ROVER SCOUTING IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Rover Program was first introduced in the Philippines in 1934.
In 1939, the first National Rover Moot was held in Fort San Antonio Abad, Manila.
However, the Second World War from 1941-1944 disrupted Rover Scouting but the
Boy Scout Emergency Service Corps were formed and activated.
Scouts without uniforms also served as messengers of prisoners of war and the
underground. Blas Ople, who was Labor Secretary in 1960 to the early 1980’s,
Senator, and Foreign Affairs Secretary was among those who registered after the war
as Rover Scout of Circle 3, in Hagonoy, Bulacan.
Scouters and Scouts rendered services in various capacities throughout the country.
Among the was Godofredo P. Neric who later joined the professional Scouter ranks
and later became the National Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines
until his retirement in 1974. He also worked in the BSP from 1947-1950 as Editorial
Assistant of the Press Relations Office.
The following important events show how Rover Scouting came to the Philippines, its
development, character and the support given to the Program.
The first National Rover Moot after the liberation was held in Baguio City on May 7-11,
1948 with 269 Rover Scouts and Scout Observers in attendance.
In 1957, seven Scouts and fourteen Scouters represented the Philippines in the
Golden Jubilee World Jamboree, Leaders’ Indaba, and Rover Moot (J.I.M.) held on
August 1-12 at Sutton Park, Warwickshire, England.
The 6th National Rover Moot was held in Pasonanca Park, Zamboanga City on April 24-
30, 1960 while the 2nd National Jamboree was held from May 2-8 in the same park in
1961. This record shows that more Rover Moots were held than Boy Scout
Jamborees. The same year saw the launching of the Revitalized Rover Scouting
Program on St. George’s Day on April 23rd.
• The BSP was also represented in the 7th World Rover Moot held at Clifford
Park, Victoria, Australia from December 27, 1961 to January 7, 1962. In 1962, an Award
for Outstanding Heroism of the Year was conferred upon Rover Scout Eleuterio
Reynoso of Cotabato. With the assistance of then Far East Office, World Scout
Bureau Field Commissioner Abdul Kader b.t. Kechik, the first Rover Wood Badge
Course was conducted at Makiling in 1964 from June 9-15 with 27 volunteer and
professional Scouters made the Rover Scouting Program more attractive and
appealing to the youth and other adult leaders.
• With declaration of 1965 as Rover Moot Year in World Scouting, the BSP held its
7th National Rover Moot from December 18-23 at Makiling. It was attended by some
250 Rover Scouts from all over the country. On February 1972, the National
Executive Board approved the Auxiliary Program for Rover Scouting, otherwise
known as the Roverette Program, which aims to develop fellowship and offer
service programs for women who are at least 17 years of age.
• The popularity and development of Rover Scouting, however, took a standstill
with Presidential Decree 460, which changed the democratic character of the Boy
Scouts of the Philippines and finally dropping the Rover Program in 1975 because it
was attracting more adults than youths. Dramatic political changes in the national
leadership in 1986 saw the informal return of Rover Scouting. It was during the
National Scout Executives Conference of November 16-17, 1989 that a resolution was
passed calling for the revival of Rover Scouting in the country. By 1990, sixty-one
Rover Circles were registered with 1,255 Rovers and 166 Rover Leaders. A draft
program guide was presented in November 1991 by members of the Program and
Training Development Committee during the 34th Annual National Scout Executives
Conference held in Mt. Makiling.
• Finally, a Rover Scouting Program Guidebook was published in 1992 formally
signaling the implementation of a program, which is essentially co-educational; to
provide opportunity to Scouts who have reached the age of 17 ½ to continue in
Scouting. The program also allows young men aged 17 to 23 to become Rovers and
young women aged 18 to 24 to become Roverettes with the option for both to join the
Rover Peers Division upon reaching the age of twenty three.
• The National Rover Moot of 1997, which was held in Catarman, Northern Samar,
revealed the need to revitalize the program to meet the aspirations of today’s youth
and prompted the Program and Adult Resources Development Division to form a
Rover Review Task Group.
• A study of the membership of Rover Scouts shows the acceptance of the Rover
Scouting Program. In 1994, at least 206 Rover Circles were registered with 5,927
Rover Scouts. It increased to 710 Circles and 20,310 Rovers in 1998. by 2003, the
number of Rover Circles decreased to 620 with 19,439 Rover Scouts, 1,341 Circle
Executive decreased to 620 with 19,439, 1,341 Circle Executive Committee members
and 1,538 Rover Peers.
