Boy Scouts of the Philippines

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Philippine Boy Scout Logo. Laging Handa (Always Prepared)

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The Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), or Kapatirang Scout ng Pilipinas in Filipino, is the National Scout Association for boys and young men of the Philippines. Its mission is to imbue in the youth and adults the love of God, country, and fellow men; to train young people to become responsible leaders; and to contribute to nation-building.

The BSP was chartered under Philippine Commonwealth 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 organization of the Philippine Council of the Boy Scouts of America (the Philippines being an American Commonwealth 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 held in Mount Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna, the first world Scout jamboree held in Asia.

Contents

1 History
2 Ranks, program and ideals
3 International Scouting units in the Philippines
4 Scouting trivia
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

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.

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.

In 1923, the Philippine Council, 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.

1931, experimentations 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.

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 a plane crash off the coast of Bombay, India.

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

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

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, program and ideals

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

Ranks of KAB Scouting:

Young Usa (or Young Deer)
Growing Usa
Leaping Usa

Ranks of Boy Scouting:

Tenderfoot
Second Class
First Class
Outdoorsman or Airman or Seaman
Venturer or Air Venture or Sea Venture
Eagle

Ranks of Senior Scouting:

Explorer
Pathfinder
Outdoorsman or Airman or Seaman
Venturer or Air Venture or Sea Venture
Eagle

The BSP offers the following programs:

KID Scouting (Kabataang Imumulat-Diwa or Children to be Introduced to Virtues) is for boys 5 to 6 years of age.
KAB Scouting (Kabataang Alay sa Bayan or Children Offered to the Nation) is for boys 7 to 10 years of age.
Boy Scouting is for boys 10 to 17 years of age.
Senior Scouting is for boys 13 to 17 years of age.
Rover Scouting is for young men and women 17 to 23 years of age with a Rover Peers division for adults ages 24 and up.

International Scouting units in the Philippines

There are two organizations focused on serving children of American military families living in the Philippines and elsewhere in eastern Asia and the western Pacific: USA Girl Scouts Overseas, serviced by the West Pacific Girl Scout Council, and Boy Scouts of America, serviced by the Philippines District of the Far East Council. These councils serve BSA and GSUSA units comprised of children of diplomatic, business and military personnel, and international units run under their auspices.

Scouting trivia

All streets in the South Triangle District in Quezon City were named after the Philippine delegation to the 11th World Scout Jamboree in Marathon, Greece, who died en-route off the coast of Bombay, India. Two of the streets are named 11th Jamboree and Marathon.

References

[The Official Website of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines]

External links

Members of the Asia-Pacific Scout Region

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