The officers of the Asia Pacific Regional Scout Committee, World Scout Bureau headed by Vice Chairman Mohamed Ali Khalid of India and other officers from Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives, Brunei, etc. came to the Philippines last January 15 to 17, 2009 as part of their visit to all its 25 member countries in the region. The purpose of the visit is to assist each country’s national scout organization in delivering and continually improving the quality of Scouting.

The Boy Scouts of the Philippines selected Chiang Kai Shek College to host one activity on January 16 (Friday) given that CKSC is one of the institutions known for quality scouting program not only in the Philippines, but throughout the Asia Pacific Region.

During the dialogue, CKSC scouts from all sectors discussed with the Asia Pacfic Regional Scout Committee officials the various ways on how to attract and recruit members into the Scouting program, barriers affecting membership and perception about Scouting, values learned from Scouting, expectations from scouts and non-scouts, role of scouts in creating a better world, among many other key issues, etc.

An important highlight of the day was the investiture ceremony and donning of neckerchief by Mr. Jose Rizal Pangilinan, secretary general of the BSP and Atty. Allan Zulueta, vice president for Mindanao Region of the BSP, to Dr. Bee Ching Ong Kian Koc, CKSC President, as she was formally inducted into the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

BSP Secretary-General Jose Rizal Pangilinan cited how Scouting has blossomed at CKSC, producing 18 national winners in the annual search for Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines since 1994 and on the international scene, with 2 out of the 3 winners in the search for the Outstanding Scouts of the Asia Pacific Region, namely Marvin Boni Go (2001) and Bruce Willis Sing (2007). Scouting program at CKSC is truly worthy of emulation by other institutions in the country and the Asia-Pacific Region.

In closing, Vice Chairman Mohamed Ali Khalid commented that the CKSC has the best participation level that surpassed all the seven countries previously visited. He quipped that he will leave the Philippines with a remarkable impression about Chiang Kai Shek College.