Mayor Gordon Opens Scouting Month

Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. formally opened the observance of Scouting Month last October 5, 2009 at the flag raising ceremonies attended by city employees and some four hundred (400) scouts who earlier marched and paraded from the Olongapo City Mall to the Rizal Triangle Multi-Purpose Covered Court in connection with the celebration.

“I am very pleased and proud that the essence of scouting still lives in the hearts of Olongapeño youth and children,” said Mayor Gordon. Scouting does not only hone responsible citizens and good leaders but also inculcates the love for God, country and fellowmen,” he added.

With this year’s theme, “Scouts Create A Better World,” the Boy Scouts of James L. Gordon Council (Olongapo Council) will be given the chance to chat, talk, and interact with other scouts all over the world thru the Jamboree-on-the-Air/Internet (JOTA-JOTI) program on October 17-18. Scout leaders will also conduct Climate Change and Global Warming Symposiums in different schools from October 19-31 to orient scouts on the importance of environmental protection. Accordingly, a successive city-wide clean-up drive will be conducted on October 23 to encourage scouts to actively participate in the fortification of the environment.

“Scouts will also carry out their social responsibilities as they visit and distribute relief goods and supplies to the flood-stricken families in Botolan, Zambales on October 24. They will also lead the launching of the Olongapo Scouting Book at the end of the month,” said Mario Esquillo, James L. Gordon Council Scout Executive.

Although October is designated as the official scouting month, activities are to be held until the following month. On November 1-15, selected scouts will be assigned to assist in traffic management and operations and will also attend the First Aid Training Course to be given by the scout council in cooperation with the Philippine National Red Cross-Olongapo Chapter on November 13-14.

To culminate the scouting celebration, at least one thousand (1,000) scouts and scouters will gather at the 2009 Council-Eco-Jamborette to be held at the vicinity of Subic Bay Development and Management Corporation (SBDMC), Subic Bay Freeport Zone on November 19-22.

Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. together with the city’s scout leaders and scouters who marched from the Olongapo City Mall to the Rizal triangle Covered court last October 5, 2009 as an opening activity of the celebration of Scouting Month.

Pao/sara