NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines — Two Scouts from the Philippines hailed as 2021 Messengers of Peace Heroes, December 6. The awardees were Scout Raymund Romeo C. Guzman Jr. and Scout Leader Jubille Marlourd D. Lucena.
Guzman Jr. headed Project DANUM, in Cagayan. DANUM—Development of Aeta Communities’ Nourishment Facilities in Union with Rural Management Plans. Project DANUM began last May to July 2021 and will have its Phase 2 this January to February 2022. It aims to provide clean water and sanitation through a portable filtration system.
Guzman Jr. demonstrating the technology to an Aeta community.
“It has raised the hopes of indigenous tribes who have seen the need for basic social services such as water, food, and light. We are assisting them to develop a long-term water facility and enable the Aetas in Cagayan to meet our goals. [This is] to reduce the number of children infected with cholera, botulism, typhoid, amoebic dysentery, E. coli, coliform bacteria, streptococcus, and salmonella,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lucena pioneered the Community-based scouting unit in Barangay Coro-Coro, Tiwi, Albay. The project started last February through the planning with their Sangguniang Kabataan. It was last March 5, when the outfit was formed.
Lucena teaching ropework and knot-tying to members of Barangay Coro-Coro Scouting Unit
The unit aims to continue the Scouting Movement despite the pandemic. Since, camping and outdoor activities were not allowed, outside their barangay.
“It aims to provide a safe, enjoyable, exciting, and challenging learning environment, [that is] complimentary to formal educational institutions. The members of its unit are out-of-school youths, victims of child labor, and youth who are part of dysfunctional families. The program provides its members with greater opportunities to participate in democratic leadership. It also empowers them through education of their vital role in problem-solving and decision-making. This will help them develop core life skills, render community service, and contribute to the development of quality of life in the community,” he claimed.
The awardees also thanked their partner organizations, who made their respective projects successful.
Guzman Jr. mentioned that without the help and support of Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Kaya Kakayanin Natin, Waves for Waters Philippines the project won’t be possible.
“Dr. Zsa Zsa Meneses, my family and friends [who] contributed to the project’s success. With their help, we bridged the water inequality gap for the communities,” he added.
The Community-based Scouting in Coro-Coro is through the partnership with the Sangguniang Kabataan, Provincial Youth Development Office under the Office of the Provincial Governor, and as endorsed by the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Messenger of Peace Heroes Awards recognizes exceptional Scouts and volunteers to create a better world. The award acknowledges the extraordinary service of young people and their contributions towards community development, the promotion of dialogue and peace, and relief in times of need.
Along with them, 23 other Scouts around the world received the MOP Heroes Awards 2021. Here is the complete list of the winners:
- Jubille Marlourd D. Lucena, Philippines
- Raymund Romeo C. Guzman Jr., Philippines
- Ahmed Mahmoud, Egypt
- Ali Muhammed Amin, Pakistan
- Bianca Iloaia Pîrvulescu, Romania
- Charles Lubanga, Democratic Republic of Congo
- En-Señas, Venezuela
- Fakhir Naufal, Indonesia
- Gambella Scout Group, Ethiopia
- Group Grombalia El Medina, Tunisia
- Ivy Akii Karushi, Kenya
- Joana Bacelar, Portugal
- Kayla Bernard, Canada
- Krisly Nazareth Rodriguez Barrantes, Costa Rica
- Mafeking Scout Group, India
- Mariana Elizalde Cano, Mexico
- Meghry Sirapionian, Armenia
- Noura Aldbeeb, Saudi Arabia
- Nour Elhouda Mahmoudi, Algeria
- Pacôme Hermann Koffi, Côte d’Ivoire
- Sabin Krishna Karmacharya, Nepal
- Salifou Aïchatou, Benin
- The UK Community Impact Group, United Kingdom
- Viajeros entre Letras, Colombia
- Viviane Ogou, Spain
Lucena and Guzman Jr. are also recipients of the Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines Award. They won the search and received their awards in 2017 and 2021 respectively.
