Scouting and sporting passion

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.

A Scout is:  Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

That's the Scout Oath and Law.  I was able to memorize it at the age of four before my kindergarten year.  My Aunt Fe Labatos, Mama's sister,  who was a teacher and a Scout adult leader in Merida, Leyte taught me how to recite the Scout Oath and Law.

Scouting in my childhood

Tiya Fe would let me execute a Scout sign and stand erect at a stair landing and utter the words of the great Scout Oath and the litany of the good qualities of a Boy Scout in the Scout Law.

Of course during those childhood years, I delivered these lines like a parrot, not knowing what the words really meant.  My first degree cousin who was older than me asked my parents what I was reciting about.

When I became a boy scout, I came to understand the essence of the promise which to me is a perfect covenant of service.  These commandments of Scouting embraces all facets of benevolence.  You can just imagine if all the people in all countries would follow these tenets of Scouting then the world will be a perfect place to live.

Scout Oath

The Scouting movement was founded by Lord Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell.  In August 1907 he organized a camp on Brownsea Island, England to test out his ideas in the book "Scouting for Boys" which he wrote.   About twenty boys attended, eight from local Boys' Brigade companies, a Christian youth organization, and about twelve public school boys who were mostly sons of his friends.

According to boyscouttrail.com the Scout Oath is "a solemn, formal declaration or promise to fulfill a pledge, often calling on God as witness."  It invokes high respect and esteem when the pledge starts with "On my honor."

To do the "best" is to perform the most outstanding and excellent action you could ever accomplish.  Especially in the three-fold duty to God and country, duty to others and duty to self.

"Pro Aris et Focis" is a Latin phrase which means "For God and country" which becomes a motto of families, military organizations and educational institutions.  It means serving God and country together is a prime duty of every citizen.  The country is a product of God's creation so we must love it as we love God.

Duty to God

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." - Mark 12:30.

The Supreme Being, The Almighty, The Divine Providence, God Himself is the Giver and Doer of all things.  He is the foremost center of our life. We must fulfill our religious obligations for ultimately all of us will be reunited with Him after this earthly existence.  That is if we follow His commandments and His teachings.

“Surely, Allah will fully compensate you for your deeds. Indeed, He is Aware of all that you do.” - The Quran 11:111 (Surah Hud).  Allah is the Arabic word of God. Christian Scouts and Muslim Scouts fulfill their duty to God.

"Character counts" to be morally straight as a scout.  All these are reflected in the Scout Law especially being reverent.  Reverence is a deep feeling or commitment to one's religious beliefs.

Love of country

Andres Bonifacio wrote:  "Love of country is always the desire of a man with honor; In songs, in poetry, in his writings the greatness of the country is always the theme."

We must respect our national flag for it is the symbol of our country and sing our national anthem with feelings for it reflects our patriotic ideals.  I always attend flag raising ceremonies every Monday at the city hall not only because it is in the Civil Service Commission regulations but I consider it a nationalistic duty.

The Code of Citizenship and Ethics of President Manuel L. Quezon said: "Love your country for it is the home of your people, the seat of your affections, and the source of your happiness and well-being. Its defense is your primary duty. Be ready at all times to sacrifice and die for it if necessary."

We show our patriotism by following the laws of the land, getting involved in the community and preserving the environment.  We show our concern by helping our government officials in their responsibilities not just criticizing them negatively.

Do a good turn daily

"Love your neighbor as yourself." - Mark 12:31.  This is a very famous Bible verse which Jesus Christ taught, a very splendid doctrine of doing our duty to others.

The Scout Slogan is "Do a good turn daily" and it requires us to "help other people at all times."  This is a helpful or friendly act or a favor for somebody.  Everyday find some little ways to make your neighbor happy.

We must make our life useful and it is worthwhile to be remembered as a person who made a difference in the lives of other people.  Being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, and obedient shows your compassion and concern for your fellowmen.

Physically healthy

Finally caring for ourselves which comes last.  We must keep our body physically fit staying away from vices like smoking, alcoholism and illegal drugs.  Male and female smokers lose an average of 13.2 and 14.5 years of life, respectively, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Alcoholism can have adverse effects on mental health, causing psychiatric disorders.  Drugs which are prohibited cause intoxication, and later addiction and dependence.  In Balanga City, Bataan they exclaimed "Smoking, Alcoholism, Drugs make us SAD."

Physical exercise and promotion of healthy lifestyle maintains wellness to strengthen our immune system in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases, heart diseases, type2 diabetes and obesity.

Healthy mind and body

The Scout Motto is "Be Prepared" and according to Baden-Powell it means "You are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your Duty."

"Mens sana in corpore sano" means "a healthy mind in a healthy body."  This is the favorite slogan of the then Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) now named only Department of Education (DepEd).

Sports and physical fitness help us to be mentally awake.  Scouting involves lots of physical activities to keep our body strengthened and our mind awakened.

Sport in Scouting

According to British actor Robert Powell: "The sport in Scouting is to find the good in every boy and develop it."  Thus my scouting passion goes with my sporting passion.

When I first became a Municipal Councilor my thrust was primarily geared towards sports development.  Being obsessed at reading articles and stories on sporting success and watching games, I applied it on some programs in the municipality until Maasin became a city.

