The Girl Scouts of the Philippines celebrated the 122nd birth anniversary of founder Josefa Llanes Escoda last Sept. 20 amid restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Girl Scouts around the country held virtual events to honor the legacy of the heroine that empowered women during her time.
“In the midst of the pandemic, Girl Scouts continue their activities, and being digital natives, they are very comfortable and productive in doing Girl Scout activities online. Truly, the landscape for doing things, especially for social organizations like the GSP, has changed,” the GSP said.
Through a week-long series of events, various Girl Scouts councils in the country celebrated the Girl Scout Week which had the theme, “Moving Forward, Sustainable Actions by the Girls, for the Girls.”
Ninety-six Girl Scouts councils participated in the week-long activities set by the national GSP. Each day from Sept. 20 to 26, councils patterned their activities to a certain theme.
Sept. 20 was Founder's Day in which they celebrated the birth of Escoda and commemorated how her foresight and heroism paved the way for better opportunities for every Filipina.
Sept. 21 was Environment Day where “Girls in Green, Go Green!” This day, they were encouraged to participate in their council's Earth-friendly activities while practicing minimum health protocols.
Sept. 22 was Faith Day which emphasized how each Girl Scout lives their life as they fulfill their duty to God, to their fellowmen, and to the country.
Sept. 23 was Family Day while Sept. 24 was Community Day. The last two days of the week-long celebration was dubbed as “Troop Leaders’ Day” and “Girl’s Day.”
All Girl Scouts in the country were enjoined to participate in the online and small activities prepared by their councils in their areas for the remaining days of the week-long event.
“Let’s grab this opportunity to be as one with our sisters in the entire country to celebrate our womanhood and to give honor to the founder of GSP, who is Josefa Llanes Escoda,” Hyacinth Bangero, GSP Central Board Member, said.
Bangero said the GSP has been contributing individually and as councils to ease the health crisis in the country.
“Individually, as Girl Scouts in various councils – we have 96 councils in the Philippines – we are contributing and will continue to do so in our immediate community such as but not limited to providing food packs to our frontliners in different areas at the same time even the young Girl Scouts, they are writing, creating artworks for the victims of coronavirus to cheer them up while they are in quarantine. Those are the things that we can do individually that have an impact,” Bangero said.
Girl Scout Week is an annual event celebrated through gatherings, campings, and community activities nationwide.