Thank you to our Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III; Boy Scout of the Philippines National President and Agusan del Norte Second District Representative Dale Corvera; Iloilo 4th District Representative Ferje Biron; Iloilo Provincial Governor Art Defensor Jr.; BSP Camp Chief and Passi City Mayor Stephen Palmares; DAR Undersecretary Jesry Palmares; BSP Senior Vice President Emilio Aquino; fellow workers in government; other distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen, a wonderful day to all of you. [Please sit down]

I am very happy to join, once again the National Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, this time on the 18th National Jamboree. I have attended other jamborees when I was much younger together with my father, and so this is a familiar experience for me as I have been a Boy Scout for a very long time. [applause]

This is very important, as jamborees are the “mother of all activities” in our scout life. It reminds us not only of the continued importance of scouting, but also of the enduring legacy of the scouting movement in our country.

Scouting plays a vital role in fostering the spirit of camaraderie and leadership among your youth. With its unique blend of education, adventure, fun, scouting continues to inspire our young people to become active and productive members of society.

Each of you here is called upon to help shape our future and create a better and more sustainable world.

To our beloved scouts, remember that you are here also to have fun, and to have an adventure, but to learn also about positive agents of change of which you can be part of.

Make your bodies strong and healthy, keep your minds keen and ever-conscious, stand your ground, embody the scout law, and heed the call of duty to God and country.

These qualities will make you a good scout – a good scout makes a good citizen, and a good contributor to our goal of building a Bagong Pilipinas.

So it is with great national pride that I now open the 18th National Scout Jamboree.

Godspeed! Mabuhay ang Boy Scouts ng Pilipinas! [applause]

Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas! [applause]

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