Sports is associated with good health and vitality if you personally engage yourself in games and exercises.  As Roman poet Virgil wrote "The greatest wealth is health." It started to popularize the favorite slogan "Health is wealth."


Sports is fun

Sports provide fun and entertainment if you play or just watch the competition.  It promotes tourism as in the case of athletic meets, tournaments, Asian Games and the Olympics.  These games advocate peace and camaraderie.

Students who excelled in their chosen endeavor can acquire athletic scholarships in colleges and universities.  Some of them were offered allowances, board and lodging and outfit.

Athletes travel a lot and see different places where the competitions are hosted.   They win friends by competing in the spirit of sportsmanship.  Players are powerful and energetic and are cut above the rest.


Outstanding Council Chairman

I was in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, the site of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa that time.  On May 20-22, 2015, I was in that city with the Scouting leaders all over the country to attend the Annual National Council Meeting (ANCM) led by Vice President Jejomar Binay, President of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

I was chosen as Most Outstanding Council Chairman and received the award from VP Binay and Members of the BSP National Executive Board.  It was the highest national recognition a Boy Scout Local Council Chairman could be bestowed.

And it was the most prestigious distinction that I received since joining the worldwide movement of Scouting, this time as an adult leader and provincial scout head.


Scouting and sporting leaders

In the ANCM, I met Hon. Ariel Anghay, City Councilor of Iligan and Scout Executive of Iligan Council. He told me he was an avid fan of Philboxing.com of which I am a contributor and he reads it everyday.

City Councilor Venerando Rea and former Vice Mayor of Tayabas, Quezon was also there. He is the incumbent ABAP Regional President of Southern Luzon. A former City Vice Mayor, he is a licensed ABAP referee/judge.  ABAP is Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines.  There were several scouting and sporting officials whom I met there who shared the same passion.

Mayor Allan Rellon, the host Tagum City Mayor, is both a sporting and scouting enthusiast, also hosted the National Boy Scouts Jamboree in October 2015.

VP Binay himself is a fitness buff and he kept jogging/walking several kilometers everyday and played badminton to keep him physically fit.


Sports merit badge

"Scouting is a game for boys under the leadership of boys under the direction of a man," a quote from Lord Baden Powell.

The Cub Scouts Sports and Academic Program of the Boy Scouts of America is one method of addressing the third aim of Scouting: the development of physical, mental and emotional fitness.  Sports is a merit badge for advancement in the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

According to the Scout Advancement Handbook, the list of merit badges in the Sports Group include Archery, Athletics, Boating, Cycling, Horsemanship, Marksmanship, Physical Fitness, Snorkeling, Swimming and Team Sports.

In Team Sports, the boy is required to explain sportsmanship and give several examples of good sportsmanship in sports.  He will relate these to everyday applications on citizenship outside the sports competition.


Sportsmanship

According to Joel Fish and Susan Magee in 101 Ways To Be A Terrific Sports Parent:  "Sportsmanship is an aspiration or ethos that a sport or activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors."

In my speeches to young athletes in meets and tournaments, I always give emphasis on playing the games in the spirit of true sportsmanship and advocate teamwork among colleagues.

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well," said Olympics founder Pierre de Coubertin.


Team sport

Furthermore in the Team Sport merit badge,  the scout sportsman is obliged to take part for one full season as a member of an organized team in one of the following sports: baseball, basketball, bowling, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball or any other recognized team sport.

There are sports leagues and tournaments where young athletes especially those in the secondary level can take part.  The most prestigious ones are the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).  There are several minor and regional athletic organizations.

The boy is also directed to compete in one of the following sports in two organized meets or tournaments: archery, badminton, bowling, cycling, judo, orienteering, swimming, table tennis, lawn tennis, track and field or any other recognized sport.

The Philippine Sports Commission organized the Philippine National Games and the Batang Pinoy with regional qualifying tournaments.  There are regional and provincial meets sponsored by the Department of Education.
                           

Teamwork 

The scout will also make a set of training rules for the sport selected, explain the importance of following these rules and apply them.  He is also required to design exercises for these sports and show how he will do these in the chosen sport in one season and how did his game progressed with these exercises, as prescribed by the Scout Advancement Handbook.

The sporting scout will also show proper techniques in the two sports selected and will be able to draw diagrams of their playing areas.  He will explain the rules and etiquette of the two selected sports, and describe the protective equipment needed.

More importantly, the boy should be able to explain the attributes of a good team leader and good team player.  This will train him for future team building as a professional and as a worker someday.

According to basketball great Michael Jordan: "Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships."


Sports for overall development

Throughout the world, sports are considered as tools for human development and contribute to the peace efforts.  They are instruments of fund raising and economic development and promotes tourism and livelihood.

The United Nations Inter-agency Taskforce on Sport for Development and Peace said “Incorporated into the definition of ‘sport’ are all forms of physical activity that contribute to physical fitness, mental well-being and social interaction. These include: play; recreation; organized, casual or competitive sport; and indigenous sports or games.”

I always told every City Schools Division Superintendent assigned in Maasin City Division that I want a separate coordinator for Sports and different one for Scouting.   In the some other divisions, one coordinator is appointed for both Scouting and Sports altogether,  I didn't want 50%-50% effort but a 100% endeavor for Scouting and 100% focus on Sports.