MAY 24, 2008 – More than 300 Scouts, Scouters, Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) officials, and guests congregated at the BSP National Office compound in Ermita, Manila to witness the launching of the “Go Green, Go for the Real Thing” project, undoubtedly the biggest and most significant project of the Boy Scouts in recent times.

‘Go Green, Go for the Real Thing’ (GO GREEN) is a joint undertaking between the BSP and The Coca Cola Export Corporation (CCEC), wherein the latter is bankrolling the entire project including the creation of tree nurseries in designated BSP properties nationwide. 

In time for the launch, a 10-minute video presentation was prepared to explain the project concept and show project highlights.  The video clip has been posted on YouTube.  Click here to view the video clip. 

The GO GREEN project was conceptualized about two years ago by Jose Eduardo C. Delgado, National Program Commissioner and member of the BSP National Executive Board (BSP-NEB), and JB Baylon, Vice President and Director of Public Affairs & Communication of CCEC.

According to Delgado, “The project’s primary objective is not just to plant at least 100 thousand tree seedlings over the next five years, but also to nurture them until their chances of surviving into fully grown trees will already be much higher.”

Even this early Delgado is already confident that the BSP will easily surpass the 100 thousand target as several other complementary activities under the GO GREEN project are already being prepared.

Essentially a plant propagation and activity concept, GO GREEN is project-managed by the BSP National Program Division.  According to Sophie Castillo, BSP Program Assistant, the project is aimed at “emphasizing among Boy Scouts the importance of trees in our environment.”

“Through GO GREEN more Scouts are expected to learn more about trees and hopefully encouraged to plant and take good care of more trees.” Castillo added.

Among those who graced the launching event were: Mayor Fred Lim of the City of Manila; David Lyons, President and CEO of Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils. Inc.; Baylon; Delgado; and several members of the BSP-NEB. 

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Photo captions (in order of appearance)

1. David Lyons of Coca-Cola (3^rd from left), Mayor Fred Lim of the City of Manila (4^th from left), and Jose Eduardo Delgado of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (5^th from left) leading the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
   
2. BSP National Program Commissioner Jose Eduardo Delgado (2^nd from left) and BSP Secretary General J Rizal Pangilinan (5^th from left) present tree seedlings to David Lyons of Coca-Cola and Mayor Fred Lim, respectively.
   
3. A Boy Scout Leader giving a lecture on the different stages of a tree and how to properly care for it during each stage.  The lecture was conducted at the first ‘Go Green, Go for the Real Thing’ nursery constructed at the BSP National Office compound in Ermita, Manila.
   
4. BSP Program National Program Commissioner Jose Eduardo Delgado addressing the participants and guests of the ‘Go Green, Go for the Real Thing’ project launch.  Delgado is the primary proponent of the project.

Click here to view more photos from the “Go Green, Go for the Real Thing” Launch.

# /RUS