By: Bianca Nicole Estrella
The Boy Scouts Monument devoted to the 3 Letranites who's lives were tragically lost when the plane carrying 24 Filipino Boy Scouts crashed in August 1963 on route to the 11th World Scout Jamboree in Greece.
An annual mass for Scout Memorial Day was held on Friday, July 28, 2023, at the Colegio Chapel in celebration for the 60th death anniversary of the 24 Filipino Boy Scouts during the 11th World Scout Jamboree plane crash in August 1963.
Among the 24 boy scouts who died were three Letranites, Air Scout Observer Ramon Valdes Albano, Star Scout Wilfredo Mendoza Santiago, and Senior Scout Pathfinder Henry Cabrera Chuatoco. The ceremony was not only meant to offer their honor and prayer for our fellow Letranites, but also for the souls that died in the plane accident.
The Vice President for Religious Affairs (VPRA), Rev. Fr. Stephen Mari Laja, OP., presided over the holy Eucharist in honoring the lives and sacrifices of the fallen scouts. Among the attendees were the two siblings of scout Albano, Dr. Claudia Albano and Mr. Larry Albano.
John Stephen Catipol, a current student of Letran-Manila and member of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), was also present during the mass.
In an interview with The LANCE, Fr. Laja stated the reason for the mass was for all of us to connect with each other not just as brothers and sisters but as children of God. He also pointed out that the celebration is a meaningful practice in the Colegio as the mass is the Letranites' way of expressing their 'love' to the boy scouts' heroism and selfless voluntary spirit for the country and the people.
“When we offer mass, we actually offer something important. We have intentions. This mass [is] for the boy scouts… we offer mass for them,” Fr. Laja said.
“Unless you love, you can’t offer something. We offer love. Like boy scouts, they love the country, they love other people. Love is the foundation.”
“When you love someone, you want the one you love to be happy. When we offer mass to them, we offer the (catholic) souls of our Letranites so that they can be in heaven and happy forever,” Fr. Laja added.