Scout PromiseSince the publication of Scouting for Boys in 1908,
all Scouts and Guides around the world have taken a Scout (or
Guide) promise or oath to live up to ideals of the movement, and
subscribed to a Scout Law. The wording of the Scout Promise (or
Oath) and Scout Law have varied slightly over time and from country
to country. Some national organization promises are given below.
Although most Scouting and Guiding organizations use the word
'promise', a few such as the Boy Scouts of America tend to use
'oath' instead. Typically, Scouts and Guides will make the
three-fingered Scout Sign when reciting the promise. Original 1908
In his original book on boy scouting, Baden-Powell introduced the
Scout Promise, as follows:[1] Before he becomes a scout, a boy must
take the scout's oath, thus:
On my honour I promise that--I will do my duty to God and the
King. I will do my best to help others, whatever it costs me. I
know the scout law, and will obey it. While taking this oath the
scout will stand, holding his right hand raised level with his
shoulder, palm to the front, thumb resting on the nail of the
digitus minimus (little finger) and the other three fingers
upright, pointing upwards:--This is the scout's salute and secret
sign. World Organization of the Scout Movement requirements The
form of the promise has varied slightly from country to country and
over time, but must fulfill the requirements of the World
Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) to qualify a National
Scout Organization for membership. Together with clarifying
itsScout Law, the Constitution of WOSM states: Article II,
paragraph 2: "Adherence to a Promise and Law" All members of the
Scout Movement are required to adhere to a Scout Promise and Law
reflecting, in language appropriate to the culture and civilization
of each National Scout Organization and approved by the World
Organization, the principles of Duty to God, Duty to others and
Duty to self, and inspired by the Promise and Law conceived by the
Founder of the Scout Movement in the following terms: The Scout
Promise
On my honour I promise that I will do my best To do my duty to
God and the King (or to God and my Country) To help other people at
all times and To obey the Scout Law. In order to accommodate many
different religions within Scouting, "God" may refer to a higher
power, and is not specifically restricted to the God of the
monotheistic religions. The WOSM Constitution explains "Duty to
God" as "Adherence to spiritual principles, loyalty to the religion
that expresses them and acceptance of the duties resulting
therefrom." The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
(WAGGGS), which is a sister organization to WOSM, has the very same
wording in their constitution (Part I, Article 2: Original
Promise), and follows similar policies. Alternative promises
Although the Constitution of WOSM states that the Promise should
include a reference to Duty to God, six countries (Belgium,
Czechoslovakia, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Finland)
were granted the right in the 1920s by Lord Baden-Powell to
additionally use an alternative promise without a reference to God.
Three of these countries still offer this alternative promise
(France, the Netherlands and Czech Republic), where others have
abandoned it. WOSM stated in 1932 that no new exceptions would be
made and expressed the hope that the few remaining countries would
stop using any promise lacking a reference to Duty to God. The
Israeli Scouts, though founded in 1919/1920, and joining WOSM in
1951 and WAGGGS in 1963, also have no 'duty to God' or apparent
equivalent in their promise. In 1969, the Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs
isralites de France decided to abandon the triple promise of
Baden-Powell because the explicit reference to "God" is not
satisfactory from a Jewish perspective. The word God (Dieu) poses
also problems, because etymologically it comes from Zeus, which
makes it inappropriate in Jewish texts of thought or education,
where all pagan references must be banished. Non-WOSM Scouting
Scout sections that follow traditional Scouting, such as
Baden-Powell Scouts within the World Federation of Independent
Scouts, use several promises including the original Scout promise
above that includes the reference to God. Some, however, for
example the 1st Tarrant Scout Group in Fort Worth, Texas use a
blend of the original promise and the "Outlander Promise" which,
"according to tradition", B-P wrote for Scouts that had to omit the
reference to God or a monarch for reasons of conscience. Many of
these are translations from the native languages of a particular
organization and translations of the same words by different people
can vary.
Boy Scouts of the Philippines Boy and Senior Scouts 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 myself physically strong, mentally awake and
morally straight KAB Scouts On my honor, I will do my best to love
God and my country, the Republic of the Philippines, to do a good
turn daily and to obey the Scout law Girl Scouts of the Philippines
On my honor i will do my duty To God & my country To help other
people at all times & to live by the Girl Scout Law
The Scout LawA Scout is Trustworthy. A Scout tells the truth. He
keeps his promises. Honesty is part of his code of conduct. People
can always depend on him. A Scout is Loyal. A Scout is true to his
family, friends. Scout Leaders, school, nation, and world
community. A Scout is Helpful. A Scout is concerned about other
people. He willingly volunteers to help others without expecting
payment or reward. A Scout is Friendly. A Scout is a friend to all.
He is a brother to other Scouts. He seeks to understand others. He
respects those with ideas and customs that are different from his
own. A Scout is Courteous. A Scout is polite to everyone regardless
of age or position. He knows that good manners make it easier for
people to get along together.
A Scout is Kind. A Scout understands there is strength in being
gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. He does not
harm nor kill any living creature needlessly but will strive to
save and protect all harmless life. A Scout is Obedient. A Scout
follows the rules of his family, school and troop. He obeys the
laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and
laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner
rather than disobey them. A Scout is Cheerful. A Scout looks for
the bright side of life. He cheerfully does tasks that come his
way. He tries to make others happy. A Scout is Thrifty. A Scout
works to pay his way and to help others. He saves for the future.
He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses his
time and property. A Scout is Brave. A Scout can face danger even
if he is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is
right even if others laugh at him or threaten him. A Scout is
Clean. A Scout keeps his body and mind fit and clean. He goes
around with those who believe in living by these same ideals. He
helps keep his home and community clean. A Scout is Reverent. A
Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious
duties. He respects the beliefs of others.
