BSP at 79: Living the ideals of Scout oath and law

THE Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), celebrating its 79th anniversary on October 31, is at the forefront of efforts to develop the Filipino youth’s physical, intellectual, emotional, moral, and spiritual well-being, and mold them to become upright, responsible, productive, law-abiding leaders and citizens of their community, their country, and the world. Filipino Scouts’ motto is Laging Handa (Be Prepared).

Assisted by local governments, boy scouts take over the reins of a town or city for a day as local officials, as part of character building and citizenship training. BSP holds an annual search for Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts, and awards the Eagle Scout Badge or Jose Rizal Scout Badge, the highest rank that a senior scout could aspire for.

A member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, BSP is the country’s biggest uniformed youth movement; one of five Filipino boys of age is into scouting. It is one of the world’s largest scout organizations – the largest in Asia – with 2.3-millionstrong membership. Boy scouts are 10-12 years of age, while senior scouts are boys aged 13-17.

Scouting inculcates in young Filipinos love of God, country, and fellowmen, as well as responsible leadership, the spirit of nation-building, and selfless service, guided by scouting ideals and principles. BSP produces leaders, not only for the Philippines, but for world scouting.

The Scout Oath is a promise to help people at all times, and to keep oneself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. The Scout Law defines what a scout should be: Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. It is every Scout’s responsibility to safeguard the BSP tradition and to honorably hand it down to the next generation of Scouts.

Scouting started in the Philippines in 1910 during the American era. Twenty-six Muslim boys were organized into the Lorillard Spencer Troop in honor of an active Scout in the United States. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA)-Philippine Council was formed in 1923 by the Rotary Club of Manila. The BSP was chartered under Commonwealth Act No. 111 on October 31, 1936, signed by President Manuel L. Quezon, to promote “the ability of boys to do useful things for themselves and others, to train them in scoutcraft, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues, using the methods in common use by boy scouts.” Commonwealth Act No. 111 was later amended by Presidential Decree 460 and Republic Act 7278 to strengthen the volunteer and democratic character of the BSP.