Boy Scouts of the Philippines names 2022 Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines

After a weeklong search from October 19 to 26, 2022, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines awarded this year’s Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

Of the 20 finalists, 10 were recognized as the most outstanding after a series of technical evaluation of documents, skill tests, and panel interviews conducted by the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and the Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines Association.

The awarding ceremony was held on October 26, 2022, at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City.

Get to know the 2022 Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines!

ELIJAH G. ESTEBAN

Metro Manila East Council, National Capital Region

“Outstanding always in all ways” is the core principle that reminds outstanding scouts to carry the essence of the organization in every aspect of life. As a winner, Scout Elijah Estaban strives to carry the meaning of outstanding.

At home, he is proudly the youngest son among three children of two successful entrepreneurs. In school, he is studying Civil Engineering with a Full Elite Scholarship at Far Eastern University - Institute of Technology. At church, he is active in mobilizing youth formations. In his neighborhood, he is heading multiple community projects advocating to ameliorate vulnerable sectors. He is driven to uplift the lives of children by providing opportunities for education and learning. In scouting, he is serving the country as a Regional Scout Representative for Luzon from 2022 to 2023.

Scout Esteban continues to strive to be the prime example of what it means to be outstanding always in all ways.

ANDREW EMMANUEL ROBLES

Navotas City Council, National Capital Region

Indeed, there are scouts destined for greatness.

As the first Eagle Scout and TOBSP awardee from Navotas City Council, Andrew Emmanuel Robles truly personifies what it means to be great. And when greatness is shared with others, one becomes truly outstanding. Eagle Scout Robles saw the need to capacitate residents of his city by launching SALAD Navoteños: Scouts' Aid for Low-Income and Distressed Navoteños, a community project that aims to raise funds for poverty alleviation. Through his vision for a better city, many Navoteños are now reaping the benefits of his project.

More than scouting, Robles also excels as a student. He graduated as the class valedictorian of Navotas National High School Class of 2022. In the same school, he previously served as the Supreme Student Government President in the year 2021 to 2022.

Eagle Scout Robles is an avid fan of anime and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a movie franchise that popularized the saying, “With greatness comes responsibility” - a saying that he lives by.

MARK LEO B. SALES

City of Mandaluyong, National Capital Region

Joining the roster of the Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines Association is Eagle Scout Mark Leo B. Sales from the City of Mandaluyong Council, National Capital Region. He embodies the true identity of a scout: one that recognizes the duty to God, country, and the self.

He is a recipient of the Ave Maria Cross award which epitomizes his strong devotion to God. As an Eagle Scout, Mark Leo Sales serves as the current president of the NESAPH Chapter No. 18 Hen. Vicente “Kalentong” Leyba. His duty to our country is best exemplified by his community project Programang TIKAS (Tungo sa Ikauunlad ng Kultura, Agrikultura, at Scouting) which encourages the youth to participate in embracing arts and culture and nurturing agricultural sustainability through scouting. His commitment and dedication to improving himself through scouting have enabled him to make history as the first Anahaw Awardee of the City of Mandaluyong Council.

Outside scouting, Sales enjoys traveling and searching for more adventures - a true trait of an outstanding scout.

ASHLEY MAE D. DELA CRUZ

Antipolo City Council , Southern Tagalog Region 

Antipolo City Council marks history in this year’s national search. Eagle Scout Ashley Mae D. Dela Cruz is the first-ever female TOBS awardee of the council. She now joins the roster of the Women of TOBSPA, a collective of female awardees seeking to promote gender empowerment and inclusivity in scouting.

Scout Dela Cruz never fails to live by scouting’s slogan “Always Prepared.” Service is deeply embedded in her core. She carries out the functions of an outstanding scout as the Deputy Grand Eagle of Antipolo City Eagle Scouts (ACES Agilas) and as the Vice President of Kabataan Para sa Kabataan. In times when assistance is required, Scout Dela Cruz does not think twice about volunteering for various community-serving organizations.

But scouting isn’t the only thing Scout Dela Cruz is good at. She is also an event host and an online seller - a few gigs she ventures to help her family.

JAN WILLEM A. PIMENTEL

San Pablo City Council, Southern Tagalog Region

*Recipient, Outstanding Scout for Skills Award 

*Recipient, Outstanding Scout for Character Award 

The ultimate recipe for brewing an outstanding scout is the sweet spot for the betterment of one’s nation. Indeed, service is not everyone’s cup of tea. But for Eagle Scout Jan Willem Pimentel, a consistent honor student of San Pablo City Science Integrated High School, envisioning a better Philippines is part of his daily routine.

Currently, he serves as the Founding Executive Director of Sibol Alaminos, a non-profit youth organization that aims to empower the youth through leadership. He is the incumbent Regional Scout Representative II of the BSP Southern Tagalog Region. He is also part of Sulong San Pablo as the Deputy Director for Youth Engagement and a member of the Internal Affairs Committee of Youth Parliamentarians of Laguna. Truly, Eagle Scout Pimentel’s core is to advocate for youth leadership and good governance.