The Scout UniformThe Scout uniform gives the Scouts and Scouters
a sense of belonging to a worldwide organization. The uniform of
the Boy Scouts of the Philippines today, has become a national
symbol of young boys trained to meet the responsibilities of their
duty to GOD and Country, to Others, and to Self. The Boy Scouts of
the Philippines is the largest uniformed volunteer organization in
the country. Scout and Scouters are nationally recognized and
accepted. We, in Scouting today, have inherited the tradition of a
uniform that stands for good character, responsible citizenship,
and selfless service. It is our responsibility to safeguard this
tradition and to hand it down stronger and more honorable than ever
to the next generation of Scouts and Scouters. What the Uniform
Means First of all, the Uniform makes you feel that you are a
member of our movement that you belong to a world-wide brotherhood
of young people numbering millions. Everywhere you go, if you wear
the Scout Uniform, you will find Scout friends. This gives you a
feeling of comfort and ease.
Second, whenever and wherever you wear the Uniform, it proclaims
you as a person of character. The Uniform symbolizes our Scout
Oath, our Law, our Daily Good Turn habit, and the Ideals of our
Movement. If you are to wear it, be sure to wear it with honor.
Third, the Scout Uniform stands for Preparedness. An accident
occurs, a crowd gathers around. No one knows just what to do. A
uniformed Scout steps quietly forward. The crowd lets him through,
for he is supposed to know what to do in an emergency. He
administers first aid and slips away, probably without his name
being known. The Scout uniform quietly says that hero is a fellow
who is ready to be helpful to other people at all times. Why is it
that Scouts are expected to do these things? Because Service is
synonymous with Scouting. Laging Handa is Scout Motto . No matter
what nationality or race or religion a Scout belongs to, he is a
brother to every other Scout. Fourth, the uniform is a symbol of
democracy. In Scouting, young people stand shoulder to shoulder
regardless of social standing. The son of a governor or that of a
wealthy man becomes equal of a laborers son in Scouting. Both
pledged to give the same service; both are sworn to the same Oath
and Law; and wear the same uniform. Poverty or social position is
no hindrance to the acquisition of advancement badges and insignia
of labor. And lastly, the Uniform stands for Outdoor life. The
color and design of the shirt, the pants, the neckerchief, the
stockings, the shoes, and the hat, are suggestive of the outdoors.
Khaki blends beautifully with the color of the outdoors. The
reddish brown color of th neckerchief symbolizes the iron rich soil
of the Philippines and its tropical environment which remains a
great challenge for Scouts to conquer, conserve and preserve.
Comfortable short pants, the short-sleeved shirt, afford freedom of
movement and ease of motion. It is just the type of uniform an
outdoorsman will want to wear. Furthermore, the many features of
open-ness in the Uniform point to Scouts honesty and
trustworthiness. The shorts, pants and the short-sleeved-shirt with
collar personify the spirit of a true Scout always open and on the
level, ever honest and ever deserving of trust. When to Wear the
Uniform There is ONLY ONE WAY TO WEAR the Scout Uniform CORRECT
WAY. Study the illustrations and use them as your guide. The Scout
Uniform is worn on the following occasions: In all activities of
the Unit (meetings, hikes, camps, rallies, camporees,
jamborees/jamborettes, etc.); During special religious services
services for Scouts and Scouters; When appearing for advancement
before a Board of Review or a Court of Honor; and
When prescribed for official and/or special Scouting activities.
When NOT to Wear the Uniform When soliciting funds or engaged in
any selling, marketing or promotional campaign, or in any
commercial venture not related to Scouting (This does not however,
forbid Scouts in uniform from selling tickets for Scouts benefit
shows, rallies, and similar Scouting events); When engaged in any
endeavor/activity of a political party; When appearing
professionally on stage, in motion pictures, or modeling without
specific authority from the National Executive Board of the Boy
Scouts of the Philippines; When taking part in parades, except for
the purpose of rendering service as a Scout/er or when representing
officially the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and; When one ceases
to be a Scout/er through failure to register; or leaves the Scout
Movement for any other reason.
The SCOUT NECKERCHIEF and SLIDEScouts of the National Scout
Organizations wear uniforms made of different materials and
designs. But there is one feature of the scout uniform that is
universal in use. This item is the neckerchief. It is the
distinguishing feature of Scout Uniforms all over the world. You
may encounter boys and/or adult wearing light brown shirts and
off-shade of brown pants, but you cannot really set them apart as
Scouts unless they wear a neckerchief. Any boy or adult who wears a
neckerchief is presumed to be a Scout. Uses The neckerchief is a
handy item in ones equipment. In fact it serves many practical
purposes. It ca be used as a tourniquet and a bandage. In the
absence of a hat, it sometimes serves to protect the head form the
heat of the sun. During cold evenings, Scouts sit around the
campfire with neckerchief slides pulled close to the neck. During
emergencies in the forest, and when you are in need of signal
flags, neckerchiefs admirably come to the rescue. In the absence of
ropes, neckerchiefs may also be joined together to be used as one.
