Filipino Guide Leaders Enjoyed Visit To N.Z.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29783, 28 March 1962, Page 2

Filipino Guide Leaders Enjoyed Visit To N.Z.

In spite of the differences of climate and living conditions between die Philippines and New Zealand, the basic structure and work of the Girl Guide movement is largely similar in both countries, according to two Filipino Girl Scout leaders completing a three months’ visit to New Zealand.

At the end of an intensive leadership training programme carried out under the joint auspices of the New Zealand Girl Guides’ Association and the Asia Educational Foundation, Mrs Barcelisa Pena and Miss Edith Rada are leaving today with many new ideas to incorporate in their own movement’s work.

At the Girl Guides head quarters in Christchurch yesterday, they said that their visit had been of considerable value in many ways. Nut only had they had the opportunity to observe somethin’ of traditional New Zealand camping, throughout both islands, but had made a par ticular study of the work of the Brownie movement.

Although methods in the Philippines were probably "a bit simpler,” both had learned much about training methods, especially of leaders “And of course we’ve learned a lot cd new games and songs which we’ll be teaching to the girls at home when we return,” they said. Asked about differences in organisation, both cited camping procedures as being the most noticeable. Because of the tropical climate and the Ganger of snakes and mosquitoes. camping sites bad to be carefully selected and pre-

pared in the Philippines. In the intense heat tents were not always practicable and mosquito nets were essential

The movement in the Philippines was 22 years old and had a membership of 124.000 girls. There was a shortage of older girls in the Ranger age group. Although there were more than 80 separate dialects in the republic, language was not a barrier as the national Filipino language was quite universal. English was also spoken. During their stay in New Zealand, both Mrs Pena and Miss Rada have managed to sample something of New Zealand life. They have me* many persons and stayed with families in several districts. They enjoyed the hospitality and friendliness of New Zealanders

“Yes, we have really been impressed with this country,” they said. “We’ve really found

nothing to complain of. We think the New Zealand people are very hard working and honest and we have already learned to love them

“It has been more than we had expected. I would like to say on my return to my own people ‘don’t miss this country,’ ” said Mrs Pena. “I think it should be seen—and by that I don’t just mean the physical aspect. AU over the country we have had a real feeling of security and being accepted and co we would like to extend our thanks to aU those who have been so kind to us.”