MESSAGE“The 26th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Confer-ence is a great oppor-tunity for us all to take a look at how we have grown and performed as a region over the last triennium. It also

allows us to review the challenges we have faced and continue to face and turn them into innovative opportunities. The next few days will be very exciting and I am looking forward for a very productive and wonderful conference!”

PAUL D. PARKINSON, OAMChairmanAsia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee

ContentsMeet “Mabuhay,” the official Mascot of the Conference

7

The Conference begins!MESSAGE

My warmest greetings to the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) as it hosts the 26th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Conference.

Over the years, the BSP has shown an in-spiring commitment to help the youth develop

positive values and acquire competen-cies to become responsible citizens and capable leaders.

It has been six decades since the Philippines hosted an event of this scale for the scouting community – the First Far East Scout Conference was held in Baguio City in 1958. May all the partici-pants take this opportunity to contribute workable solutions to the challenges that the global Scout movement faces in this time of rapid modernization.

I hope that your discussions dur-ing the conference will include insights and initiatives to enhance the quality of education, alleviate poverty, improve dis-aster response and protect the environ-ment among others.

The administration is hopeful that you will remain our steadfast partners as we strive to provide a better and brighter future for our people.

I wish you a successful event.

RODRIGO ROA DUTERTEPresidentRepublic of the PhilippinesChief ScoutBoy Scouts of the Philippines

WELCOME TO THE 26th APRSCWith more than 600 participants from all over, the record-setting 26th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Conference begins. “History will be proud,” says World Scout Bureau, Asia-Pacific Regional Director J. Rizal C. Pangilinan, who also mentions that this gath-ering “will mark another milestone in the history of Scouting in the Asia-Pacific.” This year’s conference broke new records as the biggest in attendance in two ancillary events, the Course for Leaders Trainers and the Youth Forum, which took place days before the actual conference. With every NSO in the Asia-Pacific present and with all the programs ready, let the conference begin. Happy Scouting!

We Salute!2

At a glance4Leader Trainers set foot on Mt. Makiling for CLT3

YOUNG ADULT LEADERS, the future of Scouting in the Asia-Pacific Region.

UNLAD ISSUE NO.1 15 OCTOBER 2018 2

Editorial

As we open today the 26th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Conference, it is

but proper to extend greetings to our brothers and sisters from other nations of the region. We salute!

We take a bow to our fel-low members whose countries were devastated by the recent calamities that caused massive destructions on human lives and properties. Their hearts may still be bleeding and are in pain, but, they opted to attend this Conference in the spirit of brotherhood and commitment.

This Conference is a unique gesture of co-operation and mutual understanding among nations as this will create impact on the Scouting Movement in the region. No one will be left behind, everybody will benefit from what this Conference will achieve in the end. Each Na-tional Scout Organization in the Asia-Pacific Region has its own story to tell and experience to share that could inspire others to become better.

We salute!“Cultural interaction can go a long way to-wards understanding. Understanding can lead to peace and peace paves the way to human happiness which we all hope to achieve”

Let this Con-ference remind us that we all belong to the same organisa-tion where we can reach out to one anoth-er for mutual cooperation. After all, we are here not just for ourselves or the countries that we repre-sent, but also for the younger gen-eration whom shall carry the legacy we will leave behind.

Here, we break the barriers of colour and creed, we embrace cultural diversity as we all belong to one Earth, our home.

It is fun to interact with people of diverse cultures from different places. Cultural inter-action goes a long way towards understanding. Understanding can lead to peace and peace

EDITORIAL BOARD

paves the way to hu-man happiness which we all hope to achieve.

Happy Scouting, let the conference begin!

Nixon A. CanlapanJanice Q. Cartago Samuel O. Salter Luz Taray Kenny Ralph S. Fernando Theresa Quine Neil Christopher BolandrinaAdvisors Kim Robert C. De Leon Editor-in-Chief Kalikasan U. CastilloManaging Editor

Berthold Berty SinaulanChooi Yew TzenContributing Editors

UNLAD, the official publication of the 26th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Conference, is published by the Public Relations and Communications Office of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, in partnership with the World Scout Bureau Asia-Pacific Support Centre.

