7th Update: Rover Peace Baton seven-month journey ends
After its great kickoff on August 2006, the Rover Peace Baton has finally arrived in the Philippines, its last stop, traveling 24 countries in the Asia-Pacific Region for seven months under three major routes.
In the Philippines, the three-part baton had a separate relays in the three major islands of the country (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) and concluded its travels in Manila, where a grand celebration was held attended by the regional Scout Leaders, dignitaries, Philippine government representatives, and thousands of Scouts from all over the country.
ROUTE ONE
The peace baton under Route One arrived from Brunei on 24 January 2007 brought by the key officials of Persekutuan Pengakap Negara Brunei Darussalam (PPNBD) headed by their Chief Commissioner Awang Haji Badar bin Haji who officially handed over the baton to Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Assistant Secretary General Mr Ernesto Baluyot at the national headquarters of BSP in Manila, the capital city.
The simple handover ceremony was witnessed by BSP Secretary General Mr Jose Rizal Pangilinan, joined by Scouts, Adult Leaders, Rovers, BSP employees and the regional team consist of Regional Director Mr Abdullah Rasheed, Director for Administration and Resources Mr S Prassanna and Director for Youth Programme Mr Syd Castillo.
To officially start the relay in the island of Mindanao, the peace baton traveled on 2 February to Zamboanga City, located at the southernmost tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula. In a kickoff ceremony in Zamboanga City, regional office representative Mr Thian Hiong-Boon, Director for Adult Resources and Research, personally handed the peace baton to Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat, witnessed by different representatives from several local councils.
After this, a press conference was arranged to promote the presence of peace baton making Zamboanga City as the starting point of the peace baton relay in the island of Mindanao. After a press conference, a motorcade around the city and a beautiful campfire in the evening summed up the kickoff ceremony here which were both gathered the participation of hundreds of Scouts, Rovers and Leaders.
ROUTE TWO
In Route Two, the peace baton which came from Thailand was turned over to BSP also on 2 February in Olongapo City, a highly urbanized city in the province of Zambales, in the island of Luzon. Held at the Olongapo Convention Center, the Secretary General of the National Scout Organization of Thailand (NSOT) Mr Boonrat Wongyai and Mr Prakorb Mukura, Rover Peace Baton Country Coordinator and member of the APR Scouting Profile Sub Committee, headed the 10-member delegation of NSOT in handing over the baton to Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr.
In their respective speeches, Mayor Gordon and Mr Wongyai both mentioned the role of peace baton in strengthening the friendship between the two countries. As a symbolic sign of peace and friendship, the leaders exchanged their neckerchiefs and their respective tokens of appreciations.
Also in this event, Mr Syd Castillo, representative of the regional office, who was accompanied by BSP Director for Operations Mr Expedito Eduarte, explained the three routes of the peace baton and emphasized the contribution of the project not just in promoting peace but also to highlight the profile of Rovering in Scouting.
City officials, council officers and hundred of Scouts, Rovers and Leaders of Olongapo City also attended and added color to the event.
ROUTE THREE
At the handover ceremony of peace baton under Route Three on 05 February 2007 in Cebu city, located on the central eastern part of Cebu Province, an island at the center of the Visayas in Southern Philippines, regional representative and officer-in-charge of the project, Mr S Prassanna Shrivastava, asked the support and commitment of BSP to the upcoming peace baton relays and activities in the island.
The peace baton, which arrived from Hong Kong on 3 January, was officially handed over to BSP Regional Chairman, Eastern Visayas Region Atty. Arturo Umbac and Council Chairman of Cebu Mr Hernando Streegan in the presence of Rover Scouts and Leaders.
During the separate handover ceremonies in four different places in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, a Peace Baton Commitment was prepared and signed by respective country representatives, committing themselves in proclaiming the message of harmony, honesty, integrity and fairness in all their actions.
MARCH 10: HANDOVER CELEBRATION
In a festive ceremony, thousands of Scouts and key leaders of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines turned over the baton to the Asia-Pacific Regional office headed by its Chairman Eric Khoo, accompanied by Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed and other leaders at the regional and national levels comprised of Mr Mohammad Ali Khalid, Mr Oh Sang-Gyoon; Regional Treasurer Mr Renato Paras; Sub Committee Chairman Ms Mari Nakano (Programme); Mr Paulus Tjakrawan Taningdjaja (Financial Resources); Mohammad Zainul Abidin (management); Dr Mukhyuddin bin Sarwani (Scouting Profile); Mr Ghazanfar Mashkoor (Task Force for 2006-2007); APR Scout Foundation President Anthony Thng and Honorary President of Brunei Scouts Association Pehin Dato Hj Ali Hj Mohd Daud.
Representatives from Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, India, Maldives and Papua New Guinea also came to participate the official handover ceremony which also highlighted the 100 years of Scouting.
Related links:
Photo gallery of the grand handover ceremony
News articles issued on the official handover
Peace relay in Asia-Pacific celebrates 100 years of Scouting
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