The official neckerchief slide is is the form of a wooden Carabao
head. The carabao is an animal of burden which is so valuable, an
asset to the Filipino farmer in plowing and harrowing the rice
fields and in transporting farm produce to market. It
characteristics are representative of the qualities and values
which is highly appreciated by Filipinos. Thus, it is regarded as
the national animal of the Philippines. This characteristic also
typifies what B.P. calls good character in a person, one who uses
his full potential to render selfless service to all. To a
Filipino, the carabao is a symbol of humility, patience, industry,
strength, and persistence, characteristics which are held highly by
every Filipino. Its ability to adapt to varying circumstances and
which enables it to accomplish its task is reminiscent of the
courage of the Filipino to face and triumph over insurmountable
odds for the greater good of all. Being a gentle lovable animal,
the carabao exemplifies the Filipinos kindness, friendliness and
hospitality. The slide is made of soft wood taken from the branch
of a santol tree (Sandoricum Koetjape). It could also be taken from
farm wood trees. . The fruit of which is golden in appearance when
ripe, and its pulp is nutritiously delicious. The roots of this
tree grow deep into the earth that makes it stand firm against the
wind and it has crown that provides shade and coolness for the
tired traveller and worker. These qualities make the tree stand for
gentleness of character of a Filipino in his relationship and for
the firmness by which he stands in order to uphold what is right,
just,and true. In response to environmental preservation efforts,
BSP uses recycled, plastic bold cast (PBC) materials in its carabao
slide. How to Wear the Neckerchief First, roll the long edge upon
over itself evenly in several flat folds leaving about 6 inches
form the apex of the neckerchief. The place it high around the neck
and draw the neckerchief slide up over the ends and adjust to fit
snugly. The slide is one first distance from the chin. Fix the two
ends of your neckerchief below th slide in even rolls.
The Birth and Development of the Boy Scouts of the
PhilippinesScouting was introduced in the Philippines by the
Americans as early as 1910. However, the earliest recorded
all-Filipino troop was organized in Zamboanga by a young second
lieutenant by the name of Sherman L. Kiser through the sponsorship
of Mrs. Caroline S. Spencer, an American widow who was in the
Philippines to do works of charity with the people of Sulu in 1914.
The troop was composed of 26 Muslim boys and was known as the
Lorillard Spencer Troop in honor of Mrs. Spencer's son who was an
active Scout in the U.S.A.
In 1923, the Philippine Council BSA was formed through the
efforts of the Rotary Club of Manila mainly to launch Scouting as a
nationwide movement and provide guidance to the troops which had
been independently organized throughout the country. Eventually,
through the issuance of Commonwealth Act No. 111 by then President
Manuel L. Quezon on October 31, 1936, the Boy Scouts of the
Philippines was established as a public corporation tasked to,
according to Section 3 of the law: "to promote through organization
and cooperation with other agencies, the ability of boys to do
things for themselves and others, to train them in Scout craft, and
to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred
virtues, using the methods which are in common use by Boy Scouts."
From the early troops in 1914, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines
prides itself today as one of the largest Scout organizations in
the world, in terms of the number of Scouts against the number of
young people of Scouting age, with over 2 million members
nationwide. Introduction Any attempt to write the history of
Scouting in the Philippines must perforce be gin with the
impressive milestones because there are many of them to describe
the long road that the Movement has traveled to grow in size and
reputation and become, in the words of President Fidel v. Ramos,
the chief Scout, a powerful process for youth development. The
election of Atty. Francisco S. Roman as Chairman of the World Scout
Committee is one such milestone. Coming as it did during the 34th
World Scout Conference held in Oslo, Norway, on July 8-12 , 1996,
Atty Roman's triumph thrust the Boy Scouts of the Philippines to
the limelight in time to add glitter to the celebration of the 60th
year of Diamond Jubilee of its founding. With Atty. Roman, a former
National President of the BSP and later its International
Commissioner, at the helm of the World Scout Committee, a Filipino
once again presides over the highest governing body of the World
Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) with a membership now
exceeding 30 million boys and adult leaders in more than 150
countries. President Ramos, a Life Member of the BSP, was quick to
recognize the significance of this development. In a message to the
new top World Scout official, the President said this is truly a
fine tribute to your own dynamic involvement in the Scouting
movement as it is a reflection of the growing globality of the
Filipino, as well as the respect, admiration and confidence that
our country has gained in the international community.
Atty. Roman repeated the achievement of the late Antonio c.
Delgado, a businessman and a Rotarian like himself, who became the
first World Scout Committee Chairman form Asia 25 years ago, during
the 23rd World Scout Conference held in Tokyo, Japan, on August
12-17, 1971. Delgado was then the BSP Vice President for
International Affairs. Three other Filipinos have had this rare
distinction of being elected members of the World Scout Committee,
namely, Jorge B. Vargas (at the 13th International Conference held
in Australia in 1951, Dr. Mariano V. De los Santos (at the 16tth
International Confer ence in 1957) and H.B. Reyes (at the 18th
International Conference held in Portugal in 1961). The
International Committee at present called the World Scout
Committee, was formed by the founder of Scouting, Lord Robert
Baden-Powell, during the first Biennial Conference that he called
in 1920 to establish a management structure and provide direction
to the Scout units that as early as that time were already
mushrooming all over the world. One other distinction for which
Philippine Scouting is known is its immense size. With its
school-based membership constantly between 2.5 and 2.6 million
boys, the BSP has been for many years the largest Scouting
organization in Asia and the second in the world. The situation may
soon change, however, with the approval in Oslo of a reduced fee
system for Third World countries and the news about a sudden surge
in membership of the Gerakan Pramuka in Indonesia as a result.
Still, the BSP is expected to remain one of the three largest
National Scout Associations in the world. As a measure of the
prestige that the BSP enjoyed and continues to enjoy in the
international community, the Philippines hosted the 10thWorld
Jamboree in 1959, the first time that a World Jamboree was held in
Asia. The Philippines was the site also of the First Asia-Pacific
Jamboree in 1973 , as well as the the 12th Asia Pacific Jamboree in
1991 of which President Ramos, at that time the Secretary of
National Defense, was Chairman of the Organizing Committee. The
Philippines likewise hosted the fist ASEAN Jamboree in 1993 with
President Ramos again as the moving spirit behind the project. In
recognition of his outstanding service to Scouting, President Ramos
received the Bronze Wolf medal, the highest and only international
medal given by WOSM in 1955. The first Filipino to receive the
coveted award was Jorge B. Vargas, who was the BSP President from
1949 to 1961, followed by Gabriel A. Daza, who was President from
1961 to 1968, and Atty. Roman, who received the award following his
stint as Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout
Committee(1989-1992). Roman received the award during the 33rd
World Scout conference held in Bangkok in 1993, at which time he
was also elected member of the World Scout Committee.
