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Philippines Pathfinder Camporee

19th October 2009 - 24th October 2009

PLS – AUP Chapter conducts Basic Swimming and Lifesaving Workshop to 6,000 campers in the 1st SSD-wide Pathfinder Camporee
More than six thousand pathfinders ” young members of the Seventh Day Adventist congregation, aged 8 to 15 ” coming from fifteen different countries in Asia and the Pacific who attended the First Southern Asia Pacific Division (SSD) – wide Pathfinder Camporee held at the Adventists University of the Philippines (AUP) in Puting Kahoy, Silang Cavite , from October 19 to 24, went through the Basic Swimming and Lifesaving Workshop facilitated by the PLS -AUP Chapter.

Not wanting to miss out the rare opportunity of disseminating the lifesaving advocacy of Philippine Life Saving (PLS) to such a huge number of participants in one shot, James Lovell Pedernal , PLS- AUP Chapter President, readily accepted the invitation from the organizers of the SSD- wide Asia Pacific camporee for his team to facilitate a workshop on swimming and water safety. Confident in his team and in the support of both PLS President Arne Navarra and Secretary General Larry Alag , Pedernal immediately summoned his PLS- AUP team , which included some Civic Welfare (CWTS) and Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) members. Together they promptly planned for the herculean undertaking.

Unmindful of the logistical difficulties of conducting a workshop for six thousand participants in just a span of five days, the PLS-AUP team , along with Alag, rolled up their sleeves and set out to do an unprecedented task, making the AUP hosted SSD Pathfinders Camporee as the first ever international event to embrace the Drownproofing Campaign of Philippine Life Saving Society. Daily, from October 19 to 23, the team tirelessly facilitated a series of 6 one-hour training workshops to 1500 campers who had to be split into six manageable groups of more or less 250 members. By the end of the fourth day, the team was able to successfully conduct a total of twenty- four workshops to accommodate each and every six thousand pathfinders, including their leaders and mentors.

The training workshop provided the pathfinders lectures and hands-on training on swimming , water safety , and lifesaving. They were also taught first aid skills for drowning victims, basic non- contact rescue skills, water survival through the use of different flotation techniques, and water-safety measures, like proper entrance and exits in and out of the pool, and the safe usage of lifejackets. No one could be prouder of the PLS-AUP team than Pedernal. “They all did a remarkable job in spreading the advocacy of PLS.I am proud of the spirit of volunteerism and the sense of community that my team exhibited during the entire event. Most of them were immersed in the pool throughout the camporee duration, yet they were uncomplaining. With smiles on their faces, they worked indefatigably for long hours, he said.

Pedernal was gratified with the special interest in lifesaving shown by the campers who came to the camporee for many other purposes- camping, fellowship , Adventist Youth (AY) honors, and most importantly, drawing themselves closer to God. The weeklong event offered the young campers many activities like team-building, cooperative games, social recreations, skills demonstrations, and cultural presentations, just to name a few. Notably, it was the first time in the history of pathfinder camporees in the Philippines that a basic swimming and lifesaving workshop was conducted, and the extra was received warmly by the participants. “ The campers’ receptiveness and enthusiasm complemented the facilitating team’s zealousness and improved the shining hour, so to speak, Pedernal added.

Many of the pathfinders, especially those coming from Manila and Pangasinan who were victims of the devastating onslaught of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, vowed to commit themselves to the lifesaving advocacy of PLS. Their own tragic experiences and the overwhelming loss of lives of their fellow men in the wake of the recent catastrophe have underscored to them the urgent need for survival swimming and lifesaving.

The pathfinders and their leaders left the camp not only with a renewed dedication to Jesus Christ, but also with newly-acquired knowledge and skills, including swimming and lifesaving. They also left the camp eagerly looking forward to the next SSD-wide camporee which is set to happen in 2014. The PLS-AUP teams shares this anticipation and hopes that the next SSD-wide camporee will happen again in the Philippines. If it does, one thing is for sure , the team will be there once more to lend its hand to propagate PLS’ lifesaving advocacy. But if it happens elsewhere, and in the unlucky event that resources will prevent them from being there , they can still bask at the thought that in 2009 SSD- wide camporee, each one of them– just like the pathfinders who were “called upon to shine for Jesus and to whom they were called upon to serve– was also “called to shine and shine they all did when they readily and selflessly responded to that call.

Kudos to the PLS-AUP Chapter for a great job!

Details

Start:
19th October 2009
End:
24th October 2009