The Essence of Being a Scout

How does it feel to wear the Type A Uniform once again after a very long time?

Great.

It is just one of those days that I think of what the Scouting Movement has done to me during my high school years.

Today was the graduation rites for the scout and CAT trainees where their numerous efforts and success during their respective training courses are given due recognition to the teachers, administrators, and of course to fellow trainees and staff. It is a time that makes every scout feel satisfied and proud of being a scout.

And so do I.

Wearing a scout uniform brings honor to oneself. It shows everyone that one knows the skills and shoulders the responsibilities of being a leader. It proves to everyone what kind of person that person is -- a scout by heart.

The Philippines ranks third in the world in Scouting, preceded by the United States and Indonesia. The world looks up to our country for being very practical and skilled and for having such a prestigious Scouting Movement. An example would be during the jamboree held in Taiwan. The Taiwanese brought with them their hammers and nails and wondered why the Filipino scouts did not have any. They were only awed when the Filipinos got their ropes and lashed wood and bamboos to form gadgets. They realized they did not need hammers and nails at all!

Here locally, SJCS has the most disciplined and the best scouts according to many people, both in and out. The school administrators are impressed by the discipline imbibed by the scouts in their routines and duties. In jamborees, it is always the Judenites who last evacuate their tents when heavy rain comes. A board member of the BSP Council who owns Cogenick said that the Judenites were really adept and disciplined in the field (as exemplified by the JLs during their survival and the other trainees in their activities).

And in my personal case? Aside from teaching me the different skills and ideals and responsibility, Scouting helped me open myself wider to the world and meet a lot of friends. Exposing me to rigors made me stronger to cope up with difficulty. And here I am, returning to SJCS almost everyday during the summer training to give whatever I can to help the other staff and the Movement as a whole (and also to mingle with the trainess and co-staff alike).

Thus, wearing a Type A does not just mean more duties and hard work; it dignifies and exemplifies the prestigious organization one has joined and committed to serve. It embodies everything one has been through during the Scouting days. It is not just a uniform; it is worth more -- much more -- than just being a uniform.