Baguio, Philippines — The Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade Philippines (BGBP) program at Loakan Baptist Church Christian Education Center (LBCCEC) plays an important role in developing student discipline, responsibility, leadership, and character. The finding comes from research by Nehemiah Paul Viscaya Villena of the University of Baguio Graduate School, which examined the implementation of BGBP during the 2024–2025 Academic Year. The study shows that structured extracurricular activities can become an important part of character education by giving students direct opportunities to practice discipline, responsibility, leadership, and moral values.
The Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade Philippines, locally known as Brigadang Gabay ng Bata, is a scouting organization that combines Christian values, discipline, leadership, and community service. At LBCCEC, the program goes beyond physical exercises and marching activities. BGBP also incorporates spiritual formation, character education, leadership development, and daily behavioral guidance into students’ educational experiences.
The study emerged from the growing need for educational institutions to strengthen character development and discipline among children and adolescents. Issues such as violence, dishonesty, substance abuse, rule violations, and indiscipline have increased attention toward the importance of character education. Previous studies have also indicated that scouting activities can help develop discipline, teamwork, leadership, motivation, and other positive values among students.
The Basic Officer Training Course (BOTC) is one of the key components used to prepare BGBP officers. The training provides officers with the knowledge and practical skills required to conduct drills, teach brigade lessons, manage student behavior, and organize activities. The study also emphasizes that officer training should be continuous. Refresher training and professional development help officers maintain their competencies while responding to students’ changing needs and developments in the educational environment.
In terms of student development, participants reported that BGBP contributes to discipline and self-control. Students who actively participate in brigade activities were observed to become more punctual, responsible, obedient, and capable of regulating their behavior. Discipline is therefore understood not simply as compliance with commands but as the development of personal responsibility and self-control.
The program also contributes to the development of character traits such as honesty, humility, compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and integrity. Leadership experiences during drills, ceremonies, school activities, and organizational events help students develop confidence, communication, decision-making, and teamwork skills. Leadership within BGBP is presented as a form of service, encouraging students to understand that leadership also involves responsibility toward others.
Overall, Villena concludes that BGBP is a values-based educational program that can complement formal classroom instruction. The combination of spiritual formation, structured activities, leadership experiences, discipline routines, and social cooperation creates an educational environment that supports students’ holistic development. Strengthening officer training, resource support, collaboration with parents and communities, as well as regular monitoring and evaluation, is considered important for maintaining the program’s sustainability and improving its effectiveness.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v5i8.251
Journal Link: https://journaleajmr.my.id/index.php/eajmr
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