We are a non-political organization, but simply for the common good we are also obliged, by our own duty to God, Country and Others to share some views...... This is simply my own opinion and not of the council or the BSP as a whole....


SAAN TAYO PUPUNTA???

In the realms of endless political bickering the question remains unchange... Saan Tayo PUPUNTA?

This nation of poor people, a nation of abused society and neglected masses is still, as it was 27 years ago....(after that world celebrated EDSA 1) is still a nation of hungry masses.
Now and again, barely a month from today, an election is again set to burn the hopes and aspirations of our brothers and sisters... promises left and right, tons of garbages thrown against each other's faces, tsk, tsk, tsk...propagandas aired to boost one's popularity while destroying the other's credibility.... damn are we?

NAKAKASAWA NA DI BA? but have we any choice? none at all. All we can hope for is for God to intervene and send us the right leader for us. All we can do is Close our eyes and pick that Pen and line in that JURASIC voting precinct, the same old manually operated election system and simply rely in the hopes that what would come out will be the CLEAN AND HONEST result.... and more so, the highest hope that the winner would be a leader for the masses who would put the greater Good in his shoulder and our future in his heart...

Our mission is simple, to let our own small voices be heard this May 14, and let our sentements be counted. No matter what, it is our only way of taking part in shaping this nation. Lets VOTE no matter what, Lets Choose with our heart and let's vote with our conscience and think not of ourselves, together let us put this election in our hearts because if we dont, one day we will just wake-up asking ouserlves, SAAN na TAYO PUPUNTA???

TOBSPA PUSHES FOR AN ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMP

Grant from Partnership for Transparency Fund (PTF) amounting to $19,660 or almost P950,000 released,

THE TEN OUTSTANDING BOY SCOUTS OF THE PHILIPPINES ASSOCIATIONS (TOBSPA) is currently pushing for the conduct of a Governance Camp for emerging Anti-Corruption Scout Crusaders on July 10-15, 2007 Rizal Re-Creation Center Arban Street, Rizal Laguna (Dates and Venue is still tentative). Another milestone in Philippine Scouting.

The pilot project which is expected to gather some 50 Scouts who are potential leaders in their own localities/councils coming from selected areas from Luzon. The Camp will be using a module designed to impart the Key concepts and principles on corruption, governance and transparency, methodoloogies and strategies for transparency work and other resources to develop Scout Leaders into transparency cadres. The 6-day camp will seek not only to educate, but more so to inspire and encourage the scout participants to launch their own transparency initiatives in their own respective communities. The good part about this project is the unique opportunity for each scout to attend the camp ABSOLUTELY FREE plus the chance to avail of the needed budget to implement their plans in their own council.

This mega project was made possible by the effort and prowess of TOBSPA's incumbent chairman Mr. Don Parafina (also of Gwatch) who wasted no time to extend the group's horizon farther. His effort bore fruit when a the grant from the Partnership for Transparency Fund (PTF) amounting to $19,660 or almost P950,000 was approved and released sometime last January of this year. This development resulted into another leap for TOBSPA who at present is holding an office at the BSP National Headquarters after Secretary General J.Rizal Pangilinan gave his all-out support for the project.

As a show of serious focus, the organization hired their fellow TOBSPA members, who are all professionals, such as Joseph Lumanog as Project Officer to handle the technical and overall preparation and implementation of the project for nine (9) months, Jerome Ilagan (former TOBSPA Chair) was also tapped as Consultant for GovCamp Module, Yasser Sarona as consultant for GovCamp Hike, and Hernan Barce as Administrative Assistant. Also a part of the GovCamp Team are TOBSPA's pride to include Christian Lauron, Eddie Paul Saquilayan , Kervin Go, Mario Esquillo, and Joshua Young.

Inspired by the ideals of scouting, the team is expected to make another mark in BSP's very remarkable line of notable projects. (More details soon...)

Lite Moments during the NCR/CLR Youth Forum in Valenzuela (With Yasser, Mario and the hardworking project officer Joseph at the middle....)

