AJHS Scouts participate in 'eye-opening' and 'lively' Youth Forum

The Senior Scouts of Ateneo de Manila Junior High School participated in the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) District Scout Youth Forum (DSYF) on January 24, 2024. Organized by the Quezon City Council and held in Quirino High School, the forum- whose theme was “Sustaining Growth”- gave the participants the opportunity to discuss important matters such as the collective needs and suggestions of fellow scouts. They engaged in meaningful discussions, collaborated with peers from different outfits, and contributed their ideas to enhance the scouting community. 

The Ateneo Senior Scouts selected for the forum were Jose Lazlo Patajo of 9-Harcourt, Ethan Rivadelo of 9-Ireland, Joaquin Jobog of 9-Isore, Troy Macaraeg of 10-Nagashima, John Carlo Daug and JR Viray of 10-Realino, and Gab Magabo of 10-Spinola.

Here’s what some of them shared about their experience:

“The Scout forum was a completely different experience. I met people from different backgrounds who had all sorts of ideas for problems that we could solve as a district. Considering the concepts and problems we discussed, I was personally astonished by the scouts I met. In this forum, we were expected to resolve problems and defend our resolution. It was a surprise to see even one approved! All in all, it was a great experience showing how crafty and how willing Scouts can be!” -Troy Macaraeg 

“The participants from various Quezon City backgrounds gathered with a tangible feeling of excitement for the BSP District Scout Youth Forum. They had lively conversations about urgent problems, such as childhood malnutrition. Creative solutions surfaced amid impassioned discussions, demonstrating the group's resolve to bring about constructive change. The forum resulted in the selection of a winning theme through cooperative efforts and inclusive leadership which rekindled the attendees' sense of purpose and dedication. As the program came to an end, everyone left with a common vision, prepared to put discussion into practice in their local communities.” -Ethan Rivadelo

“The youth forum was a great way to see how other people perceive certain advocacies like cyberbullying. It opened my eyes to how people from other schools can look at the problem and also what they focus on, letting me learn more about their own personal experiences. I was surprised by the creative ways that others use to try to solve the problem as one of those who needed to judge, approve, and find holes in them. Overall, the youth forum was an amazing experience where I learned about other people and their advocacies.” -JR Viray 

As part of the forum, an election was held for two scouts to become the District Youth Representative, and three scouts to become representatives to the Council Scout Youth Form. AJHS scouts JR Viray and Ethan Rivadelo were elected as the Chairperson and Ex-Officio, respectively, for District 3 of Quezon City. (As part of their duties as elected District Scout Representatives [DSRs], both scouts participated in the Council Scout Youth Forum that was held on February 17, 2024, at North Fairview Elementary School.)

May forums like these serve as the start of an even wider engagement for our scouts in future Quezon City Council scouting endeavors.