Water scarcity, mud fail to dampen scouting event

Story and photos by: Ednalyn Belonio-Diamante

DINGLE, Iloilo – The muddy grounds of Camp Pasica here and the shortage of water supply did not stop the 2,330 participants from joining the 64th Council Junior and Cadet Camp which opened on Thursday.

Mary Claire E. Laruan, Iloilo Girl Scout council executive said, the water shortage was fixed through the help of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

The five day event themed “Enhancing Leadership Through Girl Scout Adventures” gathered delegates from Iloilo City, Iloilo province, Passi City and Guimaras province.

They learned emergency preparedness from BFP personnel, football, hip hop dance, and visual arts.

The participants also indulged in a series of adventure games with the help of the Army’s 552nd Engineering Battalion and the Air Force held in Camp Hernandez.

Capping their night activity was a chance for the scouts to know each other in a “getting to know you” segment followed by a campfire.

The highlight of the activity is a trek to Bulabog Putian National Park here.

Amelita Pitalgo, of the Department of Education Regional Office said, the park is a protected rain forest and many visited it to see the beauty of the caves which has historical significance because it was once used as a hideout of the revolutionary forces during the Spanish time.

She boasted of the many handwriting’s seen on the walls done by the revolutionaries.

“There are 33 caves inside the park but only 13 had been explored,” Pitalgo said.

Gudelia V. Coo, Iloilo Girl Scout council president meanwhile said, they have taken into considerations the safety of the campers against the dreaded mosquito carrier dengue virus so they conducted misting around the 13 hectare Girl Scout camp.

“We have spent a lot of money to ensure that everybody is protected from Dengue,” Coo said.

This year’s Guest Speaker is Julienne Rose Bearneza, a registered nurse and a 2012 Girl Scout medalist.

She believed that camping and being in the scouts is “an effective venue in honing development and leadership skills.”

Also present were Col. Alcon R. Magdamit, group commander of the Regional Community Defense Group, Divina Famocul, district supervisor of Dingle, the chief of Dingle BFP and a representative from the office of Mayor Rufino Palabrica.