Sir Rudy, Troop 85 and THS Batch 65

Dear former brothers of Troop 85,

I was getting nostalgic reading your email exchanges, always with a mention of your involvement with Troop 85 and association with our dear Sir Rudy.

Let me share some of my memories about Troop 85...

First, my name is Eugenio "Geny" Toribio, a graduate of class 1965. My family and I have been a resident of Toronto, Canada since 1974.

Together with a lot of my '65 batchmates, I was also a member of the prestigious Troop 85 of Torres High School - but with one distinction... we were the first!

Sir Rudy came to Torres in 1961 and he either brought Troop 85 with him, or he started it at Torres that year. The very first troop leader was my dear friend, Jose Capistrano (if by chance somebody knows of his present whereabouts, please let us know. We have been trying to find him for the longest time). I was the assistant leader. This group picture shows the first Troop 85 with Sir Rudy in the center of row one. Joe Capistrano was to Sir Rudy's right; I was to his left.

Just like all the other Troop 85 batches after us, we quickly rose to prominence in the Manila scouting scene... participating in and winning many awards in city-wide scouting competitions, camp outs and jamborettes (the Clark Field one stands out in my memory).

In 1963, I was fortunate enough to represent Troop 85 in a national recognition ceremony held in the Phil Am Life auditorium. The picture captured my rendition of the poetry piece, "The Scoutmaster", in recognition of Sir Rudy and his fellow leaders of the Philippine scouting movement (see below for the text of the poem).

That year, I also received the "Outstanding Boy Scout" award. The picture shows me proudly pinning the medal to my father, Juan Toribio. Some of you would remember him as a vocational teacher who taught Metal Works and Watch Repair at Torres High.

I was no longer officially a scout in 1964/1965, becoming the platoon leader of the PMT model platoon instead, but my heart was still in scouting, and I continued to be associated with Troop 85, Sir Rudy and the movement, behind the scenes. I continued to hang around with the upcoming scout leaders like Tony Buzon (Val Buzon's brother) and cheered him on as he became one of the few who attained the highest rank of scouting in the Philippines. I could be found frequently visiting the "headquarters" - Sir Rudy's very modest apartment at the end of Molave Street near Calderon Elementary school.

In 2003, THS Batch 65 had a mini-reunion in the Torres library. Our guest speaker was our beloved Sir Rudy. We can't believe that he still remembered most of us and recognized us as his first Troop 85 after 38 years. I remember meeting Eng. Rommel Samson who went to the trouble of picking up Sir Rudy, bringing him to our reunion, and then taking him home. Thanks again. Even prior to meeting Sir Rudy in 2003, my nephew, Jollo Semilla, had been sending me tidbits of updates about the sorry fate of Sir Rudy over the years. We took up a little collection in appreciation and recognition of the impact he has had on our lives. I, for one, attribute the leadership qualities that assisted me in my career, to the training I received from the scouting movement, Troop 85 and Sir Rudy. I believe that many of us would make that attribution without any hesitation.

I wonder if Troop 85 still exists. Long live Troop 85 and the Boy Scouts of the world. Thank you, dear Sir Rudy.

The Scoutmaster
Edgar Guest

There isn't any pay for you, you serve without reward,
The boys who tramp the fields with you but little could afford.
And yet your pay is richer far than those who toil for gold,
For in a dozen different ways your service shall be told.

You'll read it in the faces of a Troop of growing boys,
You'll read it in the pleasure of a dozen manly joys,
And down the distant future you will surely read it then,
Emblazoned thru the service of a band of loyal men.

Five years of willing labor and of brothering a Troop,
Five years of trudging highways, with the Indian cry and whoop,
Five years of campfires burning, not alone for pleasure's sake,
But the future generation which the boys are soon to make.

They have no gold to give you, but when age comes on to you
They'll give you back the splendid things you taught them how to do
They'll give you rich contentment and a thrill of honest pride
And you'll see the nation prosper, and you'll all be satisfied.

Geny Toribio '65
Toronto, Canada