"My lolo World War II veteran. He is one of the oldest Boy Scouts in the world for he is 95 now years old and was a Boy Scout of America since 1918. In his wide knowledge and experiences in Scouting, he had many meritorious accomplishments on records," Sen. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was quoted as saying when he paid tribute to a man considered her true grandfather.

        He is Lt. Andres Juan Veniegas, World War II veteran who joined Scouting eight decades ago. He was then 15 years old, thinking that he was being trained to follow the footsteps of Tomas Claudio, the first Filipino who was killed in World War I because Scouting was then led by the American soldiers.
 
        He was born on Oct. 10, 1902 in Binalonan, Pangasinan. He was married to Esperanza Laroya who bore him three children, two boys and a girl. The death of his wife in 1952 force him to raise his children alone, who later became a successful in their fields. His two sons are working as physician and musician respectively and his only daughter works as professional dancer.

        Her relation with the Macapagals started when he became the guardian of Evangeline, Sen. Gloria's mother. He was the one who selected the righteous suitors for Evangelina. Then out of the countless suitors, the lawyer and the former President Diosdado Macapagal was chosen.

        Lolo Andres has proven his love and loyalty to our country by fighting against the Japanese forces in the World War II. He was known as the oldest Scouts in the Philippines and in the world. For that, he had received several awards in return for his great deeds and accomplishments.

        " Live your life accordingly as what God has taught you because you, the Youth are the hope of our country. Try to be good child to your parents and responsible citizen to your community," Lolo Andres said in a visit to Eastern Pangasinan based in Sub-Camp Rizal.