4 Years since the last post

 It has been 4 years.

After being banned from using Facebook where I have since posted my thoughts in lieu of this blog, I have had a lot of moments thinking about things but have not written about them. I now find myself going back to this blog which, while I may have neglected it, has remained steadfast in being an outlet for what is going through my mind. Here's to me promising again to work on this blog.

I have just watched the movie We are Marshalls. I ran through a list of Sports Movies that are based on true stories and decided to watch the movie again as I have not remembered the movie from when I previously watched it. Well, I will not be writing about the movie but will write about how I found myself tearing up watching the movie.

I have always been a sucker for good stories, and it is probably in the pursuit of these stories that I find myself being passionate about the things that I do. I teared up because I felt how the realness of the grief that they conveyed over the death of their Football Team and how they succeeded in recovering from that grief.

Probably the frustrations that bother me right now is the fact that I may not be good enough for the tasks that are given to me. I started writing this blog from the time when I was a mere cadet who wanted to have a bright future. A lot has changed and I think I have done so many wonderful things since then. I can only surmise that the things that I enjoyed which in turn I cultivated have significantly contributed to the things that I do now in the Army. Who would have thought that right now, my primary function is to tell the stories that the Army needs to tell to the public?

But going back to the movie, I was able to relate to how every character was able to contribute to the outcome despite them being in grief also. Right now, I have come to understand that the frustrations I am experiencing are part of the whole dynamic of the good things in store in the future. I would say that I am in a good place right now in terms of my family, my career, and my life in general. Being in that place, however, does not make me exempted from life frustrations. The frustrations are there and the reason why I relate so much to the movie I just watched is that deep inside, I know that in the end, as long as I continue to persevere, I will win.

Today is September 4, 2022. I will go back to this post in the future and will remember the feelings that I have right now. When that time comes, I will laugh at myself because by that time, I have won.

The right to free speech

I wouldn't want to argue with my UP friends over the President's statement of giving the slots of those who joined the walk out to deserving students who wanted to avail of quality education, but for the purpose of just saying my piece just let me post this on my blog. As a young high school student then in Silliman University, I found myself with the League of Filipino Students. I would cut class just to join their activities. I was proud of myself wearing my high school uniform discussing issues in front of college students. Until one professor told me that if I keep on going to the college classrooms, I will never be able to really go into college classrooms for real. Fast forward, I graduated high school, got into some college then went to PMA and the rest is history. Some of my friends in LFS then were eventually captured as members of the NPA, another one is still very much active as a part of Kabataan Partylist, I heard there was a time that he was imprisoned. When Jo Lapira of UP Manila was killed in an encounter in Batangas as a member of the NPA, many students from UP hailed her idealism, her courage to stand for what she believes in, to advance her ideas as an armed combatant against the government. But just like my friends from LFS then, they are either in prison, dead or continue to lead rallies. I seriously doubt if they have actually contributed any good for this country other than espouse their idealism to the ends of the earth. Personally, my involvement with these groups allowed me a better perspective at society. I took up that one week course on Philippine Society and Revolution, went to communities somewhere in Mabinay, met with National Leaders of LFS, received the Kalayaan Newsletter (and religiously burned them after I read it), learned how to play Buhay at Bukid in guitar, idolized Buklod for a while, spray painted some walls in Dumaguete with Mabuhay so and so. I was totally immersed with activism until that professor (he's Sir Gabas by the way) put me in my place, I was never going to college for real if I did not do what i was supposed to do as a student, which is to study. I was reading some comments earlier claiming that they can still pass their subjects because the grading system is not about attendance. But no matter how one argues, one goes to school to learn their field, graduate and be productive members of society. I am not questioning idealism, nor activism, I am merely saying the obvious, something that has been blurred to many of our students in these organizations. It is not by accident that members of these groups end up leaving school and joining the NPA. These groups may deny it to the ends of the earth but all these activities in UP (and other schools) are part of the CPP NPA NDF's IPO (as in Ideological Political Organizational) works to recruit people into the armed group or be leaders for their legal fronts. The student sector with their idealism and capacity to become cadres provide that opportunity. I think the President has been very candid in his dislike on what the students of our state university are doing. He too is expressing his freedom of expression. In a democracy where we enjoy the sacred right to free speech/expression, everyone can criticize each other including a President who will criticize others. But when a certain group cries foul when they are criticized by the President while they burn his effigy and demand his ouster, that is simply being unfair, one sided and wrong. I believe that these rallies should be seen in the context of what is its real intention rather than focusing on it being an exercise of ones right to free speech and expression. The intention of this basic right is on the belief that a society that allows the free flow of ideas is a mechanism to elevate that society for the better. We all have our own idea of what is it that actually "elevates our society for the better" but I am sure that being part of the New People's Army or calling for the ouster of a duly elected President does not elevate our society (may Presidente na ba tayong hindi rinallyhan ng mga grupo na yan na magresign?). I just exercised my right to free speech, I hope this elevates our society.

