Handbook for Boys Welcome to Boy Scouting! You are now joining more than three and a half million other boys and their leaders nationwide enjoying the game of Scouting. Lots of fun awaits you in the various activities of your Patrol and Troop. The skills that you will learn will help you to be of service to your fellowmen and your community. You will meet new friends and acquire wholesome experiences in camping, hiking, observation, swimming, first aid, pioneering, social activities, and social graces. The rules on how to play the game of Scouting are found in this book. You will learn how your Troop and Patrols are organized. You will read about the heart of Scouting which is the most important and enjoyable part – the Advancement Program. To learn its content by heart, you must read this handbook very often. The activities are easy to follow. They will make you enjoy the Scouting trail to citizenship. All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. ACKNOWLEDGMENT In behalf of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, I would like to acknowledge the following dedicated Scouters whose generous cooperation and valuable assistance led to the completion of this handbook: Dr. CRISPIN J. DOMINGO, Chairman of the Boy Scouts Section Writing Team, Member of the Technical and Editorial Committee, for heading the team in refining and editing the whole manuscript; Dr. ROLANDO L. LONTOK, Mr. ROBERTO R. SANTOS, and Mr. CESAR A. CATAPANG, members of the Boy Scout Section Writing Team and BENONI C. TOLERO, Task Group Coordinator – for updating, improving, and finalizing the program, researching, supplementing, writing, collating, and organizing materials for the Handbook For Boys and the Troop Leader's Manual; Former National President JAIME Y. LADAO, the late R. R. DELA CRUZ who has served as Chief National Commissioner for so many years, and J. EDUARDO C. DELGADO for sharing their observations, experiences and ideas during the meetings of the Technical and Editorial Committee as well as those of the Boy Scout Writing Team. Mr. RICARDO L. MORELOS for editing the final copy of this handbook. The following staff members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines for providing the technical experience, art, and secretarial service: Mr. ROGELIO R. VICENCIO, Assistant Secretary General; Mr. ROGELIO S VILLA, Director for Program and Adult Resources Development Division; Mr. CARMELO B. FRANCIA, Program Assistant; Mr. YSIDRO P. CASTILLO IV, Program Assistant; Mr. FREDERICK E. BONIFACIO and Ms. MELCHORA M. CASTILLO, Staff Artist and Photographer; Ms. REBECCA D. BELANDRES; Ms. MA. LUISA B. FABIAN; Ms. NATIVIDAD M. DAAROL and Ms. SOPHIA U. CASTILLO. Former National Office Staff whose expertise and perseverance contributed, in one way or the other, to the final copy of this handbook: Mr. WILFREDO M. LOMANTAS, Mr. MAXIMO G. DE JESUS, Mr. CARLOS DL. FERRER, Mr. ANGEL D. MATIAS, Mr. BENITO C. GUZON, Mr. ROBERTO G. FELIX, Ms. LUZ L. TARAY, Ms. GERALDINE S. GOMEZ, and Ms. SONIA A. CALIXTRO. The Boy Scouts and Scout Leaders who served as models for the photographs included in this handbook. Mabuhay kayong lahat! (Signed) CARLOS C. ESCUDERO Secretary General Boy Scouts of the Philippines FOREWORD This handbook is your constant guide and companion. The rules on how to play the game of Scouting are found in this book. You will learn how your Troop and Patrols are organized. You will read about the heart of Scouting which is the most important and enjoyable part – the Advancement Program. To learn its content by heart, you must read this handbook very often. The activities are easy to follow. They will make you enjoy the Scouting trail to citizenship. Welcome to Boy Scouting! You are now joining more than three and a half million other boys and their leaders nationwide enjoying the game of Scouting. Lots of fun awaits you in the various activities of your Patrol and Troop. The skills that you will learn will help you to be of service to your fellowmen and your community. You will meet new friends and acquire wholesome experiences in camping, hiking, observation, swimming, first aid, pioneering, social activities, and social graces. In the advancement program, your ability, diligence, and sense of commitment will be tested. You will pass the requirements for the following ranks: 2 Your Troop Leader, Assistant Troop Leader, Merit Badge Counselor, as well as the Patrol Leader's Council will assist you in carrying out the requirements. They will help you meet them. You will have a lot of fun doing them. Good luck and Happy Boy Scouting! 