My Side of the Story
Teesha Catherine Banta

Hey Girls!!! In your life, have you ever felt that you worth nothing? As if you are unimportant and useless and you do not know anything about the world around you? Then suddenly someone will tell you that they have chosen you together with other smart people to do a very important project? Seems impossible but why not? Right?

Actually this happened to me here in GSP. I am active but only in school and as a camper. Then one day, they contacted me to say they have chosen me to be one of the staffs of the planning team for an important conference. The day before the scheduled date of meeting I cried. What am I to do? I will be with the best girl scouts in the Philippines. I felt very unworthy. But after that meeting I learned that in girl scouting, it’s not about achievements. It’s more on commitment and dedication to serve.

So to all girl scouts there, when you felt unworthy for participating in a big GSP Service Project, just think of this… Be proud with what you are doing, you may have no badges but being a Girl Scout is all in our hearts.

What Girl Scouting is All About…
Teesha Catherine Banta

It’s not about wearing the Girl Scouting Uniform
But how you prove yourself true to the uniform you’re wearing
It’s not about the knowledge in camping
But how well you do outdoors
It’s not about the number of badges
But how full-heartedly you perform the activities
It’s not how you make plans and strategize things
But how you carry out these plans for the benefit of all
It’s not about how many projects you have done
But how you affect the lives of the people you helped
Because Girl Scouting is all in our hearts
It’s not how much we know and how many we helped
But rather, what’s important is our commitment to SERVE.

Girl Scouting in my Life
Valerie Natividad

“On my honor, I will do my duty to God and my country…” these are the first few phrases of the Girl Scout Promise which is recited together with the Girl Scout Law in every Girl Scout Gathering. Almost every registered Girl Scout can recite the Promise and Law…and I mean only recite. They memorize it…period. They can recite it…and up to that only.

Out of the 33 registered Girl Scouts of my section, I only see 4 dedicated Scouts that support the movement and follow the Promise and Law, and the rest only registered for the sake of their grades.

The Girl Scout Promise and Law was made for girls to follow it and apply it in real life, not for it to be memorized and to be recited only in unison.

Being the Visayas Region Girl Representative, I may say that I have already applied the Promise and Law in my everyday activities, in my everyday life. It’s not that I should, it’s because I want to.

C’mon girls, let’s face the truth. Girl scouting really does something to our lives.

Remember the words “Girl Scouting inspired us to become who we really are…”? These words are from successful women of our time- Tintin Bersola-Babao, Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos, Cheche Lazaro and from the president herself, Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Girl scouting contributed a lot to their success, and not only their lives will be a lot better, but also yours.

At first I thought, “Oh Girl Scouting, this is only for the adventurous ones”, so I excluded myself thinking that I consider myself as not adventurous. But then I decided to try it out. Later did I realize that what I thought was wrong. Girl Scouting is meant for all, whether you are adventurous or not.

Every single girl in this country, regardless of her age, is welcome to the organization which empowers young girls, enhances different skills, and makes potent leaders—the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.

Girl Scouting…..I owe a lot to you..

Dedication + Commitment + Love = a Girl Scout

Michelle Alvarez

As I look at my photo album, I saw my picture back then when I was in kindergarten. I was wearing a green uniform, a hat and black shoes at the stage. I smiled. The thought that was running in my mind was that I’ve been a Girl Scout since kindergarten. Ten years in the making, huh?!? But even though I’m a girl scout in that span time, I really cannot say that I have what it takes to be a great girl scout serving my people. Girl scouting is not about longevity, its all about the matter of the heart.

Maybe it was mandatory that’s why all of us in kindergarten became registered girls scouts. We had an investiture. Then another was done when I was in grade five. We had a lot of activities but I cannot remember that I gained a badge. When I was already a junior girl scout, we have these meetings every Saturday and then we do some fun-filled things. But sadly, girl scouting became just a “Saturday thing”. I am just a girl scout when I am wearing the uniform every Saturday.

When I entered first year highschool, the “Saturday thing” ended. But luckily, in second year highschool, the troop leader talked to us. Eventually, I registered, together with the girls in my section, and the fun starts again. It is not “Saturday thing” anymore because Friday is the Girl Scout day. Our troop leader assigned me to lead the class (or it’s just but nerves become active when someone asks for a volunteer so I raise my hand). I used to be the announcer for certain activities. I was also elected as a part of the SPB in our school. Since then, I became dedicated in serving the girls in our school not only every Friday, but every day. We also conducted our investiture, and commitment followed.

But something is still missing. Yes, I have the dedication and commitment, but I lack the most important thing to be a true servant. And that is love. I only realized that I really love girl scouting and that I am willing to do my best when I attended the 2005 National-Senior Cadet Conference. I was very fortunate to represent Manila Council in that said event. I was very excited (not only because the venue was Baguio City) to met new people and experience new things. I expected so many things, but the conference imparted a lot which are above my expectations. I learned so much in that said conference. I also realized that I love and enjoy what I was doing (which is serving other people) and I want to continue it (till death do I part). When I see young girls who have a lot of badges (and the sash doesn’t have space anymore)… I don’t need to compare mine (which have no right to be put in a sash because they are few). It is because you can say that one is truly a girl scout if she has a big heart in serving other people and not if she has a lot of badges earned.

Last conference, I am just one of the participants who listened to every speaker, who joined all the activities and who was inspired by the knowledge and skills of other girls who are willing to serve the people. Now it is my time to be part of the conference staff who will try to uplift young women’s potential to break boundaries and be effective leaders.

My Experiences in Scouting

Teza Lorraine Marcos

Being a Girl Scout was really out of my mind! Wearing a green uniform, a black belt, a green cup plus a pair of socks with an embroidered GSP logo was a NIGHTMARE! Imagine, the first time I wore my official uniform; all my friends were laughing at me and teasing my get-up. Everyone was staring at me as if I look like a clown! A funny green clown!

Since that particular moment, I promised myself not to wear that uniform in public. Meaning, I don’t want to be a Girl Scout anymore! After all, I was only forced to be a member….

That story and the promised I made happened 8 years ago! Guess what?!! I am now a teacher and a GSP Troop Leader in the same school where I became a Senior Girl Scout. Eight years ago, I said to myself that I want to quit in scouting, but there is something that made me stay. And thank GOD, I never made a wrong decision.

I had attended a lot of camping, trainings and events. I’ve been to many places which I thought will be forever a DREAM. I gained a lot of friends and I discovered my talents. My mother usually calls me a PRINCESS before! Not because we lived in a palace, but it’s because I don’t help in household chores. But in scouting, I learned to become an independent person every time I’m not with my family. I had also conquered my fears! With my “small and sexy-voluptous” body, I had climbed a lot of trees, built a lot of gadgets out of bamboo, and overcome a lot of challenges! All of these contributed for me to be a better person. A person equipped with knowledge and skills. Knowledge that were not learned in the classroom…

And now, I am imparting the teachings I learned to the Girl Scouts in my troop. I am NOW proud to say that I am a Girl Scout in thought, in word and deed!!!