Every Nov. 1, a 73-year-old girl scout leads a tribute to the 24 members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines who died in a plane crash on their way to a jamboree in Greece in July 1963.
Fe Esperanza Castor-Pangan, the younger sister of the late First Class Scout Roberto Castor, continues the scouting legacy of her brother alive to honor him. It was her brother who inspired her to become a girl scout shortly after his death.
Now, decades later, Castor-Pangan is still an active member of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines and serves as the adviser of the National Capital Region Council of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, building a community of patriotic scouts.
‘I am following my parents’ order to continue the legacy of my brother, and I have an advocacy on the scouting movement for the youth,’ Castor-Pangan told the Inquirer in an interview in Filipino. Castor-Pangan shared that she built a community scout service, named after her brother, 11 years ago. She said that her advocacy is to provide free uniforms for scouts.
She also runs the community scout service personally, with most expenses sourced from her and her family’s pockets. Mentoring a new generation of scouts
As Castor-Pangan visited the graves of the fallen boy scouts at the Manila North Cemetery on Saturday, Nov. 1, several young scouts were also with her. Though many scouts went to commemorate Undas with their own families, she said she was happy that some of them spent the day honoring all 24 scouts. She also emphasized the importance of being a scout, especially in dedicating love and rendering service to the country. She added that they must live by the Scout Law every day of their lives.
‘The youth must practice [the Scout Law] in their everyday life as their guide to be good citizens and children to their parents,’ she said.
She shared that she finds joy in knowing that many scouts she had mentored are now professionals in their own respective fields. ‘I’m glad because I know that, on my part, I have guided the youth because I was also guided by my parents. I am just paying it forward,’ she said.
Drawing strength from her brother’s legacy
Castor-Pangan said that her parents’ upbringing and her being a scout for more than half of her life helped her in raising her own family. Looking up to her parents, she said that she never failed to provide support to her six children.
‘I am so blessed because my children did not give me trouble. It’s like leading by example,’ she said.
She also underscored that, even at her age, her lifetime advocacy, which was inspired by her brother’s legacy, continued to give her strength.
‘At my age, this is where I draw strength, especially because I see many of the youth have become successful,’ she said.