"On my Boys' honor......"

March 2010

Moments from now, my boys will be receiving their much awaited Eagle Scout Awards and their medals will finally be pinned to their uniforms.  I can understand the feeling of happiness, excitement and pride in them.

As your chairman in the Advancement Committee, I believe my job with them has not ended yet.  In fact….I should continue to give them inspiration as much as I could.

Is the Eagle Scout Award the “ultimate” goal for a boy scout?  As an Eagle Scout myself…let me just share you a piece of my scouting life.

I became a scout when I was in my fourth grade.  After four years, I already earned my Eagle scout rank  at a very young age of 14.  Naaalala ko pa…naglalaro lang ako ng mga panahon na iyon.  To me then, scouting is just playing with friends, away from my home, away from our comfort zones.  It was pure fun.

But things have to change after receiving the award. “Sa ngalan ng aking dangal…” as the scout oath dictates….I had to act accordingly. 

Leadership: I became the Junior Assistant Scout Master (JASM) of our school and became the Boy Leader of our own District.  I was tasked to make school and district scouting programs aside from always being in the frontlines supporting our local council’s calendar of scouting activities. The pride of being a leader even gave me a privilege not to attend our school’s 2-year “Citizen Army Training” but instead stick and become a key personality in Scouting, CAT's high school counterpart.  I was blessed by that privilege.

Early exposure to health and fitness:  When I entered College, it was my excellence in swimming that provided me another exemption from taking the 2-year “Reserved Officer Training Course”.  As I recall, my knowledge in swimming was introduced to me when I joined Scouting.  We were always swimming then.  It was my favorite activity.

After College I worked as an office employee in a big company in Makati.  After almost 2 years of working, I was kind of burnt out and decided to quit and went back to the province instead.  Then I began to hike in far away farmlands up into the mountains to refreshen myself and find another life’s inspiration.  I was confident in hiking on unfamiliar places because I was taught by my scouting mentors years back.

Exciting Career: While hiking the trails of the many mountains nearby our town,  It was my dream of making worthless things  useful and make a career out of it .  And I did, it happened so fast.  1991 when I first joined an international exhibition in Manila they call Manila “F.A.M.E” Fashion and Accessories Marketing Week Exposition.  My product bagged "KATHA" best product design.  My entry was called Sunflower fruit bowl made of indigenous materials that when finished, looks like a sunflower.  Aside from cash prize which I was truly happy to receive, I was given an initial production order of 300,000 sets to be exported the soonest possible time to US and Europe. With the help of an exporting firm in Makati, I was able to cope and brought livelihood projects to many people not only in our town but in other areas of neighboring province Quezon and Mindoro.  

From my playful antics, to sports, to leadership and then to more serious responsibility towards my community, I even had a much bigger chance of serving as our town’s Municipal Administrator.  And it was indeed a great opportunity and experience for me extending my help on a larger scale. I owe all that to nothing else but Scouting. 

Today, as I am giving back the gratitude, I am diligently supporting this beloved institution having been continuously part of the 12-man executive board members of the BSP Laguna Council.  This is my 11^th year as your Chairman of the Advancement Committee. And I’m still working and hoping that my venture in this field will not finally end here.  No, not yet.  There are still lots of opportunities and potentials, adventures and excitement in store for me in Scouting, I know.

Three years ago, I started this new career that is slowly picking up these days.  I organize travels in the “off-beaten path”, visiting beautiful unfrequented places far from civilization.  It has been very much appreciated by young profesionals who crave for some adventures in the countryside, wishing to experience outdoor life and to commune with nature.  My skills in hiking, camping and orienteering gave me an advantage to do above par what is expected of me by my clientelle.  It's very stimulating and indeed very gratifying and joyful.

Getting back at my question earlier:  Is the Eagle Scout Award the ultimate goal of a boy scout?  The answer obviously is no.  Because Scouting has a whole lot more to offer.  It broadens horizon.  Scouting reduces stress in life and takes you to a journey of adventure and excitement while having fun.  It prepares you to be leaders.   It teaches you friendship on a higher degree and selflessness for the interest of the majority.  In Scouting, you can still be the boy you were before, vibrant, full of hope, dreams and is willing to take chances.  In Scouting you can also be the leader that you want to be with conviction and still willing to work as a team player and be appreciated by your boys and your peers.  Scouting is a perfect venue for anyone wanting to serve the boys and the community and eventually make a difference.  Scouting can be your effective tool towards attaining success to be a part of the global interest of creating a better world. 

Gentlemen, my dear Eagle scouts.  This is now your time to fly and start achieving your dreams.  We believe in you, because we equipped you to be better persons.  Fly high and reach your success.  And when you are finally there, look back on us and remember the good times we shared.  And if you plan to go back to your Scouting nest after a successful ride, we’ll be happy to welcome you once again as we always did with everyone.  Have a good ride Eagles!!