When asked about his favorite drinks, Eagle Scout gives no definitive answer, but it’s definitely not Matcha, a drink he reckons to taste like grass.

THERESE ERLYN B. NAPULI

Cebu Council, Eastern Visayas Region

One may ask, “what makes an outstanding scout?” For Eagle Scout Therese Erlyn Napuli of Cebu Council, it is to “do small things with great love,” a lesson she gleaned from Mother Theresa.

But Scout Napuli is not simply comfortable in small acts of love. In fact, she challenges herself to go beyond the extra mile. This is best exemplified in her stints as the Regional Scout Representative for Eastern Visayas Region, as a member of the Executive Board of Ateneo De Cebu Senior High School Student Council, and as the batch president of KALFI LEAD 2022.

Scout Napuli’s tenacity and strong devotion to God resulted to receive two of the most distinct awards in the scouting movement: the Scout of the World award in 2022 which recognized her efforts to address global issues and the Ave Maria Cross award in 2021 which acknowledged her zeal and fervor as a follower of Christian values.

ISRAEL HANS S. GOLEZ

Iloilo Confesor Council, Western Visayas Region

*GAWAD Fidel V. Ramos TOBSPA Award for Community Service Recipient

*Recipient, Outstanding Scout for Community Service Award

The true mark of an outstanding scout is resilience amidst challenges in life. After battling against dengue and surviving Stage 4 Cancer, Scout Israel Hans Golez of the Iloilo Confesor Council did not stop carving his path toward excellence.

He is the longest-serving Council Scout Representative of Iloilo Confesor Council where he assumed the position for three years from 2019-2022. He served as the Regional Scout Representative of the BSP-Western Visayas Region from 2021-2022. He graduated valedictorian during his Junior High School at Iloilo National High School where he was awarded the highest honors. Currently, he is the president of  Iloilo National High School Supreme Student Government where he is also finishing his Senior High School.

JAMBER ALEXIS J. IDULSA

Bukidnon Council, Eastern Mindanao Region

Bukidnon establishes a landmark in this year’s search for outstanding scouts. Its first finalist to the national leg of the competition won as part of the ten outstanding scouts. Indeed, Scout Jamber Alexis Idulsa made a remarkable performance. His achievements truly make him worthy of being called ‘outstanding’. 

He serves as the current Regional Scout Representative for Mindanao, seating in the National Executive Board to act as the voice of his fellow scouts. He is the National Lead Convener of the Philippine Youth Convergence and is one of the proponents of the Youth Education Agenda. He was one of the speakers at the Southeast Asia Youth Festival under the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, the ASEAN Youth Forum, and Plan International.

Apart from scouting, Idulsa is an athlete who represented the Philippines during the 2018 Royal Bangkok Swimming Competition (RBSC) in Bangkok, Thailand. He is also an environmentalist. He was the Mindanao delegate of the TreeBuk Project and LCOY Pilipinas during the Ateneo de Davao Eco Summit. He is also a public speaker and a contributor to various events, strikes, and developmental agendas.

LIAN JON B. SANTOS

Agusan Council, Eastern Mindanao Region

Also added to the roster of female winners of the Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines is Scout Lian Jon Santos of Agusan Council.

She was a former Regional Scout Representative for Mindanao who made her stint in 2021. In the same year, she became the first and only Miss Baden-Powell Ambassadress of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

Scout Santos is also active in participating in various community initiatives. Since December 2021, she holds the position of Little City Mayor of Cabadbaran, Agusan - a platform to promote youth leadership and engagement in the Local Government Unit. During high school, she served as the Vice President of the student government of Cabadbaran City National High School.

But more than her dedication to the scouting ideals and her service to the community, Santos’ passion for the arts has been burning. She has published various literary works on Wattpad and Facebook since 2016.

DATUYAMAN C. DATUMANONG

Maguindanao-Cotabato City Council, Western Mindanao Region

It was in 2016 when the Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines awarded the first-ever woman winner, thus paving the history for outstanding female scouts. Since then, scouting in the country has continued to break glass ceilings. This year, Scout Datuyaman Datumanong has written yet another chapter in the 32-year history of the search for being the first Moro scout to be part of the association.

Aware of the struggle for safety and security in Bangsamoro, Scout Datumanong advocates for peace in his region. He is currently the Project Officer of United Voices for Peace Network - Sultan Kudarat Chapter. He is also a member of the Project and Advocacy Committee of the Association of Daring and Hospital Individuals of Kutawato, an organization that aids the poverty-stricken sector of society. He is also serving as the Auditor of the Notre Dame University - Senior High School Supreme Student Government. In 2020, he was elected as the Regional Scout Representative for Western Mindanao Region.

Much like the interests of the current generation, Datumanong is not only a fan of advocating for his community, but he is also fond of watching Korean Drama.