IBA, Zambales — Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. publicly recognized over the weekend all those who contributed to the successful hosting of the 33rd Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree (APRSJ) hosted in this province on Dec. 14 to 21.
Ebdane said the cohesive performance by various Zambales government units, along with the assistance of local officials, government agencies, and volunteer groups, has made the weeklong international scouting event a huge success.
He specifically mentioned Zambales 2nd District Rep. Bing Maniquiz who served as deputy camp chief for administration, Vice Gov. Jaq Khonghun and members of the sanguniang panlalawigan, the 13 municipal LGUs, Boy Scouts of the Philippines Zambales Chapter, DepEd-Region 3 coordinators, and Zambales PNP, the 71st Division and 69th Infantry Battalion of the AFP, Philippine Coast Guard-Zambales, Bureau of Fire Protection, Zambales Provincial Engineering Office, DPWH 1st District Engineering Office, Zambales PDRRMO, provincial health office, DOH medics teams, Philippine National Red Cross, and officials and volunteers of Barangay San Juan, the host barangay.
“We have proven once again the inherent character of Zambaleños to perform and make possible seemingly impossible odds placed on our shoulders,” said Ebdane who was also camp chief of the 33rd APRSJ. “We have done it again with flying colors. We will always remember this opportune time and event in history that happened in our province of Zambales.”
More than 23,800 delegates, including 441 international scouts from 20 countries across the Asia-Pacific joined the 33rd APRSJ last week in what was described as the biggest scouts gathering in the region so far.
The delegates came from Kuwait, Bangladesh, United States, Korea, Taiwan, Maldives, Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mongolia, Thailand, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Timor Leste, and the Philippines.
Ebdane recalled that Zambales accepted the responsibility of hosting this year’s APRSJ “at the risk of national embarrassment” because of short notice, unexpected schedule, and lack of programmed budget.
He said the provincial government barely had 13 weeks to prepare the 62-hectare campsite near the Bucao lahar field in Botolan town.
The provincial government spent some P70 million to develop the camp, Ebdane added, pointing out though that some P50 million worth of infrastructure built therein could be recovered and re-used for future construction projects.
“Hosting this kind International event for the first time was such a big pressure for us, but we prevailed,” he added.
Scout leader David Robert Baden-Powell, a great-grandson of the Scouting movement’s founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell, attested to the well-organized camp in Zambales in a recent social media post.
“This jamboree was one of the best that I have been to. A beautiful site. Chilled adults. Chilled youth. People from all around the Asia Pacific region. Great activities. Food. More food. Even more food. But most importantly… heaps of new friends!” Baden-Powell wrote.
In a press conference last Sunday, foreign scout masters also praised the Zambales government for the camp’s safety, security, location, facilities, as well the hospitality of local officials and residents.
As jamboree chief, Ebdane turned over the APRSJ flag to the head of the Thailand scouts delegation at the camp closing ceremonies last Saturday.
Thailand will host the next Asia-Pacific regional jamboree in 2029 at the Bajiravudh Scout Camp in Chon Buri province, some 80 km southeast of Bangkok.
Taktikom News & Features