JAMES L. GORDON COUNCIL 2ND SUMMER LEADERSHIP CAMP KICKS-OFF

Now on its 2nd year, the James L. Gordon Council's Summer Leadership Academy and Advancement Camp kicked-off last April 2, 2007 at Tapinac Elementary School, Olongapo City.

Aimed at providing quality training and worthwhile summer activity for the scouts, the council enjoined some of the products of its first summer camp last year (Compose of 10 Eagle Scouts, and some 15 first class, second class, outdoorsman and venturer scouts) to pass-on their knowledge to the new ones.

The training will last until May 3, 2007 and will have 4 phases (Basic Skills and knowledge, Outdoor Life, Community Immersion and the 3-days/2-nights Final Phase Camp and Graduation. A total of 32 graduates out of 72 registered trainees were able to finish the training last year. At the start of the 2nd batch this April 2, a total of 5 high schools, and 5 schools converged to complete the 87 boys (including the officers and counselors) have registered for the program. Among the exciting part of the activity includes the Trip to Mt. Samat and overnight camp in Corregidor Island, Public Speaking Seminar and the Community Immersion part. (More reports to follow about the camp)

GAPO, BIDA SA NATIONAL SCOUTS YOUTH FORUM SA TARLAC

TARLAC CITY- Namayagpag ang pangalan ng James L. Gordon Council sa natapos na National Scouts Youth Forum para sa Luzon na ginanap kamakailan lang sa Asiaten Hotel, Tarlac City noong 23-25 ng Marso taong kasalukuyan. Ito ay matapos maihalal na kinatawan ng buong Luzon sa National Executive Board si Scout Kenny Ralph S. Fernando ng Columban College, High School Dept. Main. Ang halalan ay naganap sa huling araw ng plenaryo noong ika-25 ng Marso. Ang pagkakahalal kay Sct. Fernando ay ang kaunaunahang pagkakataon para sa James L. Gordon Council at maging nang Central Luzon Region na mahawakan ang isa sa tatlong puwesto sa National Executive Board na linalaan sa mga kabataang scout. Ang nasabing puwesto ay madalas na hawak ng Southern Tagalog at National Capital Region.

Una nito ay nahalal na bilang kinatawan ng Rehiyon (Central Luzon) si sct. Fernando sa nakaraan na magkasanib na Regional Youth Forum ng NCR at CLR na ginanap naman sa Valenzuela City. Siya rin ay unang nahirang bilang steering committee chairman ng naturang plenaryo. Dumalo rin sa nasabing pagtitipon na pang rehiyon sila Sct. Julius Ceasar Gomez (Columban), Sct. Alvin Amarille (Columban), Sct. James Nunez (Olongapo Wesley) kasama si Mario Esquillo (Scout Executive) at Alberto Baviera (Program Commissioner). Maliban kay Nunez, ang tatlong scout na nabanggit ay pawang mga produkto ng unang Council Leadership Acedemy na isinagawa noong Abril ng taong 2006.

Ang National at Regional Youth Forum ay taunang isinasagawa upang mabigyan ang mga kabataan na ipahayag ang kanilang mga saluubin kaugnay sa mga kaganapan, usapin at mga bagay-bagay sa paligid na nakakaapekto sa kanila direkta man o hindi. Ang plenaryo rin ang siyang nagsisilbing midyum para maging bahagi sa policy making process ang mga kabataang scouts. Sa pamamagitan ng mga resolusyong ipinapasa, naitatawid ng mga representating kabataan sa mas mataas pang libel ang kanilang boses.

Sa kaugnay na kaganapan, nakuha naman ng James L. Gordon Council ang tatlo sa mga posisyung pang rehiyon sa Central Luzon sa katauhan ni Hon. James Gordon, Jr. Regional 2nd Vice-Chairman, Mr. Ernesto Asuncion, Regional Auditor, at Mr. Alberto C. Baviera, Jr. Regional Program Commissioner. Ginanap ang halalan sa DepEd Conference Hall sa Balanga Bataan noong ika-15 ng Marso taong kasalukuyan.