Written by Aladin A. Callejo, MAEd
The UBLES Boy Scouts officially embraced their leadership roles during the 2025 Scout Officials for a Day (SOFAD) Turnover and Oath-Taking Ceremony with the theme “Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders”, held on October 13, 2025, at the Baguio City Hall Grounds.
The Scout Officials for a Day (SOFAD) program is a flagship initiative of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines designed to develop leadership, civic awareness, and social responsibility among the youth. By giving scouts the opportunity to experience local governance firsthand, the program aims to transform students into responsible leaders, help them understand the value of public service, and empower them to actively contribute to nation-building.
The event gathered young leaders from various schools across Baguio City who symbolically “unseated” local government officials and took on their respective positions for the day—an activity that fosters appreciation for civic duty and participatory governance.
Representing University of Baguio Laboratory Elementary School (UBLES) with pride, three scouts successfully took their oaths and began fulfilling their assigned posts:
- Scout Heiss Izek C. Simon — Scout City Treasurer
- Scout Christler O. Padupad — Scout City Schools Division Superintendent
- Scout Joaquin Pablo B. Reglos — Scout Assistant City Engineer
Their journey was guided by, Sctr. Aladin A. Callejo whose leadership and mentorship played a vital role in preparing the scouts for this meaningful experience.
City officials, scouting leaders, and educators attended the ceremony, showing their support for this youth empowerment initiative. Following the turnover, the scouts engaged in discussions with city leaders, observed administrative operations, and learned about the daily responsibilities of their respective offices.
Connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The SOFAD program directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 4 – Quality Education: By promoting leadership and experiential learning beyond the classroom, SOFAD transforms education into a holistic journey of personal growth.
- SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: The activity helps build transparent and accountable governance by involving the youth in civic processes.
- SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: The program empowers scouts to contribute to building inclusive and sustainable communities through active citizenship.
Highlighting the Impact
The SOFAD Turnover Ceremony not only gave scouts a chance to perform the duties of city officials but also inspired them to value community engagement, ethical leadership, and good governance. The Testimonial Dinner and Awarding Ceremony hosted by the Baguio City Council celebrated the scouts’ accomplishments and the collaborative effort of schools and scout advisers across the city.
The UBLES Scouting Family takes great pride in their representatives, who lived up to the Scouting ideals of leadership, service, and excellence. Their participation in SOFAD 2025 has strengthened their sense of civic duty and inspired them to continue being catalysts of positive change in their communities — truly embodying the spirit of “creating better citizens for a better world.”