Gil Alcira III Chief Photographer

Lorwin B. Sayco Chief Videographer

Frederick D. Cantos Production/Circulation Manager

Adrian Uy Yung ChengIsaias Florante Fermin IIIEfren GuinobanJun S. FlorendoJohn Chester C. MacatangayWind Love P. CucalMedel B. AngaraLimuel U. RosalesJiame Karlo M. Conception

Gilberta D.C. AviadoChrechelle C. San JuanCeleste CananuaJohannes HongJon Mikael B. Alea Media Relations/Desk Assistant

Aaron Bryan A. LopezDigital Content Manager

ReportersJade M. SevillaJessie B. AlagaoProduction/Circulation Staff

Karl Lyel LimMa. Virlyn S. AgoncilloCalista Anneliesse BlancasGraphic Artists

Mark Joshua MarquezJanine Maye AntonioPhotographers/ Videographers

by Cala Blancas

3UNLAD ISSUE NO.1 15 OCTOBER 2018

News

by Isaias Florante III V. Fermin

Assistant Leader Trainers across the Asia- Pacific Region gath-ered at the Philippine Scouting

Centre at Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna, for the Asia-Pacific Regional Course for Leader Trainers (APR-CLT), from 6 to 12 October.

A total of 56 Scout Leaders from 21 NSOs participated in the CLT, the highest training program for aspiring leader trainers. The CLT also serves as an avenue for NSOs in the APR to share experiences and best practices on advanced training methods to develop new and innovative techniques for a more efficient leader training.

“This course does not only provide leader trainers an opportunity to attend the Conference but also to strengthen the capacity of their respective NSOs,” says J. Rizal C. Pangilinan, Regional Di-rector of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)-Asia Pacific Region. He added: “as we create part-nerships with different NSOs, we raise the quality of training in the APR.”

Course participants of the APR-CLT 2018 manifested their desires to learn new training methods by accepting the challenge at the wood badge yoke. “All of you will be asked to enter the yoke, it means you need to leave everything behind,” said Dr. Leonides T. Son, National Training Commissioner BSP and the Course Leader of the APR-CLT 2018.

For the first time since their WOSM membership, The Scout Association of Macau and Uniao Nacional los Escutei-ros de Timor-Leste sent participants to the APR-CLT. Apart from this regional accomplishment, it is also a first for an APR-CLT to have participating and ob-serving NSOs from other Scout regions.

The APR-CLT on Mt. Makiling will never be complete without the tour around the camp, which also served as venue of other significant internation-al Scouting events including the 10th World Scout Jamboree in 1959 and the 1st, 12th and 26th APR Scout Jambo-rees in 1973, 1991 and 2009, respec-tively.

Would-be Leader Trainers set foot on Mt. Makiling

DialogueFor Peaceby Gil Alcira III & Kalikasan Castillo

Right at the center of trade,

culture and governance in Manila, the Dialogue for Peace (DFP) Awareness Workshop was convened at the BSP Office on 6 to 7 October 2018 with 38 participating youth from 19 Na-tional Scout Organisations (NSOs).

The DFP serves as a platform for Scouts from all over the world to build bridges that will link the diverse circumstances in society to promote intercultural and interreligious un-derstanding. Supported by the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Inter-cultural Dialogue (KAICIID), the DFP aims to strengthen the value system in Scouting and offer a path to interested Scouts to become “dialogical” Scouts or Ambassadors by introducing the 10 principles of dialogue among Scouts.

A dialogue is an exchange of ideas, knowledge and opinions where parties are not forced to absolutely agree with one another. Rather, it helps in un-derstanding and fully recognising the different sides of certain matters, one of the participants said.

“The Dialogue makes us learn about the diversity and richness of different cultures so that we can avoid conflicts and enrich our understand-ing with one another,” said Kateri-na Khareyn, Program Manager and Scouts and Youth Team Leader of the International Networking Programmes Department of KAICIID, as she hopes that the DFPs be conducted not only in the Asia-Pacific Region but throughout the world.

K. Khareyn

HONOURING THE BEADS: Sharing ideas, gaining knowledge, enhancing wisdom, the challenge of the Yoke comes to life.

© Mark Joshua M. Marquez

UNLAD ISSUE NO.1 15 OCTOBER 2018 4

At a glance

TIME TO SHINE“Today, is your moment, this is your time to shine; you have every opportunity to bring to the attention of adult leaders, like us, your aspira-tions and your dreams so they could be part of one big effort to make Scouting a way to a new life.” – BSP National Program Commissioner Jose Eduardo C. Delgado

Youth Forum

Tagaytay International Convention Center9-12 October 2018

5UNLAD ISSUE NO.1 15 OCTOBER 2018

THE TIE THAT BINDSBounded by the will to serve, linked by the beads to commit, Leader Trainers take the challenge of the Wood Badge Yoke to strengthen their resolve to be part of the elite training team that will carry the legacy of Scouting forefather, Lord Baden-Powell.