The reminder of National Heroes Day

Today is National Heroes Day – a day of great significance especially for those of us who serve as soldiers of the Philippine Republic. These days, when my soldier life has become less of the dangerous combat missions, I have seen more of the heroism in the people I worked with and the many soldiers I have encountered. For one, I now interact more to people outside my organization. Conversations with them provide better insight and better appreciation. When I listen to people’s perception of the life of a soldier, I learn that the life that many of us live (or sacrificed) has so much to appreciate – so much to give so much to offer.

In occasions such as National Heroes Day, we are forced to look into ourselves and wonder how we are part of this commemoration. We come to ask what significant contributions we have really done for the nation.

Over the weekend, President Rodrigo Duterte was the guest of honor for the 10th year anniversary of the Eastern Mindanao Command. It was his third visit to military units within the Davao Region, two of which happened to condole with the family of our fallen comrades who died in combat. I hear in the news that he led today’s National Heroes Day Celebration at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig. A little later, he is at the wake of PO1 Gary Cabaguing in Samar. Cabaguing was killed during an anti drug operation as part of the team that served a warrant of arrest on a known drug suspect five days ago.

In the first two months of his Presidency, he mostly visited AFP and PNP camps and wakes of those who died in action. No president in my recent memory has done that. No national politician I can remember has done that. I have not seen any local politician visit the wake of my fallen comrades in my time in the field even if the wake was just across that politician’s house. None of those soldiers or policemen who died he personally knew. He was just there.

Just like what the President is doing, the heroes that we honor today made the harder choice and sacrificed their life for this country. We honor them because despite of whatever form of fear, confusion or hesitation they had, they still did what they did and died for it. I remember the sacrifice of one Sergeant Claudio Forrosuelo who, having realized that his whole battalion was encircled by attacking MILF rebels in August 2000, organized a group of soldiers who will hold the ground in order for the rest of his unit to extricate and fight another day. Accounts of soldiers who came back the next day would reveal the lifeless body of Sgt Forrosuelo surrounded by many dead rebels. He is now buried in nearby Tagum City and perhaps the only Medal of Valor awardee in this part of the country. Inspired by his heroism, his daughter, who at the time of his death was too young to comprehend what his father has done, later joined the Philippine Military Academy and is now a second lieutenant in the Army.

Many of us will not be placed in that situation but all of us can choose to sacrifice something for this country. All of us can forego of our fears, our confusion and whatever hesitation if in the end that decision will have some contribution for the good of this country. When we look at the many problems plaguing this country, it is not easy to understand why we are in the mess we are right now. We refuse to do what must be done and we refuse to offer ourselves for this country. Very few of us are willing to sacrifice for this country. The least that we can really do is to be there for this country. To be Filipinos that contributes positively for the Philippines.

Today’s commemoration is about honoring the selfless acts done for this country. We honor our National Heroes not for their feats of heroism but for the aspiration for which the heroism was made. We honor them because their action was in consideration for something greater than themselves; it was for the Filipino People as a whole.

