Graphics by Uriel Astorga

Equipping school-based Scouting leaders with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to effectively lead and manage a Scout troop, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Tacloban City Council conducted a Basic Training Course (BTC) for Student Leaders, held at the Graduate School/ABS-CBN Hall of Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) in Tacloban City on October 28-30.

Initiated through Council Memorandum No. 18, s. 2026, the course gave participants a deeper understanding of the principles, methods, programs, and organizational structure of the BSP.

In an interview, Dr. Sonia Enrile, Director of the Student Affairs and Services Office (SASO), shared how the event held significance for student leaders, who must embody the virtues of the Scout Law and Scout Oath.

“This is very important for our student leaders. As student leaders, they have to actually have the Scout Law with them and also the Scout Oath. Each and every individual, especially student leaders, must really have these virtues or values. To be a leader, one must be loyal, must be respectful, must be honest and trustworthy,” she said.

The opening day, Wednesday, October 28, began with a flag ceremony, opening program, photo session, and orientation, followed by sessions on smartness and good order, course objectives, the history of Scouting, and the fundamentals of Scouting.

The discussions continued with the structure of WOSM and BSP, the troop leader’s job, the life cycle of adults in Scouting, the youth program and Scouting family, how Boy Scouts serve, annual troop program planning, the outdoor program, the Boy Scout program, ideals in Boy Scouting, and values and spiritual development.

In an interview, Scouter Paul Lora explained that the primary purpose of the Basic Training Course is to develop leadership skills among students from various disciplines of Eastern Visayas State University-Main Campus through the Scouting way.

“The primary purpose of this Basic Training Course is to develop the leadership skills of the students from different disciplines of Eastern Visayas State University here in Tacloban through the Scouting way. Because we, as leader trainers and Scoutmasters of Scouting here in Eastern Visayas, firmly believe in the values and system of Scouting that build us as leaders in Scouting, we believe that the principles and the Scouting method, where we impart precisely the true meaning of the Scout Oath and Law, are for our young leaders,” he said.

On Thursday, October 29, sessions included a troop campfire demonstration and a discussion on keeping Scouts safe from harm, which covered the rights of the child and the BSP Child Protection Policy.

The day continued with sessions on patrol and troop meetings, troop organization and administration, the patrol system, and the progressive scheme and badge system.

On Friday, October 30, the final day continued with sessions on patrol and troop meetings and annual troop program planning, which covered the purpose, parts, and steps in planning the troop plan.

The event continued with troop organization and administration, the troop leader’s job, and a course summary that included a clearing house, open forum, course evaluation, B.I.L.A.O. Essentials of Scouting, and the Trail Ahead.

When asked about the training, SSG Representative Ma. Theresa Lorenza B. Alegro shared how the environment was initially tense, as participants were from different programs.

“At first, it was tense as we are strangers, as we all are from different programs and we are not familiar with each other. We were grouped. Instead of the usual ‘introduce yourself,’ we talked without sharing names, but we memorized each other’s faces. Even though we didn’t know each other’s names, as we all are student leaders, we know what to do. We already have an idea and we collaborated, specifically during yells, and we helped each other during activities, especially during line formation,” she said.

Meanwhile, 4th-year Bachelor of Science in Geodetic Engineering (BSGE) student representative Paul Gallano shared that the program equipped them with practical Scouting skills and showed how to apply them in real life.

“My thoughts about the activities is that it gives us skills about the BSP, like different skills. For example, how to properly fold a flag, and also about formal formations in BSP. It enhanced our knowledge about what we can do to help in case of such situations and how we can apply what we have learned in our society,” he said.

The program culminated with the closing ceremonies at the Session Hall and Flag Area, led by the ACL-Program.

Article by Aldred Superales and Karyll Mangilaya