Binay tells Scouts:

Define the moment

Boy Scouts of the Philippines National President Jejomar C. Binay urged Scouts and Scouters to "define the moment as the Movement faces another year of service to the youth and nation."

In his year-end message to the 2.5-million strong youth organization, Binay, also the newly-elected chairman of the Scouting Committee of the Asia-Pacific Bureau of the World Scouts Movement, said "Scouting shall stay in our midst forever and will continue to prosper as long as we adhere to the principle that we all sworn to honor and preserve."

He said the New Year shall be viewed as another challenge and as a way to reflect on the accomplishments of the recent years and shall serve as springboard to further improve its programs.

"We are dealing with the youth of the land. As such we have responsibility to bring quality service they all deserve," he said.

He said the entire Movement shall focus on holding of the next Asia-Pacific Jamboree, the biggest Scouting event to be held in the country in 2009. The international jamboree, he said, will be attended by thousands of delegates from 23 member countries and 2 associates in the Asia-Pacific.

"We are opening our doors to the biggest Scouting events in the region. History will once again knock at our doors as we host the 26th Asia-Pacific Jamboree," he said.

He said the country won the bid to host the next Asia-Pacific Region.

By history, the first Asia-Pacific Jamboree was held on Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna in December 28, 1973 - January 4, 1974. It was attended by thousands of Scouts and Scouters from the Philippines and other parts of the Asia-Pacific.

"We shall now start preparing ourselves for the biggest Scouting event of the century in the Asia-Pacific," he said.

Binay urged his fellow Scouters to also honor the men and women who dedicated their life to Scouting and for bringing Scouting to the mind and heart of the community.

"We owe big to those who offered their life to Scouting, we shall not forget them as we move on," he said.