Another distinctive feather in the cap of Philippine Scouting
came in 1956 when the Philippines was selected the seat of the
Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Headquarters that has since been
providing direction and guidance to more than half of the world's
Scout population. The 40th Anniversary of that event was celebrated
in Malacanang on July 24, 1996 with President Ramos receiving the
Asia-Pacific Regional Award for Distinguished Service form the
officials of the Regional Committee. The Asia-Pacific Scout Region
has grown from 10 countries with 1.2 million members in 1956 to 23
countries with 18 million members today. The First Regional
Chairman was a Filipino, Dr. Mariano V. de los Santos, then the
President of the University of Manila, while the first Executive
Commissioner was Guillermo R. Padolina, another Filipino.
Predictably, the First Far East Regional conference was held in
Baguio city in 1958. It was no wonder that Atty. Roman's
predecessor in the World Scout Committee, Neil M. Westaway of
Australia, was moved to say, while on a visit to the Philippines in
1995, that growth and development of the BSP is one of the great
success stories of World Scouting. There are three ways of
reckoning the beginning of Scouting in the Philippines, each one of
which could be a legitimate cause for celebration. If the existence
of Boy Scouts in the Philippines is the basis, there are accounts
that cannot be disputed that there were Scouts in the country soon
after the establishment of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910. There
are records about an all-Muslim troop that was formed in Zamboanga
on November 15, 1914. However, the formation of the early Scout
units was generally sporadic, done without formal direction mostly
by American soldiers working under the new colonial government at
the time. The formal introduction of Scouting in the Philippines
actually took place in 1923 with the establishment of the
Philippine Council of the Boy Scouts of America under the auspices
of the Rotary Club of Manila. There was a big celebration of the
50th year or Golden Anniversary of that event in 1973. Indeed, 1923
marked the launching of Scouting on a nationwide scale and is
acknowledged as the formal establishment of the Scouting
organization in the country. Still, there is a third point of
reckoning and this was the establishment of the the Boy Scouts of
the Philippines following the signing of Commonwealth Act No. 111
in 1936. This marked the emancipation , the declaration of
independence, as it were, of Philippine Boy Scouts from the BSA.
The Early Years
And yet to be correct, the history of Scouting in the
Philippines must go back to the beginning of the American
occupation of the islands, which make it one of the oldest in the
world. This is supported by a wealth of information about the
history of Scouting in the Philippines in a book written by Mr.
Alfonso J. Aluit entitled A Bequest of Hope in 1973. Lord
Baden-Powell launched the Scouting Movement when he brought 20 boys
to Brownsea Island off the southern coast of England for the first
Boy Scout camp in August 1907. The Movement reached the United
States with the formal incorporation of the Boy Scouts of America
in 1910. There are accounts that say that the Americans took steps
to bring Scouting to the Philippines incident to the colonization
of the country after 1910 and that, in fact, there were Boy Scout
units in Manila by 1912. These accounts are believable because the
U.S. government in those times was engaged in pacification campaign
here in the aftermath of the bloody Philippine-American war. These
accounts are contained in a book entitled The Boy Scout Story,
which is about the beginning of Scouting in America by Wm. Charles
Ousler published in 1955. The book recalls that at one meeting of
the BSA committee on Organization, a report was submitted stating
that Scoutmasters have been enrolled approximating 2,500 (from) 44
States in the Union and our two dependencies, Puerto Rico and the
Philippines. Another references to the Philippines in the book was
about the first meeting of the BSA National Council in Washington
in 1911. The book quoted the BSA Executive Secretary, Dr. James E.
West, as announcing the formation of troops not only in continental
United States but also in Puerto Rico, Honolulu and Manila. Dr.
West ran the BSA for 32 years from 1911 to 1943. These statements,
while sketchy, were confirmed by disclosures across the Atlantic by
Lord Baden-Powell himself. The venerable founder of the Movement
wrote an article in the July 27, 1912 issue of The Scout, a
magazine of the British Scout Association, about a trip he made to
the Philippines in the summer of that year. By then he had retired
from the British Army, where he emerged as the most celebrated
officer at the time, to devote his full time to Scouting.
Baden-Powell described the Philippines and Filipinos in detail in
his article. At one point,he observed, Filipinos are very fond of
music, and almost every boy would (try to) get our Musician's
Badge. And when he came to describing Philippine products like
coconut, hemp, sugar and tobacco, the old warrior added. But there
are also some still more important products in Manila and other
neighboring towns. I think I need scarcely tell you, these are Boy
Scouts.
These 1912 article carried a sub-heading Boy Scouts of the
Philippines, full 24 years before the BSP came into being.
Baden-Powell went on to tell about a fire in Manila that rendered
3,000 people homeless and how delighted he was by what he was told
about the incident. He said, Two patrols of the Manila Boy Scouts
reached the fire almost with the firemen, reported to the proper
authorities, and worked for hours under very trying conditions...
He said they performed cheerfully, and efficiently all the tasks
given by the firemen and the Scoutmaster. He identified the
Scoutmaster as Mr. Elwood Brown of YMCA Manila. Mr. Aluit said what
is established by Baden-Powell's story is that by 1912 there was a
Boy Scout troop functioning in Manila. What is not known is whether
they were Filipino or American boys. The same Mr. Brown and other
American names were mentioned later by the late Atty. William H.
