DAGUPAN CITY – National and Regional officers of the Girl Scout of the Philippines (GSP) and the Northern Luzon Region came to the city September 6 to 7 to attend the 5th Girl Scout of the Philippines Northern Luzon Region Regional Committee meeting hosted by the Dagupan City Girl Scout Council.
Dagupan City Girl Scout Council president Zenaida L. Sinlao disclosed that all the 16 Girl Scout Councils of the Northern Luzon Region attended the meeting with a welcome dinner and evening socials at the CSI Stadia on September 6.
The Northern Luzon Region covers Region 1, Region 2 and the Cordillera Administrative Region composing with 16 Girl Scout Councils.
GSP National President Susan R. Locsin, who came all the way from Manila along with GSP National Executive Director Ma. Dolores T. Santiago, expressed gratitude for the warm welcome extended to the GSP especially by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez.
Locsin lauded the fact that the Northern Luzon Region has the most number of candidates for the Chief Girls Scout medal in the entire country because of their numerous projects directed towards the community especially on health, ecology, culture including feeding programs.
Lawyer Marybelle D. Mariñas, Northern Luzon Regional Chairman, said that in 2016 the region was able to produce 209 Chief Girl Scouts and for this year there are at least 189 who were recommended to be recipient of the Chief Girl Scout medal because of their outstanding projects in the community like transforming an eye sore into a beautiful spot, livelihood projects, among others.
“We are also honoring today our Outstanding District Field Advisers, outstanding Girl Scouts and Troop Leaders for their achievements and accomplishments,” said Locsin.
Santiago, on the other hand, said that at present the GSP has adopted programs being implemented by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) aside from the outdoor leadership skills and other outdoor challenges like rock climbing or zipline riding to hone the skills and development of the girl scouts.
These programs are surf smart, stop the violence and free being me.
Under the “surf smart” program, girl scouts are guided on how to use the internet without being exposed to the don’t’s in social media; in “stop the violence”, the girls are oriented on their rights and avoid being abused; while in the “free being me” program, the girls are taught on the meaning of beauty and the essence of being a girl.
Locsin extended her invitations to the councils to join the regional encampment in Nueva Vizcaya this coming December and the national encampment in Cebu City.
She also believes that Dagupan is ready to host the Girl Scout of the Philippines National Convention with the facilities that the city now provides and its accessibility from Metro Manila.
Sinlao, along with GSP Dagupan Council executive Lerma P. Nicomedez, was happy to note that the delegates to the meeting were satisfied with the outcome of the meeting because of a well established activity. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Sept. 7, 2017)