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E.H. Edejer - Philstar.com
December 27, 2025 | 10:45am
Sub-Camp Stevenot in the 62-ha Camp Zambales, site of the 33rd Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree.
E.H. Edejer
ZAMBALES, Philippines — Teamwork among provincial government units, local officials, national agencies and volunteers was credited for the successful hosting of the 33rd Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree (APRSJ) held in Zambales from December 14 to 21.
Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. specifically mentioned Congresswoman Bing Maniquiz of the 2nd District of Zambales, who served as deputy camp chief for administrarion, Vice Gov. Jaq Khonghun and mbers of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan, the 13 municipal local government units, Boy Scouts of the Philippines Zambales Chapter, Department of Education coordinators, Region 3 and Zambales Philippine National Police, the 71st Division and 69th Infantry Battalion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Phililpine Coast Guard (Zambales), Bureau of Fire Protection, Zambales Provincial Engineering Office, Department of Public Works and Highways 1st District Engineering Office, Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Provincial Health Office, Department of Health Medics Teams, Philippine National Red Cross and officials and volunteers of Brgy. San Juan, the host barangay.
"We have proven once again the inherent character of Zambaleños to perform and make possible seemingly impossible odds placed on our shoulders," Ebdane, who was also camp chief of the 33rd APRSJ, said.
"We have done it again with flying colors. We will always remember this opportune time and event in history that happened in our province of Zambales," he added.
More than 23,800 delegates, including 441 international scouts from 20 countries across the Asia-Pacific joined the 33rd APRSJ last week in what was described as the biggest scouts gathering in the region so far.
The delegates came from Kuwait, Bangladesh, United States, Korea, Taiwan, Maldives, Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mongolia, Thailand, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Timor Leste and the Philippines.
Ebdane recalled that Zambales accepted the responsibility of hosting this year's APRSJ "at the risk of national embarrassment" because of short notice, unexpected schedule and lack of programmed budget.
He said the provincial government barely had 13 weeks to prepare the 62-hectare campsite near the Bucao lahar field in Botolan town.
The provincial government spent some P70 million to develop the camp, Ebdane added, pointing out though that some P50 million worth of infrastructure built therein could be recovered and re-used for future construction projects.
"Hosting this kind [of] international event for the first time was such a big pressure for us, but we prevailed," he added.
Promiment Scout leader David Robert Baden-Powell, a great-grandson of the Scouting movement’s founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell, attested to the well-organized camp in Zambales in a recent social media post.
"This jamboree was one of the best that I have been to. A beautiful site. Chilled adults. Chilled youth. People from all around the Asia Pacific region. Great activities. Food. More food. Even more food. But most importantly… heaps of new friends!" Baden-Powell wrote.
In a press conference on December 21, foreign scout masters also praised the Zambales government for the camp's safety, security, location, facilities, as well the hospitality of local officials and residents.
As jamboree chief, Ebdane turned over the APRSJ flag to the head of the Thailand scouts delegation at the camp closing ceremonies last Saturday.
Thailand will host the next Asia-Pacific regional jamboree in 2029 at the Bajiravudh Scout Camp in Chon Buri province, some 80 km southeast of Bangkok.
