Thousands join 2nd Mindanao BSP jamboree

DAVAO DEL NORTE, August 07, 2014 - More than 3,500 boy scouts from 23 cities and provinces of Eastern and Western Mindanao gathered together for the 2nd One Mindanao Scouts Jamboree held at the Energy Park, Tagum City.

 It surpassed the 2,000 number of participants in last year's gathering held in Pagadian City.

The five-day jamboree, which will end on August 10, will involve the boy scouts in different physical scouting activities as well as lectures on the tenets of the organization.

Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP) President Jejomar Binay emphasized the role of the organization in mobilizing the youth for any eventuality.

"The challenges we have met in the past, we made good eh. But there are continuing challenges that we have to face. Pero the basic reason for which the Boy Scout was created is taking care of the welfare of the youth", he said.

Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario added that the huge gathering of young scouts should inspire all Dabaonons to accomplish great things with the same unity and fervor that these boys possess.

"We want to be united. We want to ensure that there is peace and we can continue our development. Through boy scouting, I think it will contribute a lot to the realization of the agenda that we have", he said.

Boy Scouts of the Philippines Acting Secretary General Wendel E. Avisado explained that this year's jamboree focused on the relevance of scouting on the environment because of the growing alarm brought about by climate change.

"We're looking at the role of the Filipinos in protecting the environment. Bisan pa sa ilang edad, naa na silay pwedeng buhaton (Even in their young age, they can do something). What better way to emphasize that than in a jamboree ", he said.

Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon thanked the BSP for choosing Tagum as the host city, which he hopes to be recognized as the scouting capital of the south. This is the third Mindanao-wide scouting activity to be conducted in the city.

"We would like to project Tagum as a scouting capital of the south. That's why kining atong more than 30 hectares, majority atong gi-design gyud for scouting events and activities (That’s why majority of our more than 30 hectares have been designed for scouting events and activities) ", he said.(Keisha Therese Halili/DavNor PIO)