CLTCourse for Leader Trainers

Makiling National Scout Reservation, Los Baños, Laguna6-12 October 2018

News

UNLAD ISSUE NO.1 15 OCTOBER 2018 6

By Jun S. Florendo

The 9th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Youth Forum held from 9 to 12 October in Tagaytay City

was a tremendous success. The forum, attended by 125 young adult delegates and observers from 27 NSOs broke the record as the biggest in attendance in the history of the youth gathering.

A 1997 Outstanding Boy Scout of the Philippines and now a Philippine lawmaker Scott Davie S. Lanate served as keynote speaker.

The election of the Young Adult Members Group (YAMG) who will serve for three years was one of the highlights of the event. Lim Wei-Yung of Singapore Scout Association was elected to represent the YAMG to the

Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee. Also elected to serve in five sub-com-mittees are Chow Yik-Man Edwin of the Scout Association of Hong Kong for Programme; Kumar Ritesh Agarwal of the Bharat Scouts and Guides for Adult Support; Hassan Mohamed of the Scout Association of Maldives for Governance; Ruan, Chun-Lin Daniel of the General Association of the Scouts of China for Financial Resources; and Muhammad Naufa Bin Othman of the Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia for Communications and Partnership.

The four-day youth forum conclud-ed with the adoption of recommenda-tions which revolve around the main topics for discussion, namely, Youth Engagement, Impacts of Scouting and Sustainable Development Goals.

BSP National President Wendel E. Avisado, who spoke at the closing ceremony, encouraged young people to “speak out and be heard, the ‘Scouting way’ in their quest for a “much better and peaceful world.” For his part, APR Scout Committee Chairperson Paul D. Parkinson left five important words that all participating Scouts should reflect and act upon return to their respective countries: “Engagement, Involvement, Dedication, Commitment and Enthusiasm.”

YF delegates elect new YAMG members

We want to hear from you:Share your ideas. Tell us what

you feel. Let us know you are here. Send your articles to our desks. Look for: Editor-in-Chief Kim Robert C. De Leon or Managing Editor Kalikasan U. Castillo.

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG: the winners of the APR Young Adult Members Group Youth stand side by side to express support for each other.

7UNLAD ISSUE NO.1 15 OCTOBER 2018

FeatureMeet our mascot ‘Mabuhay’“Mabuhay!” which means “Long Live!,” is the name of the official mascot of the Conference. It is inspired by one of the rarest and most powerful birds in the world – the great Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), Also known as the Monkey-eating eagle. Mabuhay is the first offspring of Kalinawan and Pag-asa (Hope), the first ever Philippine Eagle bred and hatched in captivity. When a Filipino greets you “Mabuhay!” it means you are welcome.

The mascot symbolises the country’s efforts to save

one of the vanishing species from total extinction. It is the largest of all eagles and stands up to more than one metre (3.3 feet) in height and a wingspan of two metres (7 feet). While considered as powerful raptors, they are defense-less from poachers and other elements caused by illegal logging, deforestation and other man-made environmental hazards. There may only be around 180-500 eagles roaming in the countryside. Killing this bird is punishable by law

with a heavy fine and 12 years in prison.

Our Logo

The official logo of the Conference symbolises the core

spirit of Filipino culture --the “Bayanihan” -- a Filipino word which means mutual assistance or spirit of civic unity and cooperation to achieve a particular goal. In the olden days, Filipinos would gather all men in the neighborhood to help carry nipa houses from one place to another. The logo significantly illustrates the native house with the rising sun at the background. The portion of the rising sun is lifted from the Philippine flag symbolizing the aspirations of the Katipuneros or the Filipinos who fought for independence during the war. It also means sovereign-ty, solidarity, understanding and hope for a better future.

The logo honors the 26th Asia-Pa-cific Scout Regional Conference as instrument of unity that binds all the Scouting Movements not just of the Asia Pacific but also of the world. The men and women in Scouting could be seen carrying the house bearing the logo of the Asia-Pacific Region which means that NSOs in the Asia and the Pacific are working together to achieve common goals in serving the young people in the region while preparing them to the task of nation-building and international understanding.

