"It is not necessary for you, Filipino youth to die to become heroes. It is enough that the boy and girl Scouts do your duties and responsibilities and do good deeds to others before you close your eyes to sleep."

    Thus stressed President Fidel V. Ramos as he formally opened yesterday the week-long Philippine Centennial Scout Jamboree here at the historic Clark Airfield.

    The President is joined by other government officials led by Education Secretary Ricardo T. Gloria, representatives from the private sector who are also taking active part in the Jamboree, top officials of the BSP headed by National President Roberto Pagdanganan, World Scout Committee Chairman Francisco S. Roman, Centennial Chairman Salvador H. Laurel and other local government officials led by Pampanga Governor Lito Lapid in welcoming the participants representing the 102 local BSP Councils nationwide.

   Citing Gen. Del Pilar, Gen. Aguinaldo, Bonifacio and Rizal who all died while in the prime of their life, the President, also the Chief Scout, issued an appeal to the girls and boys present to emulate the example of the heroes of yesteryears.

    The President also honored modern-day Filipino heroes who died while doing service to others:

    " Scout Said Bulig of Bocaue, Bulacan who offered his life to save some fellow Bulakeños during the Bocaue River Tragedy; Florencio Agapito and Robin Garcia who died while saving children from a school building devastated by earthquake in July 16, 1990 and Aris Canoy Espinosa of Lanao del Norte who used his body to cover a grenade thrown by his playmates, should influence Scouts in their daily deeds," the President said, adding:  " On the occasion of this Jamboree, let us make sure that we all remember them as our models whom we can look up to."

    Echoing the President's appeal, former Vice President Salvador H. Laurel, chairman of the Philippine Centennial Commission, emphasized love of country with the same intensity as a child's love for a mother.

    More than 33,000 boys and girls from all over the country, including some from overseas assembled at the grand arena in this former U.S. air base in the biggest Jamboree ever put together by the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

    Swirling dust coming from areas still covered by lahar failed to dampen the first day excitement in the Jamboree.