by Gabriel Alfonso
Senior Scout, Outfit 435
The Second One Visayas Jamboree didn't fail on bringing us a new
experience with lots of learning in both skills and values.
Strengthening friendship from all ranks, ages, gender and ethnicity
and dissolving boundaries that causes avoidable misunderstandings.
Mga Pagsubok
There was no easy task existed during the five day period from
being well roasted under the sun during the opening up to the dilemma
on how to take a bath and poop in the “Kybo” (not all of us
disposed for five days straight).
The food supply was okay and the shelter was great when it is not
raining but when it does “may all the odds be in your favor.” Wet
clothes were very common but what we avoided the most were wet
underwear and wet socks. We don't want to walk around with our
genitals dripping, aren't we?
Some activities were all fun and games with values like the team
building which was all about unity and the handicrafts part which was
very boring. Other activities would drain your energy like the Urban
Hike in where you would walk around the country side at a sugar cane
farm. The Challenge Valley would probably the most challenging one.
While crawling in mud the activity officer would pour water with a
strong stench from the drainage system right in front of you letting
you crawl over the black mud of decomposing matters.
Then the last but vital pair of activities was the Back to Basics in
where you will create a temporary tent out of anything from the wild
and creat fire from whatever there is, and Water survival, to prevent
a person and yourself from drowning.
Kaginhawaan
Of course it wasn't all that grim, every after noon when all of our
daily tasks were done, we would usually go to a near mall and stroll
around as if we didn't came from strainous activities. Of course we
all smell good and looked civilized which was hard to regain.
We bought things that are needed like our personal hygiene and more
food. We also ate at a restaurant near our camp site so that we won't
need to produce fire and burn our food.
Pagibig na sumisibol
Some
of our scouts had their love lives sprung during the Jamboree. Some
found their pair locally while some had their “affairs” from
other councils. Even though most of the time they couldn't understand
each other it didn't matter, as long as love is in the air.
Kapatiran
Our
days of trials drawn us closer to each other not as friends but as
comrades. Some formed a mock cult for the sake of humor which they
called “Alay” which meant offer. They identify themselves as
“Alay Boys” and their religious artifact was a zzzzzz
zzzzzzzz which they
call as “Black Hole”. (my apologies for the censorship, this is
very confidential.)
Speaking of camaraderie it was a great honor of having friends with
other scouts from different places that expanded out understanding
with their culture. We also shared our personal experiences under
scouting that somehow made me feel lucky. They told us that there
were scouts that were bullied, tortured, abused and militarized. This
is somehow forbidden but this happening does exist but hopefully not
in Tacloban City Council.
But even if we had very distinct experiences we are all still under
a common a brotherhood which is scouting. We had build a brotherhood
pact not only with scouts but also with our teachers because at least
for five days they are not our teachers but as our older brothers.
Camp Alfred S. Romualdez
How
I wish our mayor would be very supportive in the Tacloban City
Council because there were camp sites that were decorated very well
because somehow, they have a supportive mayor/governor.
Payabungin natin
The
scouting activities taught us things that must be applied through
out our lives and must be passed down through generations.
Imagine a world of peace and unity, if you had a picture in your
mind then that's the world scouting is aiming for - Peace and unity.
Scouting is not all about being a good scout but a scout better than
better which is the best scout.