PICC: Home of the Conference

As we open the Conference, we take pride in sharing historical tidbits about the conference venue – the Philippine International Convention Centre (PICC) – and what awaits anyone who may want to go around the Cultural Centre of

the Philippines (CCP) Complex, an 88-hectare property reclaimed from the waters of Manila Bay.

The PICC is the first international convention centre ever built in Asia. It was designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin. It debuted as venue of the International Monetary Fund Annual Meeting in September 1976. Soon, other international events were held at the PICC including the World Chess Olympiad and the Miss Universe pageant in 1994, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting in 1996, the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2015 and the 30th Associ-ation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in 2017.

Owned by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the PICC used to host several gov-ernment instrumentalities like the Batasang Pambansa (National Congress) from 1976 to 1978, Office of the Philippine Vice President and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

The land where the PICC stands is part of the CCP Complex. The entire com-plex hosts a mixture of art, entertainment and commercial establishments. Other structures found within the area are: Tanghalang Pambansa (National Theatre); Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas (Folk Arts Theatre); Manila Film Centre; The Coconut Palace;The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Philippine Senate.

Mabuhay also represents Scouting in the Asia-Pacific: strong, resilient and always ready to face challenges that will come its way. One thing is for sure, it will not go extinct.

Scouting, as a potent vehicle for social transformation, is called upon to preserve and protect the environment.

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG: the winners of the APR Young Adult Members Group Youth stand side by side to express support for each other.

by Chooi Yew Tzen

Seven candidates are vying for five spots on the 10-man team of the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Committee.

They will be introduced to the Conference dele-gates later today. NSOs, with maximum of six votes each, will elect five of them by secret balloting as regular RSC members to serve for a six-year term from 2018 to 2024.

The candidates this year are from diverse fields. There are three entrepreneurs, a medical doctor, a professor, an engineer, an accountant, and a retired public servant.

The 11-page election briefer, released by World Scout Bureau Asia-Pacific Support Centre in May this year, named the candidates as Dr. SomboonBunyasiri, 76 (National Scout Organization of Thailand); Dr. Lee Bok Yie, 67 (Korea Scout Association); Hiroshi Shimada, 65 (Scout Association of Ja-pan); Dr. Mohd Zin Bin Bidin, 64 (Persekutuan Pengakap Ma-laysia); Dale B. Corvera, 63 (Boy Scouts of the Philippines); Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Khan, 63 (Bangladesh Scouts); and Elston Colin Hynd, 60 (The Scout Association of Australia).

By Kim Robert C. de Leon

At the sidelines of the Conference, the ASEAN Scout Association for Regional Co-operation (ASARC), con-vened its fifth conference at the BSP National Office on

13 October 2018, with all its 10 member-NSOs attending. Presided by its outgoing Chairperson, BSP National

President Wendel E. Avisado, ASARC members discussed its accomplishments for the past year, including the 6th ASEAN Scouts Jamboree hosted by the BSP in Tagum City, as well as its ways forward as it strives to become more relevant to ASEAN community.

At the Conference, the leadership of the ASARC was formally turnedover to Antong Shahrudin, Chief Commissioner of the Singapore Scouts Association, with the National Scout Organization of Thailand assuming the post as first vice-chair-person.

MORNING EVENTS0915H Keynote Address on the theme “Growth and Stability”0945H Report of the Regional Chairman 1000H Triennial Report of Regional Director 1015H Report of the Regional Treasurer1100H Address by the WOSM Secretary General1115H Address by the World Scout Committee Chairperson1130H Report of the President of the APR Scout Foundation1145H Report on the 9th APR Scout Youth Forum1155H Report on APR Course for Leader Trainers1215H Election of APRSC Members

AFTERNOON SESSIONS1400H Input Sessions on Good Governance, Growth & WOSM fee 1500H WOSM Triennial Plan 2017-20201530H WOSM Service Model1600H Announcement of newly-elected APRSC members

EVENING GATHERINGS1730H International Commissioners Gathering

Palaver Chief Commissioners Meeting Communications Network Meeting

1900H APR Foundation Fellowship

7 top leaders vie for RSC spots

WE SUPPORT: ASARC leaders meet to seal the bond of friendship for mutual support and undestanding

Singapore assumes ASARC leadership© Gil M. Alcira III

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: 16 OCTOBER 2018, TUESDAY

“I enjoin all ASARC members to continue to work together as we align our programs to the priorities of the ASEAN consist-ent with our commitments to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” said the incoming ASARC Chair.