24 January 2014 – Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay, concurrently the National President of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, welcomed His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden today at the Coconut Palace. His Majesty, as Honorary Chairman of the World Scout Foundation, will be the Guest of Honor at the Invitational Peace Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines in its centenary year to be held in Makiling, Laguna on January 25.

The Vice-President thanked His Majesty for the support given by the World Scout Foundation (WSF) to the Ticket to Life project of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines located in the cities of Manila, Zamboanga and Davao, noting that the WSF funding for this project provides a promise of a better future to children in difficult circumstances.

The Vice-President also conveyed his appreciation of the WSF’s assistance to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) through its Messengers for Peace initiative.

As National President of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, the Vice-President will join His Majesty at tomorrow’s Scout’s activities in Makiling, where more than 7,000 young scouts are expected to participate. Vice-President Binay will also accompany His Majesty in Tacloban to visit the Boy Scouts of the Philippines’ various projects in the typhoon-affected areas.

Prior to His Majesty’s meeting with the Vice-President, King Carl XVI Gustaf was welcomed earlier today by President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacañan. The President is the Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines as mandated by Republic Act 7278.

King Carl XVI Gustaf has been a lifelong supporter of the Scouting Movement, becoming a scout himself at 10 years old. His Majesty accepted the role of Honorary Chairman of the World Scout Foundation in 1977 and has since been leading the WSF in raising funds to support scouting projects worldwide. END