Under the terms of the MOA signed last 28 April 2014 at the FICCO Building in Tiano Bros. St., Cagayan de Oro City, FCOF will provide a financial assistance of P135,200 for the “Adopt Boy/Girl Scouts and Scout Units Program in selected schools in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental.
The partner schools are Alubijid National High School, Bugo National High School, Medina National High School, Casinglot National High School, PN Roa National High School, and the Elementary Schools of St. John, San Simon, Sacred Heart Village and Malasag and National High Schools of Balubal, Tagpangi and Indahag.
“The momentous event today brings me wonderful memories all the way back to my boyhood days. I was a boy scout. I remember the very distinguished three-finger salute of the scouts. I remember the scout neckerchief with a carabao emblem-slide that tied the neckerchief around the neck to hang like a handsome necktie. I remember the khaki short pants, the khaki short-sleeved shirt and the long (almost knee-high) socks we wore with black shiny shoes. As a matter of fact, we boy scouts looked and felt really handsome, clean-cut, cool, with a self-confident poise that exuded the scout motto “Be Prepared”! mused Anselmo B. Mercado, chairman of the FCOF Board of Trustees following the signing.
The financial support will cover 320 boys and 200 girls in the partner schools who will join the scouting movement and join scout units in their respective schools.
“The physical appearance was one thing to remember with real pleasure and pride. But the most significant thing for me about scouting was the education and the moral character formation that were methodically designed to inculcate in the young boys (and girls) the love of country, the brotherhood spirit and many human values, such as the readiness and willingness to serve others in need, honesty, politeness, discipline, hard-work, promptness, volunteerism, frugality, etc. – imbuing them in us not only in theory but in practice as well, and to have the joy and fun of doing them, “ Mercado said.
Scouting’s proven track record in building good citizenship values in its members was the main reason why the cooperative movement, particularly the FICCO Outreach Foundation, Inc. (FCOF), has taken a serious interest in supporting the scouting movement, Mr. Mercado said.
“This is why FICCO Foundation, the Boy Scouts Council of Cagayan de Oro, the Girls Scouts Council of Misamis Oriental and our partner-schools, are embarking in this joint undertaking.
This is just the first step. We hope that this program will be an effective initial step that can leap into an expansion of support and activities, a cascading effect that can bring-in other partners and supporters from civil society and government to actively support and promote the scouting movement of the Philippines.”
Local government officials including Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Joey Pelaez (currently the chairman of the Boy Scouts Council of Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental) and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno also joined the event, along with Ms Cris Villamil (of the Cooperative Development Authority Region X), a few members of the media, FICCO Board of Directors of FICCO, FCOF Board of Trustees.
“We pray that God will bless our efforts and these two great movements that promote human, community development and nation-building,” Mr. Mercado said.
