Scouting Movement welcomes 274 Kinder girls and boys

All 274 of Ateneo de Manila Grade School's kinder students were formally welcomed to the Scouting Movement following three investiture ceremonies held in the AGS Singson Hall on Friday, 4 October 2024 (see video playing above).   

Twinkler Scouts 

Among those welcomed were the school’s pioneering first batch of 71 Twinkler Girl Scouts, whose investiture at 8:00 am was the first ceremony held that day. 

In his opening remarks, AGS Headmaster Jervy Robles, WBH (Wood Badge Holder) commented on the historic significance of the event, noting that AGS’ first batch of girl scouts are the “bright and shining future of our generation.”

In her inspirational message, guest speaker Fe Castor-Pangan, ALT, Girl Scouts of the Philippines Quezon City (GSP QC) Board Member (and the younger sister of scout Roberto Castor, who perished in the July 1963 plane crash that killed 24 Filipino boy scouts) said that “Girl scouts are the women of today for the girls of tomorrow.” She also reassured the twinklers' parents that Ateneo’s girl scouts would “grow up with good values as a result of good activities.”  

Next came the induction of the seven Twinkler scout troop leaders, led by GSP QC Council Executive Ms Geraldine P Talavera, and the blessing of the scarves and twinkle pins by Fr Jonjee Sumpaico SJ, WBH with CML (Course for Managers of Learning), Chairperson for Ateneo Scouting and Vice President for Basic Education.  

This was followed by the joyful “Finding the Magic Star” ceremony, where the kinder girls were asked to go up the stage in groups of two to three, one troop at a time, and then look into a large mirror decorated with twinkling stars and declare, “We are Twinklers!”

After every member of each troop had made the declaration, the parents joined their daughters onstage to pin the twinkler pins on their uniforms and help them put on their scarves and caps in front of the GSP QC and Ateneo Scouting officials.  

After all seven twinkler scout troops were welcomed to the GSP, the girl scouts performed the Twinkler Scouts song. This was followed by the Oath Taking of the Parents led by AGS Coordinator for Student Activities Ms Ariette Pacle, WBH with CML.

Ms Virgie Esteves, WBH with CML, AGS Assistant Headmaster for Formation, then delivered the Closing Remarks, wishing the new twinkler scouts “tons of fun along the way” as they set sail on their new scouting adventure. 

KID Scouts 

After the Twinkler Scouts investiture came the two KID scout investiture ceremonies for our 203 kinder boys. The first one began at 10:30 am, while the second one started at 1:00 pm.        

Both ceremonies were hosted by Boy Scout Commissioner Mark Catarroja, WBH with CML, and flowed much like the Twinkler ceremony, except for the “Find the Magic Star” portion, which was absent from the KID scout investitures.

In his welcome message to the KID scouts and their parents, Jervy Robles said that scouting is an activity that comes with lots of movement, and that such movement makes kids “happier, smarter and stronger.” He added that these activities, as revealed in a study, cause children's brains to "light up like Christmas trees.”   

The first KID scout program also had a portion lasting a couple of minutes where Fr Jonjee Sumpaico SJ was presented with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Institutional Charter for KID Scouting by Errol Eugenio Garcia, ALT with CMT, Council Scout Executive of BSP Quezon City (BSP QC). The Scout officials recognized that Ateneo Scouting is a very strong, robust and healthy unit, with all five levels of Boy Scouts (KID scouts, KAB Scouts, Boy Scouts, Senior Scouts, Rover Scouts) actively engaged in the school.     

In his message of greeting, Chief National Commissioner of the BSP Cedrick G Train LT congratulated Fr Jonjee on the vibrancy of Ateneo Scouting, and then challenged him to spearhead an outdoor “family scouting” activity that parents could also experience with their sons.  

Scouter Train’s message was followed by the induction of the Langkay leaders and the blessing of the neckerchiefs, which were both led by Fr Jonjee Sumpaico SJ. 

Each KID scout then went onstage by troop, their parents joining them to help them put on their neckerchiefs and caps in front of the BSP QC and Ateneo Scouting officials. 

Led by AGS Coordinator for Student Activities Ms Ariette Pacle, WBH with CML, the KID scouts then raised their right hands, made the scout sign with their fingers, and recited the KID Scout Promise and Law.   

After the KID scouts, it was the turn of their moms and dads to profess the parents’ oath. 

BSP NCR Chairperson Mark Boado, whose son Evan was one of the newly-inducted KID scouts, then delivered his inspirational message, emphasizing that scouts are brave and strong, and even stronger when they do things together. He concluded by saying that scouting is a wonderful, character-building exercise that helps scouts to be ready for life.

Later, he posted on his Facebook page, “I am the happiest daddy today as I welcome my son in the Scouting Movement. Thank you, Ateneo Scouting Community, for inviting me as your guest of honor and speaker for this significant event in Evan’s scouting journey. I am excited to see him in our future activities wearing his KID scout scarf! Mabuhay!”

Mabuhay ang Ateneo Scouting!