Fundamentals of Rover Scouting
• The Purpose of Scouting
• All over the world members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
are united by a common, actice commitment to Scouting’s purpose which is to help
young people to develop their full physical, intellectual, emotional, social and
spiritual capacities as individuals and as members of society, and thus contribute to
the development of a better world.
• The purpose of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines is to promote through
organization and cooperation with other agencies, the ability of young people to do
useful things for themselves and others, to train them in scoutcraft, and to inculcate
in them patriotism, civic consciousness and responsibility, courage, self-reliance,
discipline and kindred virtues, and moral values, using the methods which are in
common use by Scouts.
Objectives of Rover Scouting
The following educational objectives were prepared for this particular age section,
established according to the knowledge, skills and attitudes that a young person
could reasonably be expected to have gained in the various areas of development
by the end of that age section.
• 1. Contribute to the education of young adults in a non-formal way
through a value system based on the Scout Oath and Law.
• 2. Contribute to the moral and spiritual uplift of young adults while
respecting their religious convictions.
• 3. Assist young adults in developing decision-making skills and
accountability.
• 4. Provide a specific method by which young adults may become self-
reliant.
• 5. Prepare young adults for wevice during emergencies.
• 6. Provide young adults opportunities to develop physical fitness.
• 7. Prepare young adults for leadership in the Boy Scouts of the
Philippines.
• 8. Train young adults in skills for socio-economic development.
• 9. Prepare young adults for responsible citizenship.
• 10. Provide opportunities for active leadership and participation in
community projects that will promote environmental development and healthful
living.
• 11. Promote desirable Filipino customs and traditions.
• 12. Provide young adults opportunities to develop awareness of family
responsibilities.
• 13. Cooperate with kindred youth groups and other agencies in
worthwhile undertakings.
• 14. Promote international relations as a means to understanding, peace
and brotherhood.
Principles and Policies of Scouting and of Rover Scouting
All Scouts must know and subscribe to the Scout Oath and Law, as follows:
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 SCOUT LAW
• Trustworthy Obedient
• Loyal Cheerful
• Helpful Thrifty
• Friendly Brave
• Courteous Clean
• Kind Reverent
1. The BSP recognizes the existence of God. It, therefore, maintains that no
individual can grow to his fullest potentials without recognizing his obligations to
God, but, having a non-sectarian approach to training and to programs, it reserves
the religious development of its members to the religious organization or institution
with which they are affiliated.
2. Membership in the BSP is open to all boys, young people and adults who meet
the membership requirements.
3. No person shall be approved as a leader unless, in the jusdgment of the
governing body of the BSP, he possesses the moral and educational qualities and
emotional maturity deemed necessary for leadership and satisfies such other
leadership qualifications it may from time to time require.
4. The BSP shall not, through its governing body or any of its members, involve
the Scout Movement in any activity of a partisan political character.
The Scout Method: Its Elements
The Scout Method is a system of prograssive self-education. It is intended to help
each young person to use and develop his or her capacities and interests, building
on what has already been gained; to find constructive ways of meeting needs at
different stages of development at the young person’s own pace.:
a. The Scout Law and Promise – It is a code of living based on Scouting’s
principles; and a pledge that every young pperson makes before a group of peers
when he or she chooses to join the Movement; where he or she acknowledges
familiarity with the Scout Lae and makes a personal commitment to do his/her best to
live according to this code of living.
b. Learning by Doing – It means developing as a result of first-hand experience –
which, after all is a very effective teacher – refelecting Scouting’s active approach to
education. It applies to the way in which young people gain knowledge, skills and
attitude ineach of the areas of development.
c. Team (Patrol) System – Capitalizing on young people’s natural tendency to form
groups of roughly the same age, he team system makes use of this tendency in order
to provide an environment in which young people enjoy being and in order to
channel the substantial influence that peers have on each other in constructive
direction.
d. Symbolic Framework – In Scouting, a symbolic framework is a set of elements,
which represent concepts, which Scouting seeks to promote. A symbol could be
described as something familiar, which represents something more vast and
abstract. (e.g. an idea or concept). The design of the Scout badge for example,
represents the significance of the three colors of our national flag, the three duties
which a Scout pledges to do his best to perform and the good turn he promises to do
daily.
e. Nature – As an element of the Scout Method, refers to the immense
possibilities that the natural world offers for the development of the young person.
f. Personal Progression – The progressive scheme or advancement is based on a
set of educational objectives prepared by the BSP for the Rover age section and
they were established according to the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that a young
person could reasonably be expected to have gained in the various areas of
development.
g. Adult Support – It is intended to stimulate the young person’s development
through bringing adults and young people together in a rich learning partnership,
where each is personally commtted, dedicates time and energy and participates in
the sharing of responsibilities, based on mutual respect, trust and acceptance of
each other as a person.
