TAGUM City and the province of Davao del Norte deserve a big round of applause from all of us for the orderly and activity-filled hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Scout Jamboree in Energy Park, Apokon, Tagum City. A louder round is given to the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, the organizer.
With around 2,000 scouts from the Asean countries and Netherlands, Nepal, South Korea, Maldives, Bangladesh, and India, and more than 25,000 from all over the country, it was tagged as one of the biggest scouting events in Asia.
The Jamboree features ten modules of activities covering: Asean faith and belief, Crossroads of Culture, Global Development Village, Aquatics and Water Fun, Campcraft and Woodcraft, Better World Village, Sports Festival and Native Games, Challenge Valley and Obstacle Course, Community Service Projects, and Disaster Risk Reduction Management.
We were able to get a glimpse of the Aquatics and Water Fun and Campcraft that involved a peek into Jungle Survival that was hosted by Hijo Resources Corporation in barangay Tagum where for three days, delegates learned water rescue skills, compass and map reading, and had the actual experience of traversing a forest and plant mangrove seedlings, and we saw boys and girls, and their scout masters all having fun in the learnings and the opportunity to help rehabilitate the coastline. With those activities thrown in, the jamboree went beyond the normal simple camping in place and provided the scouts real experience in nature while under strict security and close watch of first responders.
The Philippine Coast Guard deployed water-borne security forces that kept watch over the children as they romped on the beach, ensuring that not one of the hundreds who filled the Banana Beach got hurt or is placed in a precarious situation. On the ground were several stations manned by first responders and scout masters, while ambulances were also deployed.
There was no talk of any untoward incident on its third day, and we can only surmise that preparations for the nature adventure were attended to in detail such that the scouts were all kept safe while allowed to get their hands and feet wet and muddied.
It was a roaring crowd out there at Energy Park as well. How the organizers and local governments managed it, we can just shake our heads in awe.
All we can say is, congratulations for a job well done!