Tarlac scout a toast in S. Korea jamboree

TARLAC CITY — A high school senior here was chosen by the international Scout movement as its representative to the recent week-long 24th Asia-Pacific Jamboree at Mt. Sorak in Kangwon-do, South Korea.

Justin Edward Asiaten, a student of the Tarlac Montessori School and a member of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP)-Tarlac Council, was even asked to deliver the "Message of Thanks" to the South Korean Scouts last Aug. 10 in behalf of the other countries which took part in the event.

Asiaten told some 25,000 Scouts from all over the world who joined the jamboree that the gathering provided them the opportunity "to know each other personally and culturally, streng—then friendship, develop greater understanding, promote peace and goodwill, and foster closer relations among countries."

Asiaten is presently the senior crew leader of the BSP delegation to international Scouting activities, and now holds the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest in the Scouting movement.

He was with his father, Tarlac businessman and civic leader Danilo Asiaten, who is a member of the BSP-Tarlac Council’s executive board, during the event.

According to Asiaten’s father, they were told that his son’s "rich Scouting experience" earned for him the confidence of the contingent officials to deliver the "Message of Thanks" in behalf of the foreign participants."

The BSP delegation to the South Korean jamboree was composed of 23 Scouts and 15 Scout leaders.

Upon arriving in the country last Monday, Asiaten was informed by the BSP National Council that he was chosen to be among the Philippine delegates to the Centennial Celebration of World Scouts in England in 2007.

Gov. Jose Yap said Asiaten "gave honor not only to the people of Tarlac, but to the Filipino people as well."

Aside from the Philippines, the other countries which took part in the South Korean jamboree were Afghanistan, Australia, Bhutan, Hong Kong, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Malaysia, Russia, Macau, the Mal—dives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Polynesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and the United States.