Ideals of Scouting and Rover Scouting
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.
We are all familiar with these 45 words. We have said them often on different
occasions and in many places. Even when we have not realized it, the spirit behind
these simple has influenced our thoughts and actions in numerous ways.
ON MY HONOR
– Your honor must be a sacred thing to you, a thing that will rule your conduct as a
man. A person’s honor is a reflection of what he really is – deep inside his heart,
mind and soul. It influences his life and the way he lives it. It shows in his beliefs,
words and deeds. As a man of honor, it means that you can be trusted implicitly to
do what is right or what you agree to undertake. This particular promise is a solemn
undertaking, not be made lightly even by a boy, still less so by a man. Therefore,
think it over carefully before embarking it.
I WILL DO MY BEST – One’s best is limited only what a person is able to do with the
talents God has given him. We know that everyone cannot hope to be an “all-star.”
But anyone can become a champion unto himself – if he tries hard in his work, his
play and his religious life. This means that though circumstances may hinder him
from doing it as completely as he would wish, he would at any rate, try his utmost.
TO DO MY DUTY TO GOD – What is your duty to God? To put it briefly, it would seem
to be to try, in the first place, to realize the nature of God, and secondly, to develop
and use, for good purposes only, the body which He entrusted to you to develop the
talents of mind and intelligence with which He has endowed you and, especially, to
cultivate by continual practice the spirit of love and goodwill to others, the part of
Him which is within, that, your soul.
It is a serious, life-long obligation. We are bound by our faith to obey the laws of
God and his church.
AND MY COUNTRY, THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES –
We are bound by our duties and obligations as citizens to obey the laws of the land
and to support our nation under the leadership constituted by the will of the majority.
AND TO OBEY THE SCOUT LAW –
Your faithful observances of the Scout Law is a step towards your development as a
law-abiding citizen of our land. To obey the Scout Law does not mean to sit down
passively in a state of goodness, but to improve your own character and actively to
practice Love (which underlies the law) in all your daily activities.
It is an agreement required of us as members of this famous youth organization.
TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES – It can be more than a pledge to do good
deeds daily. It can be a promise to put into constant and active practice the divine
law of loving your neighbor as yourself our of our love of God. This means that we
expect no reward or recognition for what we do, and that we offer up our foof works
for the right intention.
TO KEEP MYSELF PHYSICALLY STRONG – Being physically strong will make you a
more useful citizen prepared for service to humanity.
MENTALLY AWAKE – Alertness of mind will spell the difference between a Rover and
an ordinary person. You will be more sensitive to the issues that affect you as a
Filipino thus making you aware of what you can contribute towards nation-building.
AND MORALLY STRAIGHT – This is the foundation of all human beings. Without the
moral uprightness expected of a true Rover, everything you do will come to naught.
Our Creator requires us to keep our body healthy, minds alert, and hearts pure. Our
religion demands that we remain MORALLY STRAIGHT by leading a good life as our
Creator and our church leaders have outlined it.
“What doth it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet suffers the loss of his own
soul?” thus, we see that the forty-five words of the Scout Oath express the basic
rules of Scouting and some fundamental requirements for better living. We should,
therefore, always regard this pronise seriously and thoughtfully. If we do, we shall
be rewarded for our efforts by becoming both better Rovers and better children of
God.
THE SCOUT LAW
• A Scout Is…
• Trustworthy Obedient
• Loyal Cheerful
• Helpful Thrifty
• Friendly Brave
• Courteous Clean
• Kind Reverent
The term “ROVER” stands for a true man and a good citizen. The Law for the
ROVERS is the same as for the Scouts, in wording and principle, but has to be viewed
from a new perspective – that is, form that of a man. In both cases, the principle
underlying the Scout Law gives preference to goodwill and helpfulness to others
than one’s self. Do not take this as an instruction in piety, but as a direction to
manliness.
A Scout is TRUSTWORTHY (Mapagkatiwalaan)
“The Truth and nothing but the truth for the ROVER.”
