years of age.
• Boy Scouting is for boys 10 to 12 years of age.
• Senior Scouting is for boys and girls 13 to 17
• Rover Scouting for Boys and Girls 17 - 24

Scout Oath and Law

The Scout Oath and Law of the BSP are the following words, respectively,

English:^[3]

The Scout Oath (English)

On My Honor

I will do my best;

to do my duty to God and my country,

the Republic of the Philippines

and to obey the Scout Law;

to help other people at all times

to keep my self physically strong,

mentally awake and morally straight.

Ang Panunumpa sa Scout (Tagalog)

Ang Panunumpa Ng Scout

Sa ngalan ng aking dangal

ay gagawin ko ang buong makakaya;

Upang tumupad sa aking tungkulin sa Diyos at sa aking Bayan,

ang Republika ng Pilipinas

at sumunod sa Batas ng Scout;

Tumulong sa ibang tao sa lahat ng pagkakataon;

Pamalagiing malakas ang aking katawan,

gising ang isipan at marangal ang asal.^[4]

The Scout Laws

A Scout is:

• Trustworthy
• Loyal
• Helpful
• Friendly
• Courteous
• Kind
• Obedient
• Cheerful
• Thrifty
• Brave
• Clean
• Reverent

Ang Batas ng Scout (Tagalog)

• Ang Scout ay Mapagkakatiwalaan
• Ang Scout ay Matapat
• Ang Scout ay Matulungin
• Ang Scout ay Mapagkaibigan
• Ang Scout ay Magalang
• Ang Scout ay Mabait
• Ang Scout ay Masunurin
• Ang Scout ay Masaya
• Ang Scout ay Matipid
• Ang Scout ay Matapang
• Ang Scout ay Malinis
• Ang Scout ay Maka-Diyos^[3]

Senior Scout Code

As a senior scout,

I will live by the scout oath and law and the senior scout motto and slogan.

I will be familiar with the constitution of the Philippines especially my rights and obligations as a Filipino citizen.

I will share in my responsibilities to my home, school, church, neighborhood, community and country.

I will deal fairly and kindly with my fellowmen in the spirit of the scout law.

I will work to preserve our Filipino heritage aware that the privileges I enjoy were won by hardwork, sacrifice, clear thinking and faith of our forefathers.

I will do everything in my power to pass a better Philippines to the next generation.

See also

• Scouting memorials in the Philippines

References

1. ^ "Triennal review: Census as at 1 December 2010". World Organization of the Scout Movement. http://scout.org/en/content/download/22261/199900/file/Census.pdf. Retrieved 2011-01-13. 
2. ^ Birth of the BSP, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, http://www.phiscout.org/history.html, retrieved 2008-07-05 
3. ^ ^{a b} Scout Oath and Law, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, http://www.phiscout.org/oath.aspx, retrieved 2008-07-05  (spelling correction applied)
4. ^ The Scout Oath, Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

External links

• The Official Website of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines
• The Official Web Portal of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines
• Scout Advancement Resource Center, Boy Scouts of the Philippines
• BSP Scouting Documents Resource Center, Boy Scouts of the Philippines