Long before the founding of the Girl Scouts of  the Philippines, lone Girl Scout troops were  already in existence. They were known to have been organized with the Girl Scouts of USA in 1918- Davao, 1926-Capiz, 1929 - Mt. Province, and 1939 - Manila. There were other lone troops in Leyte, Zamboanga, Iloilo etc.

The Girl Scouts of the Philippines was founded by Josefa Llanes Escoda and chartered under Commonwealth Act No.542 by President Manuel L. Quezon on May 26, 1940.

After the war, GSP resumed operations. It became a tender-foot member in 1946 and a full-fledged member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1948. It hosted various international gatherings such as one of the four centenary World Camps in 1957, the Asian Trainers Conference in 1961, the International Heritage Camp in 1966, the AP-PR Finance Seminar in 1971 and Asia Pacific meetings and conferences in 1985 and 1995.

As the Philippines prepares for the Centennials of the Philippine Revolution and the Declaration of its Independence in 1996. Girl Scouts continue to celebrate the glorious past and the challenging future.

Girl Scouting is a Worldwide Movement that provides girls and young women, aged 4 to 21 years, a non-formal progressive educational program based on spiritual values and the ideal of service.

The Movement is open to persons of diverse creeds and races and cuts across social barriers. Membership is voluntary. The Movement is non-political but any member as an active citizen, may take a stand/action on political and legislative matters. It is independent and non-governmental but it participates in nation building through cooperation with the home, school, church, governmental units and other agencies.

While girls are the focus of the Movement, adult volunteers also enjoy many stimulating opportunities. These adults hold ultimate responsibility for the Movement.

Self-training through enriching experiences in Girl Scouting influences girls and young women into becoming responsible, decisive, useful citizens, heard, respected and acknowledged in a changing world.

Thus far, the Movement has spread to 136 countries around the world, one of which is the Philippines. To promote unity and to safeguard their principles, the member countries are organized into the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). To date, WAGGGS has a membership of 8.5 million all over the world.

In our country, the organization is called Girl Scouts of the Philippines with some 2 million members in 92 provincial/city Councils. For Administrative purposes, the Councils are grouped under 6 Girl Scout regional offices-Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, Eastern Mindanao and Western Mindanao. The National office is located at Padre Faura in Manila.

Each council is run by a council board with various units such as district committees and barangay committees under it. Members are found in units called troops of 6 to 40 girls and two (2) adult leaders. A troop is composed of one or more patrols. Six (6) to eight (8) girls form a patrol.

The funds of the Organization are derived from:

the GSP building

• fund campaigns authorized by special
  Presidential Proclamation

• donations, bequests and gifts 

• membership fees

In accordance with financial policies, funds are used solely to attain the aims of the organization. Auditing procedures are strictly followed from the smallest to the biggest organizational unit

The Organization offers the following membership privileges:

• year-round accident insurance coverage effective upon registration at the Council 

• participation in Girl Scout events 

• use of the GS uniform

• links of friendship with other Girl Girl Guides here and abroad 

• stay in national and world centers

• availment of official supplies from National Equipment Service

source: Capture the Girl Scout Spirit