Quasha in his own recollection of the beginning of Scouting in the
Philippines. Quasha, an American who died only this year at age 82
following a brilliant ca reer as a legal luminary, philanthropist,
and Scouter, confirmed that as early s 1910 these Americans who
were living in the Philippines commenced Boy Scout troops here and
encouraged their growth.
The First Filipino Troop There are very few actual accounts of
the early Scouting activities in the Philippines. One of these few
documented stories was the formation of an all-Muslim troop in
Zamboanga in 1914. The story is documented not only in pictures and
the account of the organizer himself but also in actual interviews
with the two surviving members of that troop in 1973. Those
interviews, done by two Scouters Antonio T. Uy of Davao and Armando
Puno of Zamboanga are contained in an article they wrote in a
commemorative issue of the Philippine Scouting magazine in 1973.
The setting for the formation of the all-Muslim troop was the early
years of the American occupation when American soldiers were all
over the country to quell the remaining pockets of rebellion after
the Philippine-American war. The initiative to form a troop,
according to Messr. Uy and Puno, came from Mrs. Caroline S.
Spencer, an American widow who was in the Philippines o do works of
charity with the natives of Sulu. Assigned to arrange for her
transportation and accompany her during her trips to various
islands in the archipelago was a young second lieutenant by the
name of Sherman L. Kiser.
In one of their trips, Mrs. Spencer noticed small boys wandering
aimlessly and she wondered aloud about having someone to worry
about having someone to worry about providing direction direction
to their lives. She suggested to Lt. Kiser to form a Boy Sout troop
and they discussed the matters seriously. It was natural for Mrs.
Spencer to suggest this because her son, Lorrilard Spencer, Jr.,
was active in Scouting in the United States. Unfortunately, Lt.
Kiser was soon reassigned to Zamboanga and Mrs. Spencer herself had
to return to the U.S. And so the plan to form a troop in Sulu did
not materialize. However, Lt. Kiser decided to carry out the plan
in Zamboanga. Because he saw there are same problem situation
involving boys of Scouting age. He formed troops of 26 boys, all
Muslims, and the community responded enthusiastically. Lt. Kiser
wrote later that when Mrs. Spencer heard about the good news, she
sent enough money to buy uniforms and construct a headquarters for
the boys. And so, as far as the Philippine Scouting history goes,
the first recorded Filipino Boy Scout troop was formed in Zamboanga
on November 15, 1914, the date the boys took their oath before Lt.
Kiser. It was called Lorillard Spencer Troop, after the son of Mrs.
Spencer. On the basis of the names of the members of the troop kept
by Lt. Kiser, who wrote about the troop later as retired army
colonel, Scouters Uy and Puno launched an unbelievable search for
survivors in 1973. They found two of them Abdurahman Indasan
Amping, who was then 74 years old and an imam (priest) in
Zamboanga, and Datu Pangilan Abtahi, 72 a retired school teacher
and chief of police in Davao province. Amping and Abtahi vividly
recalled the excitement about the new thing that came to their
lives in 1914 and remembered going to camping and hiking, including
the skills that they learned like knot tying and producing fire by
rubbing pieces of bamboo together. Lt. Kiser had good reason to be
proud of his achievement. Amping and Abtahi ,together with three
other survivors who surfaced subsequently were special guests at
the First Asia-Pacific Regional Jamboree held at Mt. Makiling, Los
Banos, Laguna in 1973. There are other accounts that mention the
formation of other troops elsewhere,including the Corregidor where
Lt. Kiser was assigned later, but there are no record or details of
these. One exception is the story about a troop that was formed in
Boac, Marinduque by 16-year old Celso Mirafuente in 1922 on the
basis of a BSA handbook and clippings of Boys Life magazine that
came into his possession. There is no question that the troop
existed. In fact, according to Mt. Aluit, the BSP made this patent
when it presented an award to Mirafuente in 1954 as a pioneer
Scouter in the province of Marinduque.
Scouting in the Philippines TodayThe BSP Family THE BSP FAMILY
Membership in the Boy Scouts of the Philippines is designed with
five sections for five specific age groups: SECTION / AGES / FOCUS
OF ACTIVITIES
KID Scouting* / (4-5 years old Kinder 1 and 2) / The Individual
KAB Scouting** / (6-9, Grade 1-3) / The Home and Institution Boy
Scouting / (10-12, Grade 4-6) / Outdoors & Community Senior
Scouting / (13-17, High School) / Outdoors Rover Scouting / (16-24)
/ Service-Oriented Projects/Activities (for young men and women) *
KID - Kabataang Imumulat Diwa ** KAB - Kabataang Alay sa Bayan
BSP's Pride BSP is one of the largest Scout organizations in the
world today (after Gerakan Pramuka of Indonesia and the Boy Scouts
of America, first and second, respectively) and is one of the
world's National Scout Associations having the highest penetration
rate (Scout density), with one Scout out of two boys of Scouting
age enrolled in the Scouting program. Two Filipinos have had the
honor to serve as Chairman of the World Scout Committee, the
executive body of the World Organization of the Scout Movement; and
. BSP National President Jejomar C. Binay is a member of the
Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee, while other Filipino Scout
officials are now holding important posts in the Asia-Pacific
Regional SubCommittees TOTAL MEMBERSHIP (as of June 2008):
2,069,115 KID Scouts: 43,186 KAB Scouts: 728,310 BOY Scouts:
755,139
SENIOR Scouts: 380,604 ROVER Scouts: 13,222 SCOUTERS: 107,115
LAY LEADERS: 41,539 SCOUT POTENTIAL: 8,815,232 SCOUT MEMBERSHIP:
GOAL 2,689,358 The Scout Sign How executed. The Scout Sign is made
with the right hand palm forward with forefinger, middle and ring
finger pointed upward, the thumb folded over the little finger. The
forearm forms a right angle with the upper arm which is
horizontally in line with the shoulder. Its meaning. The three
fingers pointing upward indicate th three parts of the Scout Oath,
the same meaning as the three components of the Scout trefoil. They
also signify that a Scout reaches upward to bigger and nobler
ideals. The joined thumb and little fingers joined together
represent the unity of the Scouting movement and symbolize the bond
of brotherhood that binds all Scouts of the world together. Its
uses. The Scout sign is used by Scouts when he makes a solemn
pledge, while reciting the Scout Oath and Law, as well as the
Panunumpa sa Watawat. It is also used as a greeting of recognition
sign among Scouts and Scouters all over the world. The Scout
Handshake Scouts all over the world use the Scout Handshake. Scouts
everywhere greet each other with a warm left handshake. Using it
makes one feel that he belongs to the world of brotherhood of
Scouting and that he is one among the millions of Scouts in various
parts of the world dedicated to the same ideal of service. A Scout
shakes hands with another Scout with the left hand. The grandson of
an Ashanti Chief who fought against B-P told this story of the
origin of the Scout left handshake. When the Chief surrendered to
B-P, the latter extended his right hand as a token of friendship.
