AFTER three dormant years for the Bedan Peers and one year for the San Beda Rovers, these organizations make a comeback as a new addition to this year’s lineup of extra-curricular and special interest organizations. 

Alecs Gofredo (II-BSP), Rovers Leader, shared that the Circle initially disbanded because of members who graduated or left because of personal commitments. According to Gofredo, prior to the revival, there were no plans to start the Circle again; hence, she describes the organization’s revival as “a spur-of-the-moment kind of idea.” 

Despite it being a sudden move, their love for Scouting, which traces back to high school, is what motivated them to revive the Rover Circle, especially since most officers of the organization already have an established relationship. “Most of the officers are alumni of the San Beda Senior Scouts, the high school section of scouting here in San Beda,” she shares. 

As for The Bedan Peers, their goal in building a safe space for the Bedan community is what brought the executive officers and members of the organization together in reviving the organization. “We came together to revive The Bedan Peers with this purpose in mind, from drafting the bylaws, practicing our house rules to planning future activities centered on inclusivity,” Mary Amiga (II-BSP), president of The Bedan Peers, shared. 

She narrates that before the revival, its current set of member officers were already part of different organizations; however, they all “longed for a more sustainable and fulfilling sense of belonging,” leading them to re-establish the organization. 

During the start of the school year, they started working with the Counselling and Career Development Services (CCDS) to rebuild the organization “with the shared goal of establishing an organization that could serve every Bedan with openness and support,” she said. 

For both organizations, one thing is in mind, and that is to create lasting impact within the Bedan community through their events, activities, and services offered to the students. 

The Bedan Peers envisions itself promoting awareness on mental health and well-being, as they remind students that they are never alone. “Through student facilitator training, events, and an active online presence, we hope to position ourselves as the vocational backbone of student organizations,” Amiga shared.

As the organization reintroduces itself to the Bedan community, it shifts its focus to student facilitator vocations and grows into becoming more than the right-hand group of the CCDS. It sees itself serving as the “emotional sounding board” for students, creating a place “where they can find support, purpose, and connection within the school community,” Amiga added. 

On the other hand, the goal of the Rover Circle is “to build up our strength little by little.” Gofredo admits that since most of its current members are new to Rover Scouting, it would be challenging for the organization to rush into large events, however, she said that “we aim to make progress any way we can.”

Being the Rover leader, she sees unity through service as an important quality for members of the Rover Circle. “We wish to fulfill the Rover slogan; ‘Together We Serve’ in all capacities.” This is evident with the recent release of a service form that organizations or students can fill out in cases when they need the assistance of Rovers in events.

With the world celebrating suicide prevention month, The Bedan Peers reminds the Bedan community that there is always room for understanding to be found. “Nobody is truly alone. Support should not only be a last resort in times of crisis, but also a primary response that we can rely on every day,” Amiga emphasized.  

The Bedan Peers, together with Eureka and the SBCA-Junior People Management Association of the Philippines, held its first-ever event entitled “Echoes of the Mind: A Mental Health Awareness Talk” last Sept. 10. The event focused on the importance of mental health.  

Looking ahead, the Rovers Circle 11 aims to keep the scouting movement alive within the Tertiary Schools, through its upcoming events highlighting the key characteristics of service, camaraderie, and development. “This way, we can fulfill our mission of providing young adults with education and development that extend to outside the classroom,” Gofredo said.