Why ?

        Well, the boys know that they're missing more than half of their life once this once-in-a-century affair slips their hands.

        Some news media who have penchant for sensationalism exploited the dust they saw and some report of minor illnesses and blew it out of proportion. They drew a bad picture of the camp and made it appear that the facilities were miserable.

        The news almost caused panic among participants of some worried children and whoever visited the camp in the wee hours of the morning.

        The parents who are not aware of their children's Scouting spirit were relieved when they found out that the situation was not as bad as it was pictured by media.

        " This is the height of irresponsible journalism," said a Scout leader who refused to be named, " perhaps these newsmen were not Scouts and are not aware of what we call Scouting spirit, " I pity them. They ought to tell their children to join Scouting."

        Participants are also one in saying that the little inconveniences in the camp like dust is nothing compared to the enjoyment they derive from the Jamboree.

        " Isang hamon sa mga Scouts na katulad namin ang lahar dito sa Clark. Okay ang activities," said Joshua Flores, 15 of Mindoro Oriental Council who is billeted at Sub-Camp Lapu-Lapu.

        " The camp is safe and until now I haven't seen a single seek, its very frustrating because we wanted to see one," said Israel Elisalde of Surigao del Sur Council from Sub-Camp Aguinaldo.

        As what Secretary General Carlos Escudero  said during the dryrun where a sudden rain and swirling dust failed to dampen the enthusiasm " Scouts can make themselves comfortable in any given situation."

        Quoting Lord Baden-Powell, the Secretary General, also the camp director, said " Scouts are trained in the art of survival. That is what is Scouting's for."

        The SG said that this Jamboree will go down in the history of Scouting in the Philippines as the biggest and most successful ever.

        " So how can we let things happened without us anticipating of its cause and effect?" he said. There are some minor unavoidable incidents that may occur but this is part of their training," he said in an interview with some media men during yesterday's press conference.