The Ashanti Chief however, insisted on shaking with the left hand,
explaining, "the bravest of the brave shake hands with the left
hand, because in order to do so, they must throw away their
greatest protection, their shield." Thus Scouts and Pathfinders
shake hands with the left hand as proof of their good faith and
true friendliness. The Scout Badge
The Scout Badge figure came from the French fleur-de-lis (Lily
Flower) in which it is most visible in all European logo as well as
those who are inspired by the Mythologies. The Badge is divided
into two (2) parts: 1. The Scroll (Symbolizes the smile of a scout)
2. The Trefoil (Symbolizes the 3 duties of a scout.
-Duty to God, Duty to others and Duty to self. The 3 stars
represents Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as well as Truth, Faith and
Knowledge respectively. The stars under which we sleep or hike on
during camping. The Sun as a whole represents Liberty and Freedom.
The 8 rays of the sun represents the first 8 provinces (Manila,
Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Cavite and
Laguna) that fought against the Spanish Rule. The color Red
represents Courage, Bravery, Heroism, for the blood of those who
died for our country while the color Blue stands for Peace, Justice
and Noble Ideas. The color White stands for Purity and the
Equilateral Triangle based on the hoist side represents Equality.
The Single Band in the trefoil means World Brotherhood. The Scroll
is like the mouth of a smiling scout, showing that a Scout is
Cheerful. The Scout Motto is written in the Scroll. The Overhand
Knot tied at the bottom represents Our Scout Slogan, Do a Good Turn
Daily.
The Scout SpiritThe Scout Ideals as contained in the Scout Oath
and Law presents a code for living and a standard of conduct that
must be observed by all members of the Scouting movement. Scout
spirit is living everyday in accordance with our Scout Ideals. You
show it in the way you act and the things you say and do in
Scouting as well as in your daily life. Spiritual Training
Spiritual training is an important element in the training of
Scouts. Without it all training in knowledge and skills are of
little value. The best time in life to instill love of God and of
fellowmen is while we are still young. Boys, at heart, can enter
more easily than grown-ups into
the spiritual realm when provided with such opportunities.
Informally, the Scout's outdoor experiences and his contact with
nature introduces and makes him aware of a spiritual force above
man. The spiritual training of Scouts can happen formally through
the encouragement of their leaders to attend to their religious
duties and obligations. Stress Duty to God at all times. World
Brotherhood A Filipino Scout is a brother to all Scouts around the
world because the Boy Scouts of the Philippines belongs to the the
World Organization of the Scout Movement. World Brotherhood is not
merely a theoretical or academic concept or a precept in Scouting.
It is a living reality that finds a fulfillment in the acceptance
of the principle of the brotherhood of men through the fatherhood
of God. This world brotherhood is perhaps best in evidence during
world jamborees. As the Founder said, The Scout Movement aims to
establish brotherhood among Scouts in all nations and to help
develop peace and happiness in the world and goodwill among
men.
Founders of the Boy Scouts of the PhilippinesGENERAL VICENTE LIM
Brigadier General Vicente Lim is one of the greatest Filipino
military career officers. He was only 22 years old when he entered
the United States Military Academy at West Point on March 1, 1910
where he graduated on June 11, 1914. In 1926, General Lim returned
to the United States to take the Advanced Course in the Infantry
School at Fort Benning, Georgia, the Command and General Staff
School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the Army War College in
Washington, D.C. Because of his distinguished military
accomplishments, General Lim was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on
November 1, 1936. Before this on July 31, 1936, he was appointed as
Chief of the War Plans Division of the Philippine Army. General Lim
became a member of the Executive Board of the Philippine Council,
Boy Scouts of America upon its organization in the 1920s. He first
served as Chairman of the Civic Service Committee. In 1933, he was
elected President of the Philippine Council which was then on the
verge of collapse due to financial problems. Together with the
other members of the board, he brought back the council to
financial stability. This led to his appointment as Chairman of the
Finance Committee in 1934-37. On October 12, 1936, he was elected
Treasurer of the newly established Boy Scouts of the
Philippines.
He fought gallantly with his troops against the Japanese during
World War II and went underground after the Fall of Bataan to
undertake guerilla activities. He was captured some time after and
executed by the Japanese somewhere in Mindoro. General Lim appears
on the present P1,000 bill together with then Chief Justice Jose
Abad Santos and Josefa Llanes Escoda, founder of the Girl Scouts of
the Philippines, both of whom were also executed by the
Japanese.