3 What Boy Scouting Is Boy Scouting is a program for boys, 10 to 17 years old, who join Scout Troops sponsored by the schools, civic, fraternal, neighborhood, and religious organizations. It is service- and outdoor-centered. This means that the knowledge and skills that you learn are offered in the service of others. Most of these activities are done in the out-of-doors. As a member of a Patrol, you will learn to work with others in a team. It will train you to be a leader. You and your fellow Scouts will plan and carry out your activities under the guidance and help of your Troop Leaders. How To Become A Boy Scout You can be a Boy Scout if you are ten (10) and not more than seventeen (17) years of age. All you have to do is go to a Scout Troop in your school, neighborhood, civic, fraternal, service, or religious organizations. Inform one of the Troop members that you desire to join Boy Scouting. He will be very happy to assist you. The leaders of the Troop will tell you about the entry requirements you have to undertake to become a member. These are not examinations. They are just ways of finding out how well you have prepared to join Scouting. One of the Patrol Leaders will be asked to help you meet these requirements. Inform the Troop Leader when you are ready. Upon completion of the requirements you will be asked to fill up the Application to Become a Boy Scout form. You have to pay a small membership fee which you are expected to earn yourself. Discuss with your parents or guardian how you can earn this fee. You will then be presented your membership certificate in a special investiture ceremony. You will commit yourself to the Scout Oath and Law in the presence of your Patrol, your Troop, and your parents. From then on the Scout Oath and Law shall be your constant guide in your everyday life. 4 CHARACTER BUILDING The Scout Oath ANG PANUNUMPA NG SCOUT Sa ngalan ng aking dangal, ay gagawin ko ang buong makakaya; Upang tumupad sa aking tungkulin, sa Diyos at sa aking Bayan, ang Republika ng Pilipinas at sumunod sa Batas ng Scout; Tumulong sa ibang tao sa lahat ng pagkakataon; Pamalagiing malakas ang aking katawan, gising ang isipan at marangal ang asal. THE SCOUT OATH On my honor, I will do my best; To do my duty to God and my country, the Republic of the Philippines, and to obey the Scout Law, To help other people at all times, To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. The moment you take this Oath for the first time, you start a new life. That is why you must know and understand it thoroughly. It will be difficult at first to live the Scouting way of life. There are many temptations and difficulties in life to overcome. But if you will always do your best to live by the Scout Oath, you will become a true Scout in the end. The Scout Oath Explained On My Honor Your honor is a very precious and sacred possession. It concerns your good name and how your fellowmen look upon you as a person. A person without a sense of honor cannot be respected. When, on your honor, you commit yourself to the Scout Oath and pledge to live by its ideals, you are making a promise that you should keep to the best of your ability. I Will Do My Best In everything you do, you should always do your best. To do your best is your personal promise. Always try to live up to your promise and people will respect you for it. 5 The Scout Oath enumerates three outstanding duties of every Scout. They are: a) Duty to God and Country; b) Duty to Others; and c) Duty to Self. If only all people know these three outstanding duties and practice them, we would solve many national and international problems which now confront our elders. If we expect to enjoy the game of Scouting, everyone must do his part and do it well. Duty to God We who belong to the Scouting Movement recognize God as the Great Master. No matter in what manner we worship Him, we are one in our faith and belief that He is our Supreme Master. In Scouting, you will enjoy the adventure of the out-of-doors, in thick forests, beside the streams and lakes, far away from the noise of the town and city. Every now and then, during these eventful outings, there will creep into your mind a certain feeling which will make you take off your hat if you have it on and bow your head in reverence; or lift it toward heaven, while resolving to do good in token of gratitude to Him who provides you everything you need on earth. In campfire programs and in meetings, you will note that the first words the Campfire Chief utters are dedicated to the Great Spirit who rules over us, over our Scouts, and over the entire universe.