As a ROVER, no temptation, however, great or however secret, will persuage you to
do a dishonest or a shady action, however small. Once you make a promise, you
must fulfill it.
“A ROVER’S word is as good as his bond.”
A Trustworthy person is honest and dependable.
Other people believe in him because he keeps his wod and does his duty. He can
be counted on to accept responsibilities. Even though a trustworthy person
sometimes makes mistakes, people realize that to err is human and they keep their
faith in him. If we wish to be trustworthy, but feel afraid because of our human
failings, we should turn to God for encouragement.
A Scout is LOYAL (Matapat)
As a good citizen you are one of a team “playing the game” honestly for the good of
the group. You can be relied upon by our government, by the Scout Movement, by
your friends and fellow-workers, by your employers or employees, to do your best for
them-even though they may not always quite come up to what you would expect of
them.
You are also loyal to yourself; you won’t lower your self-respect by playing the game
meanly; nor will you let another neither man nor woman down.
Loyalty grows out of faith and love. It shows itself through a deep belief in ideals,
dedication to duty, and service to others. Thus, a Rover is devoted to the aims of
the Scout Movement; a loyal Filipino citizen that pays allegiance to his beloved
Philippines; and a loyal believer that loves God, honors His Church, and respects her
lawful authorities.
It is never too late to become godly. A Rover can always change for the better.
If we will accept God’s grace, we can possess loyalty and all other virtues as well.
We should, therefore, strive to grow stronger in our faith and in our love for God.
A Scout is HELPFUL (Matulungin)
To Rovers, helpfulness should be taken as a duty. Being helpful should be the doing
of good turns for other out of our love of God. If we practice this virtue, we put our
faith into action. As a Rover, your highest aim is SERVICE. You may be relied upon
at all times to be ready to sacrifice time, trouble, or, if need be, risk life for others.
“Sacrifice is the salt of Service.”
A Scout is FRIENDLY (Mapagkaibigan)
Friendly persons are happy persons. They like people, and people like them.
Friendly persons are also kind and considerate, humble and unselfish. They think in
terms of what others need and act accordingly. In many ways, friendliness results
from the true love and respect for all God’s children. And like charity, friendliness
begins at home.
As a Rover you must be a friend to all, and a brother to every other Scout, no matter
to what country, class or creed the other may belong. You must recognize other
fellows as being, with yourself, sons of the same Father, and you disregard whatever
may their differences of opinion, or culture, creed, or country. You suppress your
prejudices and find out their good points – any fool can criticize their bad ones. If
you exercise this love foe men of other countries you help to bring about
international peace and goodwill, that is, God’s Kingdom on Earth.
A Scout is COURTEOUS (Magalang)
Courtesy is polite behavior plus. It is more than just saying or doing what is socially
correct at the right time. Courtesy is an expression of thoughtfulness for others, of
true love for our neighbor. Our good manners must be the result of our constant
striving to treat God’s entire creation with respect. Such courtesy is something any
Rover can learn and practice. Gentlemen are made, not born..
Like the Knights of old, as a Rover you are, of course polite and considerable to
women, old people and children. But more than this, you are polite also even to
those in opposition to you.
“Whosoever is in the right need not lose his temper, whosoever is in the wrong
cannot afford to.”
A Scout is KIND (Mabait)
To be kind is to be good and gentle towards others, to be thoughtful and considerate
of their needs, and to be unselfish and generous in helping them. Kindness is a
spirit of goodwill that, for all Rovers, should spring from deep love of God.
If we wish to be kind towards others, we should regard everyone as a child of God.
For this reason, you must believe that your neighbor should be loved, respected,
and trusted. You must understand that different persons, young and old alike, have
their individual problems and that people often need both sympathetic
understanding and practical help. Thus we should be ready to offer at all time a
warm word and a helping hand whenever possible.
As a Rover, you must be a friend to lower creatures. You will recognize your
comradeship with God’s other creatures placed like yourself, in this world for a time,
to enjoy their existence. To ill-trea an animal is therefore a disservice to the
Creator.
“A ROVERnScout has to be big-hearted.”
A Scout is OBEDIENT (Masunurin)
Obedience is a virtue that helps us to develop strength of character and to get along
with others. Since rules are necessary to maintain order in life, everyone, leaders
and followers alike must obey them. ROVERS SHOULD BE OBEDIENT because all
lawful authority within the home, school, city, province, nation, and church comes
from God and should, therefore, be respected. The best discipline leading to
perfect obedience is humility.