J.E.H.STEVENOT Joseph Emile Hamilton Stevenot, better known to
many as J.E.H. Stevenot is a byword to many Scouts in the
Philippines. With his family, he has been residing for many years
in the Philippines as President of the Philippine Long Distance
Telephone Company. With the establishment of the Philippine
Commonwealth in 1935 and the imminent granting of independence to
the Philippines ten years hence, JEH Stevenot worked with the six
others mentioned here for the separation of the Scouting movement
in the country from the United States and the Boy Scouts of
America. Together, they founded the Boy Scouts of the Philippines
and worked for the passage in the National Assembly of the bill
that was to be approved on October 31, 1936 by President Manuel L.
Quezon as Commonwealth Act No. 111. On January 1, 1938, when the
organization has started operating independently, the reconstituted
National Council elected him as President of the Boy Scouts of the
Philippines. When World War II broke out in the Pacific in 1941 and
the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, reserve Major Stevenot
was called to active duty in the US Army and assumed the rank of
colonel. He was drafted into the staff of General Douglas MacArthur
whom he later joined in his escape from Corregidor to Australia.
While on a mission in New Celedonia in the South Pacific on June 8,
1943, he met his death. After the war years, Don Gabriel A. Daza,
who was a close friend and colleague in the PLDT who was then
serving as BSP Treasurer, caused his remains to be exhumed and
brought for burial in the Philippines where he was inferred with
full Scouting honors at La Loma Cemetery. His wife Elma, who died
in California in 1983, had a wish to be buried beside her husband
and her cremated remains were brought here by her daughter and also
buried at La Loma.
GABRIEL A . DAZA Gabriel A. Daza is one of the strongest pillars
of Philippine Scouting. From its infancy, Mr. Daza has managed to
contribute his bright ideas and efforts in the growth of Scouting
in the Philippines. What he has done and contributed should be a
continuing legacy that must be nurtured if not improved by those
coming after him.
As one of the incorporators of the BSP, his connection with the
country's Scouting movement started as early as 1928 when he
registered as a member in the Cebu Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Because of his deep interest in Scouting, Col. JEH Stevenot
appointed him Secretary of the Boy Scout Foundation. By profession,
Mr. Daza is a Consulting Electrical Engineer and is the first
licensed professional electrical engineer in the Philippines. Born
in Borongan, Samar in February 6, 1896, he grew up under the
Jesuits and obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Ateneo de
Manila in 1914. Traveling soon to the United States for further
studies, he supported himself by working in various companies. On
his return to Manila after completing his studies, he was appointed
Sales Engineer of Carlton Neil Engineering and Machinery Company.
From 1922 to 1930, he was supervising engineer of the Visayas
Electric Company in Cebu. In 1931, he joined the Philippine Long
Distance Telephone Company where JEH Stevenot was President. Until
his retirement in 1960, he held the post of Vice-President and
Treasurer of that company. Reeling from the destruction wrought by
World War II, especially for a fledging organization like the BSP
in the immediate post-war years, it was fortunate that a charter
member like Mr. Daza was around for the reconstruction. With
charter members JEH Stevenot and General Lim dead from the war and
Jorge B. Vargas tainted with collaboration immediately after
country's liberation, it remained for him, Judge Manuel Camus,
Arsenio Luz and Carlos P. Romulo to pick-up the pieces for the BSP.
The latter, however, was too busy in government to take a direct
hand in BSP affairs. As a member of the Philippine War Damage
Commission, he arranged with the American liberation forces for a
Scouter military liaison for office and equipment donations that
can e utilized to jumpstart the BSP office, including its initial
postwar location at the Mehan Gardens. With Mr. Jorge B. Vargas
cleared of collaboration charges and again an influential figure in
the government and with him as BSP Treasurer working in tandem,
they arranged with the Philippine government for the land donation
on which the present BSP office stands the law entitling the BSP to
10,000 hectares total grant for camping and other purposes, mainly
agricultural and whose income is designed to support the programs
and activities of the organization (which was the basis for 6,000
hectares Davao Land Grant). As Treasurer, his careful husbanding of
BSP resources enabled him to announce to the Board by 1952 that the
organization had already enough funds to start constructing its own
building. The BSP office building was inaugurated in 1955 by
President Ramon Magsaysay. Done by noted Architect Juan Nakpil, the
BSP building was an architectural novelty at the time, featuring
adjustable sun louvers on its west facade and cantilevered stairs
and overhang. As BSP President and Chief Scout from 1961-1967, Mr.
Daza devoted his time fully in planning and implementing
programs and projects especially in the Davao Land Grant to make
it an income-generating asset of the organization. He was President
and Chief Scout in 1963 when the tragedy befell the contingent in
July 28. It was through his personal sympathies, interests and
effort that the organization was mobilized to cope wit this
tragedy, together with the subsequent establishment of the BSP
Alaala Mausoleum at the North Cemetery. MANUEL CAMUS Judge Manuel
Camus is commonly referred to as the Grand Old Man of Philippine
Scouting. He started his volunteer work in Scouting as Scoutmaster
of Troop 3 of the Central Student YMCA in 1922. In spite of his
work as a Judge in the Court of First Instance of Manila, he found
time to lead the members of his troop which to this day they
remember very well. Judge Camus was chosen National Scout
Commissioner of the Philippine Council, Boy Scouts of America in
1923. He held this post until the dissolution of the Council in
1937 with the establishment of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.
When the BSP started operating an independent organization in
January1938, Judge Camus was again appointed National Scout
Commissioner. In 1945, he was elected President of the Boy Scouts
of the Philippines, left vacant by the death of Col. JEH Stevenot.
