Some 200 scouts and scouters from public and private schools in Dumaguete City trooped to the Boy Scout Headquarters here Wednesday to remember the heroism of Scout Jose Fermin “Jojo” Magbanua.{{more}}
Magbanua, a 14-year-old first class scout from Troop 37 of the Silliman University High School, was the only scout representing the Visayas who, along with the 24-member Philippine delegation to the 11th World Jamboree in Marathon Greece in 1963, perished in a plane crash in the bay of Bombay, India in July 28, 1963. There were no survivors from among the 52 passengers and eight crewmembers on board.
“This happened 47 years ago, but for us in the scouting movement, this is as significant as though it happened yesterday,” Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, in a speech read for him by City Administrator William Ablong, said.
The Negros Oriental Boy Scout Council holds yearly activities to mark Scout Memorial Day, either through floral offerings at the Magbanua tomb at the Dumaguete Memorial Park or fronting his life-size statue at the BSP Headquarters at the Capitol Area in Dumaguete City.
Sagarbarria, who was also a Boy Scout in his younger years, said the heroism of Scout Magbanua continues to live in every scout today through the tenets of scouting.
He said Magbanua’s example should serve as an inspiration to all scouts, not only in Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental but throughout the country.
“While most of us gathered here today never got to know who Scout Jojo Magbanua was, we can see that he continues to live in the life of every Boy and Girl Scout for he lived by the Scout Oath and Law.”
As part of the yearly Scout Memorial Day activity, the Magbanua family awarded six Senior Scouts from the Negros Oriental Council the Scout Jose Fermin Magbanua Achievement Awards in recognition for their performance and contribution to scouting.
On that same day, the Negros Oriental BSP Executive Board inducted the newly-elected Board Members representing the private sector.
This year’s private sector representatives are Rev. Andres Legaspi (religious sector); Col. Jose Valencia (youth development); KBP Chapter Chairman Roy August Bustillo (media); Rotary Council of Presidents Chairman Atty. Neil Ray Lagahit (civic sector); Amlan Mayor Bentham dela Cruz (local government); Dumaguete City Prosecutor Eliezer Escorial (professional sector); Perpetual Help Credit Cooperative Inc. Manager Michael Johann Hojas (banking/business); Negros Oriental State University President Dr. Henry Sojor (education/academe), and Alex Amor Jr.(agriculture/environmental development).
The BSP Executive Board also reelected Judge Victor Patrimonio (ret.) as chairman. Other elected officers are Alex Pal, 1st vice chairman; Alex Kong, 2nd vice chairman; Wilkie Matiao, treasurer; Dionisio Ramirez, assistant treasurer; Sergio Tamayo, auditor, and Acting Council Scout Executive Philambrichi Magos, secretary.
BSP Negros Oriental Council Vice Chairman Alex Pal, BSP Vice President for the Visayas Atty. Arturo Umbac and BSP Executive Board Member Dr. Juanito Magbanua (right) pose with the awardees of the Jose Fermin Magbanua Achievement Awards fronting the statue of Scout Jojo Magbanua at the Boy Scouts Building.
Related story:
Scout reflects on the 1963 tragedy
