The Scouting movement was founded 65 years ago by Lord Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell in England. Today, Scouting is a worldwide youth movement with more than 57 million members as part of the 172 National Scouting Organizations under the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
The goal of Scouting is to develop young people into active citizens through participation in a wide range of activities that promote physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual development.
Scouting in the Philippines
Three years after the founding of Scouting, it entered the Philippines through the Young Men’s Christian Association in Manila brought by Elwood Stanley Brown, making him the first Scoutmaster in the Philippines. More than a decade later and after the foundation of different troops, the Boy Scouts of the Philippine Islands Council No. 545 was founded by the Rotary Club of Manila.
It was not until 1936 that the Boy Scouts of the Philippines was chartered through the Commonwealth Act 111. Since then, it has developed young boys of the country into becoming well-disciplined and patriotic youth to contribute to nation-building and serving the Filipino people.
The Scout Law
Contrary to public knowledge, there is only one Scout Law, not 12. This is also the common misconception of some members of the Scouting movement, especially the new members, and sometimes when they are nervous during the Board of Review for their advancement.
“To help other people at all times.” This is the Scout Law guided by its 12 points that a Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. However self-explanatory may it look, living by the Scout Law is not as simple as doing household chores every day. Every moment of a Scout’s life, we are challenged into doing a good turn daily.
What shall we do when someone asks for alms on our way to school or a Scouting activity? Should we give our seats to an older person standing in front of us? Should we let our classmates copy our answers in an examination when they are having a hard time?
Again, it is our law to help other people at all times, but we must remember that this law is guided by the 12 points we recite as part of our oath. Regardless of our act of service, as long as you are doing the right thing and expecting nothing in return, that is the right thing to do. However, we should acknowledge the remarkable Scouts who gave in not only their best but also risk their lives in doing their duty as Scouts—if not lost.
In this article, let us talk about and acknowledge the sacrifices and bravery of some of the unsung heroes of the Philippine Scouting movement.
A Scout is Brave
The ability to face fear head-on is what makes someone brave, not their lack of dread. There is no bravery if there is no fear. Even in the face of fear, a Scout may face danger. In order to carry out their duties and assist others, they have the bravery to stand out for what they believe to be right.
These ten stories are the journeys of the unsung heroes of our movement, the Scouts brave enough to accept the consequences of the decisions they made because they are brave.
Richard H. Celestino
We all know Sajid Bulig, he was the face of the Pagoda accident on July 2, 1993. His story was even included in the 2019 movie, On My Honor: Heroes Reborn by Zebel Entertainment. It is not a secret that he did a heroic act, but he was not the only Scout who showed bravery in saving people’s lives.
Celestino was at home when the Pagoda sunk due to overloading. When he was informed by his mother about the incident, he rushed to the scene to check if his sisters were one of the victims. He saw his friend, Sajid, saving people that he then followed saving a boy and a girl.
He then stopped diving and saving people when he sensed danger. Despite his several attempts to stop his friend, Sajid continued and later drowned. It was Richard who told the stories of his friend, and he put himself in danger too to save two young lives.
He was conferred the Silver Medal of Honor on October 31, 1993, by the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.
Florencio Agapito and Robin Garcia
On July 16, 1990, an intensity 7.7 earthquake hit Luzon leaving $ 369 million worth of damage and more than 2,400 people dead. The quake affected a large part of Luzon, particularly the northern area. The epicenter was located in the north of Metro Manila—Nueva Ecija.
Two Scouts performed heroic acts, they were Florencio Agapito and Robin Garcia. They were attending their class in the six-floor building of the Christian College of the Philippines when the disaster struck. In two separate deeds, Garcia made a passage to enable three schoolmates to escape from the collapsed building while Agapito led 45 classmates to safety.
Garcia died on the same day after being hit by falling debris in the abdomen and left thigh at the Nueva Ecija Provincial Hospital. Agapito died 16 days later after his legs were amputated at the Subic Bay Naval Base.
On August 30, 1990, they were posthumously conferred with Gold Medals of Honor at the Boy Scouts of the Philippines National Headquarters.
Jamiri Abdulmali
The story of Jamiri Abdulmali may be different from the others but his act of bravery is no less than the others.
Scout Abdumali was on duty as perimeter security in the provincial grandstand of Jolo, Sulu during an athletic meet. Moments later, he spotted a suspicious-looking character in the crowd which prompted him to approach the suspect cautiously. When the suspect was asked to show his admission ticket, he forced himself to get inside. Jamiri blocked him, however, the suspect stabbed the Scout.
The attacker escaped leaving Jamiri dying on the pavement. He sacrificed his life for many, a true definition of being a hero. He was from Troop 5 of Jolo Central Elementary School and was posthumously conferred of Bronze Medal of Honor in 1960.
Troop 76, Palawan Council
On a warm day of September 21, 1976, a group of boat passengers was enjoying their water ride across Araceli Bay, Palawan, when aggressive waves hit and overturned their boat. The passengers struggled to keep afloat as there were no other rescuers can be seen nearby. Members of Troop 76 of Palawan Council searched the water and rescued the passengers.
Scouts Jimmy Abaigar, Builberto Beguina, Nestor Corona, and Efren Revillas rescued men, women, and children. Disregarding the threat of being drowned alongside these people, they managed to save lives.
The aforementioned Scouts received the Bronze Medal of Honor on April 19, 1977.
Virgilio Dizon
The act of Virgilio Dizon, 15, happened on May 1, 1956, in Bustos, Bulacan when Rolando Perez, 11, swimming in the Angat Dam developed cramps and disappeared.
Dizon was wandering with some friends when he heard the calls for help. As the brave and helpful Scout he is, he immediately responded. It took him several dives to locate and pull the victim.
Virgilio, a Second Class Scout was later conferred with the Bronze Medal of Honor.
These five stories of the heroic acts of Scouts are just a few of the undervalued stories in the Philippine Scouting movement. A couple of years ago, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines published the book On My Honor: Stories of Scouts in Action, a compilation of extraordinary deeds of Scouts in the Philippines doing their duty—helping other people—and is a must-read for all Scouts to serve as an inspiration to all of us.
On my honor
As Scouts, everything we do must be done in our honor. We must do our best to fulfill our duty and obey the Scout Law.
Being brave, serving the people, helping others, and doing sacrifices is not something we do to be called a hero or get famous for. It is something that is embedded in our blood as Scouts doing everything to create a better world.
The stories of these unsung heroes are the less told stories, and we know there are hundreds of more stories untold. Nevertheless, we must never forget and put their sacrifices in vain.
Not all heroes wear capes, some of them wear scarves. Let us all stand and give our heroes a snappy salute this National Heroes Day.