Yesterday, I was asked during a guesting in a local radio program, what are my thoughts on the ongoing Peace Talks. My answer was short of saying that the President voted by 16 million Filipinos should be trusted that his decision is what is best for this country. At the back of my mind was the fear that the many NPAs we have fought hard to put behind bars will all be released. I fear that the CPP-NPA-NDF will take advantage of the truce and use the opportunity to regroup and rearm. I fear that the cabinet secretaries they fielded will take advantage of their positions for their own agenda. Actually, I fear many things but if this is what it takes to find peace for our country it must be done.

Our country now is in trying times. We are in challenged by many things that will determine our future as a nation. Today’s celebration is perhaps a reminder how we are to act as a people, as Filipinos. Perhaps if we can do that, then maybe, just maybe the future ahead is bright and wonderful.

Celebrating the life of Mike Nollora

Today I choose to celebrate the life of a soldier. I do not know him well but I know him. He was that silent guy who salutes everytime he meets me. He calls me sir. That was several years ago, when we were both cadets at the Philippine Military Academy. I graduated a year ahead of him and have not seen him since. I even paused for some time trying to recall his face upon learning of his death. Later, my Facebook wall is filled with tributes of his heroism. In one post documenting the visit of Chief of Staff General Irriberi, familiar faces were on the background His classmates, my classmates and many others that belonged to our generation of cadets at the Academy. One would think that it was a reunion of some sort led by the incumbent Chief of Staff who, at the time when we were cadets, was also the Chief of Staff of the Philippine Military Academy under then Superintendent General Maligalig. But it was not. It was a sad occasion. It was better not seeing those familiar faces as long as everyone is safe and alive.

We meet again today. Well, it was a meeting of some sorts. I wake up in the morning being told that his body will be flown by a C-130 plane to Davao where he will then be transported to his hometown in Panabo City, just the City next to Davao. My Battalion, which is the CMO Battalion for the Division, was tasked to document his arrival. As the Operations Officer, I was to orchestrate this task. So it is just a meeting of some sort. It will be like that because he is in heaven now and I will never really get to meet him again.

His information is sent to me. He was 31, married and with two kids. Everything else are the same information I have already read from the news and feeds on my Facebook wall. What comes to mind though is this guy who I remember watching in one of the boxing matches in PMA. I do not remember if he won, it’s just that I remember him in his boxing outfit. Then I remember a post from one of his squadmates. The post said that there was a time that she (the squadmate is a girl) wanted to resign from being a cadet and just go home. She said that he talked to her and motivated her. She ended by saying that it was what kept her inside the Academy. That lady graduated and is now in active service. And then there’s another one, his underclass buddy. He said that they had good memories together. He thanked him for teaching him and guiding him during cadetship. The same guy is also in the active service.

The stories I tell now are just bits of pieces of a man who paid the ultimate sacrifice to this country. According to reports, he was hit on a major artery in his thigh. He was initially given first aid but expired an hour and a half after. From the report, he is the only casualty.

So today, I choose to celebrate the life of a soldier. A lot of reports have been released on his death, but then, he was an ordinary person. He chased his dreams and dedicated his life to this country. I believe that if more of those who really knew him will say their piece of what a fine person he is, perhaps we can celebrate his life and bring greater dignity to that life that was taken away by the enemies of this country.

Fighting Back

I contemplated in having to do these. I have always felt that resorting to shaming another in social media is just low. But with this situation I think social media can be a lot of help not just to gain some advantage but also to illustrate how ordinary consumers can just be pushed over by big companies. In this case, it's Smart Communications.

For several weeks now I have been hounded with text messages like this:

I initially ignored this, I have previously made some transaction with SMART with my overpayment but was told to present the receipts which was already lost. Their records show that I indeed overpayed P1400 pesos, even the website where accounts can be checked showed the overpayment, yet they insist that I present the receipt. I resigned myself to just let the matter go to spare me the hassle of following up the transaction just to be refunded with that amount.