When the Boy Scouts of the Philippines was granted recognition by
the Boy Scouts International Bureau as an independent organization
in 1946, Judge Camus was installed as BSP International
Commissioner which position he held until the time of his death in
1949. CARLOS P. ROMULO General Carlos P. Romulo hails from
Camiling, Tarlac and rose to prominence as a writer, journalist and
diplomat. He was associate editor of The Philippine Herald
1922-1923; Editor,Manila Times, 1930; Editor-in-chief, TVT
Publications, 1931; and publisher, DMHM newspapers His achievements
as a journalist-writer is formidable, having won the Pulitzer Prize
in journalism after his series of write-ups on pre-World War II
political and military situations in various countries in Southeast
Asia. In writing this series, Romulo made extensive prior tours to
Malaya, Burma,. China, Java (Indonesia), French Indochina and India
in 1941. He was in the staff of General MacArthur when they
retreated to Australia with the Japanese occupation of the
Philippines in 1942 until their return ti liberate the country in
1944. The postwar years saw General Romulo involved in diplomacy,
serving at one time or another as Philippine Ambassador to the
United States. He was elected as President of the Fourth General
Assembly of the United and twice as Chairman of the UN Security
Council. One of his greatest
accomplishments in the UN as a diplomat is the nine articles and
sections of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which he
authored and sponsored. As writer, he produced more than 17 books
written in collaboration with Mervin Gray and Pearl C. Buck all of
which were published in the United States. His Scouting involvement
in his later years while serving in the government as Secretary of
Foreign Affairs in the 70's was as Chairman of the Golden Jubillee
Committee, tasked with the preparation for the Golden Jubilee
Celebration of organized Scouting in the country in 1973. When
Presidential Decree 460 amending Commonwealth Act No. 111 was
issued on May 17, 1974, he was also appointed by President Marcos
in this decree to be chairman of the Interim BSP Restructuring
Committee. JORGE B. VARGAS When BSP President Judge Manuel Camus
died in December 1949, the burden of who was to handle the mantle
of leadership for a growing Scouting movement in the country was
taken over by Jorge B. Vargas. He held the post of President and
Chief Scout until 1961. Mr. Vargas' connection with the local
Scouting movement dates back as early as 1935. On that year, he
became a member of the Executive Board of the Philippine Council,
Boy Scouts of America. He was also then serving in the government
as Executive Secretary to Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon.
Together with the other six incorporators of the Boy Scouts of the
Philippines, he was greatly instrumental in the passage of
Commonwealth Act No. 111. Even the numbering of this law was his
design, so that boys can easily remember it, as it can symbolize
the three upraised fingers in the Scout sign and also stands for
the three duties of a Scout. As Executive Secretary, he purposely
timed it for the signature of President Quezon so it will have this
number. Active in the international level in the field of Scouting
and sports, he was a long time member of the 12-man Boy Scouts
International Committee. He received the Bronze Wolf, the highest
award in world Scouting for his distinguished and meritorious
services rendered to promote Scouting internationally. A number on
national Scout associations have also conferred upon him their
highest Scouting awards. Among these are the Silver Fox Award from
the Boy Scouts of Canada, the Silver Wolf from the British Boy
Scouts Association and the White Eagle Award from the Boy Scouts of
Nippon. An avid sportsman and a brilliant lawyer, he wrote the
original law creating the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes and the
Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation. He envisioned the former to
support from its proceeds non-profit civic organizations like the
Red Cross, the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Philippine Tuberculosis
Society and the PAAF. This law having been amended, this is not the
case anymore with the PCSO. He was mainly responsible for eliciting
Philippine
government guarantees and support during the time of President
Carlos Garcia that enabled the country to host the 1959 10th World
Scout Jamboree in Makiling, Laguna. This was the first World Scout
Jamboree to be held in Asia. He has served for many years as
President of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation. In this
capacity and his active work in every Philippine participation in
international sports competition like the Far Eastern (Asian) Games
and the World Olympics has caused his election to the International
Olympic Committee for many years. An avid and consummate collector,
Mr. Vargas' memorabilia and records of his services in government
are considerable, to which must be added his Filipiniana and art
collection, and those he has accumulated in Scouting and sports.
All of these he has donated to his Alma Mater and they housed in
the University of the Philippines Vargas Museum. ARSENIO N. LUZ
Arsenio Nicasio Luz as charter member once served as Vice President
of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. Mr. Luz became a journalist
at a young age. He joined the staff of La Vanguardia and
ElRenacimiento. In 1911, he was appointed Editor of El Ideal,
another widely read Spanish paper. His stint at El Ideal was
followed by his appointment as Editor and General Manager of the
Philippine Herald. His rise in the journalistic field continued
until he became publisher of the Evening News after the war. If Mr.
Luz had been outstanding in literary, business and government
circles, more can can be said of him in his participation in civic
ventures and welfare activities. For many years, he had been
connected at one time or another as officer or member of the Rotary
Club, Club Filipino, Philippine Columbian Association, Wack Wack
Golf and Country Club, Casino Espanol, Los Tamaraos, Polo Club, The
Walrus, Black Cat Inn, Mandarin Club, and many other social, civic,
and business organizations. In 1923, when the Manila Council under
the Boy Scouts of America was organized by the Manila Rotary Club,
Mr. Luz was elected as member of its Executive Committee. In 1934,
he was elected Second Vice President of the Philippine Council. The
following year, he was unanimously chosen as First Vice President .
He served in this capacity until 1937 when Commonwealth Act No. 111
was passed by the First National Assembly. He was one of the
charter members and incorporators of the Boy Scouts of the
Philippines. During the years that he was actively connected with
the BSP, Mr. Luz besides holding the distinction of being Vice
President of the organization, held many committee chairmanship in
the BSP.