ASEAN scout jamboree opens in Ligao

1st ASEAN JAMBOREE ALBAY. 3rd District Congressman Fernando V. Gonzalez officially declares the 1st ASEAN Neighborhood Invitational Jamboree open at campsite in Kawa-Kawa, California Village, Tuburan, Ligao City.

LIGAO CITY --- Some 5,000 Boy Scouts and scouters, including 493 participants from the visiting contingents and 4,334 from the host Mayon (Albay) Council, are attending the first ASEAN Neighborhood Invitational Jamboree being held from Jan. 16 to 22, 2011 at Kawa Kawa Nature Park at Brgy. Tuburan here. 

Although it is billed as an international jamboree, no foreign contingent was present at the opening ceremonies held in the afternoon of Jan. 17 because reportedly of cancellation of flights due to bad weather. 

The visiting Boy Scout contingents had come from Camarines Norte, 36; Catanduanes, 56; Iriga City, 32; Iloilo, 13; Laguna 33; Northeastern Pangasinan, 6; Rizal, 19; Sorsogon 41; and Batangas, 18. 

All the municipalities and three cities of Albay have sent participants.

 Ligao City Mayor Linda P. Gonzalez delivered the welcome message. “I welcome you all in behalf of the City Council headed by Vice Mayor Patty Alsua, and the people of Ligao City to this very significant event,” the lady mayor said.

Other officials present included Rodolfo Pangilinan, regional director of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines for Southern Tagalog and the Bicol region; Cong. Fernando V. Gonzalez (3rd district of Albay), Mayon Council chairman, Vice Gov. Harold Imperial who represented Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda, Board Members Ramon Alsua and Ireneo Sales, division superintendents and BSP officials. 

 In his message, Vice Gov. Harold Imperial congratulated Congressman Gonzalez for initiating this First ASEAN Neighborhood Invitational Jamboree, participants and delegates for braving the inclement weather prevailing in Albay.

        “Your presence here is a great resolve that you are committed to a great cause in the scouting movement. 

 “Like the Boy Scouts, the province of Albay is always prepared for any disaster or calamity. We always put a premium on preemptive mandatory evacuation in times of calamities to ensure zero casualty,” the Vice Governor said. 

President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III sent a message which was read by Cong. Gonzalez. 

“It is our country’s honor to be the venue of this gathering aimed at fostering camaraderie and nurturing the leadership skills of our country’s youth. 

 “Rest assured that our administration will continue supporting undertakings like this jamboree,” Aquino said. 

 Scout executive Bienvenido Canlapan of the Mayon Council introduced two Boy Scouts from the island town of Rapu-Rapu who braved the stormy sea just to be able to attend the Jamboree. 

The two Boy Scouts- A.B. Durano and Walden Abuela- were cited by the Boy Scouts Bureau of the Asia Pacific Region for their honor and dedication to the cause of scouting. 

 Each of them received a plaque of recognition and P 1,000 from Cong. Gonzalez.