As a Rover, you discipline yourself and put yourself readily and willingly at the
service of duly constituted authority for the main good. The best-disciplined
community is the happiest community where discipline comes from within, and not
merely imposed from without. There is greater value in the example you give to
others in this direction.
We, too, can please God if we try to glorify Him as best as we can. By keeping
humble, we can take the first step towards imitating the lives of godly people. Then,
through self-discipline, determination, and prayer, the second step will be made
easier. What is this second step? Prompt and perfect obedience to all persons of
lawful authority.
A Scout is CHEERFUL (Masaya)
Cheerfulness reflects joy of soul. This virtue marks a person at peace with himself
and with God. It makes for a happy spirit and friendly manner, expressed through
kind words and warm smiles. All Rovers should remember that cheerfulness is not
silliness, for life holds both gladness and sadness. We should remember that in life
there should be many occasions for laughter as well as few for tears. We have a
right to be happy, a reason to smile, for God is good to us. He provides us with
countless blessings, including life itself; our parents, brothers and sisters, our
homes, and our faith. God gives us many treasures that money, power, or influence
cannot buy.
A Rover smiles and whistles under all difficulties. As a Rover you will be looked up
to as a man who keeps his head, and sticks it our in a crisis with cheery pluck and
optimism.
“If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing thairs and blaming it on you …. You’ll be a man, my son.”
A Scout is THRIFTY (Matipid)
True thrift is the wise use of God’s many gift to men. Thriftiness applies to
everything – time, wonders of nature, and material blessings received. A person
who is thrifty shares what God has given him with his neighbor. As a Rover you will
look ahead and will not waste away time or money on present pleasures, but rather
make use of present opportunities with a view to ulterior success. You do this with
the idea of not being a burden, but a help to others.
A Scout is BRAVE (Matapang)
Bravery is related to a man’s character, not his physical strength. A brave man is a
person who believes in certain ideals and lives according to them, regardless of
what others may think or do. To defend what is right, a courageous person will fight
against what he believes is wrong.
As a Rover you should have the courage that is asked of so many yet has been
demonstrated only by a few. Worthy of admiration is the young man who is willing to
tackle anything, who doesn’t fear hard work, and who will welcome more after
finishing some. Best of all, his fellow man looks up to a person who has the courage
to admit mistakes, and to apologize when he knows ther is a need for it instead of
running away with invalid excuses.
A Scout is CLEAN (Malinis)
Man, as we know, is composed of a body and a soul, and Rovers should understand
that cleanliness applied to both. For good physical health, we must take proper care
of our body. For good spiritual health, we must also keep our soul clean. We need
to safeguard the purity of our heart and mind by avoiding wrongdoings. We can
learn how cleanliness applies to the spiritual as well as the physical side of man’s
nature. We can see that a person is able to read widely and learn much, much to
become a truly educated human being, and still retain his childlike innocence – if he
prays hard and remains close to God.
“Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.”
As a Rover you are expected to be not only clean-minded, but also clean-willed; able
to control any sex tendencies and intemperance; to give an example to others of
being and pure and above-board in all that you think, say and do.
A Scout is REVERENT (Maka-Diyos)
Reverence, as it applies to religion, is a deep respect for God and His church. A
reverent Rover, therefore, is one who honors consecrated persons and sacred
objects dedicated to the service or worship of God. He constantly regards all that is
holy with love and awe.
If you are really out to a good start in life towards success, you must have a religious
basis to your life. This is not a mere matter of going to church or of knowing bible
history. As a good Rover you must, above all, recognize Who and What is God. And
secondly, make the best of the life that He has given you and doing what He wants of
us. This is mainly to do something for other people, for in so doing, it is His work
that you have done. That should be for your belief, not as a matter of thought for
days of worship only, but as one to live up to in every hour and every phase of your
daily life.
As a Rover, you have to remember that in crossing the threshold from boyhood into
being a man you are no longer learning to carry out the Scout Law, but are actually
using it for guidance of your conduct in life. More than this, you are now in the
responsible position of giving an example to others, which may lead them to good or
evil, according to whether or not you model your conduct on the Law, and how far
you carry out that Promise which you have made, on your honor, as a Rover, to give
out goodwill and help to all.
THE MOTTO : “Laging Handa”
• THE SLOGAN : “Together We Serve”
Rover Scouts Mindanao State University
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