Just this morning, I again received another of those text messages, this time my patience was just exhausted. I went to the computer and wrote this email

More than anything, I feel bad that these companies can harass their clients with legal action just because they can hire law firms to do the dirty job for them. And yet, because the consumers are ransomed with the need to communicate with one another, they can choose to ignore our constant clamor to assist us when we have problems with their services. Many consumers, like me, do not have the capacity to bring them to court or have the means to file a complaint with the National Telecommunications Commission. We make do with our shitty experience with their services and just accept our helplessness when they do not resolve our issues or much more, ignore us. We make do because its a choice between their service or being unable to communicate with the whole world. And as if it is not yet enough, they dare threaten us with legal action when they feel they have been robbed with a few pesos from their already large pockets.

I am a government employee and have the means to pay the 900 pesos that they claim I owe them. But they are a big company and they have all the means to pay me back the money that they owe me. The big difference is that they can hire a law firm to harass me to force me to pay them and I can not. That disparity illustrates the kind of consumer environment ordinary Filipinos experience.I hope that something could be done about this, consumers in this country do not have to be ransomed by these companies

Sundalong hindi Valentino

“Ang Valentine’s ay gawa gawa lamang ng mga kapitalistang gustong magkaroon ng dahilan para gumastos ang mga tao”

Yan ang sabi ng mistah ko sa akin matapos syang awayin ng misis nya nung Valentine’s last year. Nung mga panahong iyon kakakasal nya pa lang at yun sana ang pinaka unang Valentine’s nila bilang mag asawa. Pero dahil nga sundalo na naka destino sa Mindanao habang ang asawa nya naman ay nasa Baguio walang nangyari na kahit anong romantic. Pagsabi nya sa akin non para kaming dalawang mamang nakasakay sa iisang bangka, pareho kaming naaway ng asawa sa araw ng mga puso.

Iba naman ang sa akin. Mas matagal na akong may asawa at kahit noon hindi ako naniniwala na importante ang mga bagay na yan. Para sa akin mas mahalaga ang trabaho ko dito sa kampo at iniisip ko lagi na naiintindihan ng misis ko yun, at ng anak ko na nung mga panahong iyon ay apat na taon pa lang. Pero mali pala ako. Gaya ng nakakarami, gusto nya ring ma experience yung nangyayari sa iba. At siguro, mas dapat nga naman na masubukan nya yun, tutal hindi na naman masama na pagbigyan sya, sundalo nga kasi ang ang asawa nya, masama na ba talaga na masubukang maging normal na mag asawa – kahit sa araw lang na yun. Ang sagot ay hindi nga masama pero hindi rin pwede.

Nung mga panahon na iyon, kami ng mistah ko ay mga Company Commander. Malinaw ang patakaran pag ikaw ay isang Commander, five days lang ang pinakamatagal ka na pwedeng mawala sa iyong area. Tapos sa loob ng limang araw na yun pwede kang pabalikin ora mismo pag kinakailangan. Pag nag aaral ka para maging opisyal, o kaya opisyal ka na nangagarap maging isang kumander sinasabi mo sa sarili mo na okay lang yun. Sinasabi mo sa sarili mo na hindi mahirap yun pero pag nandun ka na, sabi nga it is easier said than done. Nakakaramdam ka ng pangungulila sa mga mahal mo sa buhay. Ang mas masakit dun eh pag nakita mo na yung mga pamilya ng mga tao na nakakahalubilo mo sa iyong panenerbisyo, nakakaramdam ka ng inggit. Katagalan yung inggit na yan magiging inis kasi nga habang ikaw ay tumutulong sa mga tao para maging maayos ang kanilang pamilya, ikaw itong sinasakripisyo ang sarili mong pamilya.

Dahil nga puro kami inaway ng mga misis nung gabing iyon, nauwi kami sa inuman dun sa J-Kob. As usual, kasi nga Valentine’s kanya kanyang partner—yung iba dun sa inuman. Syempre kami ang partner naming, yun malamig na San Mig light. Ang takbo ng usapan ay ganito:

“Dapat naiintindihan nila tayo, sundalo tayo eh pinakasalan nila tayong sundalo, alam nila yun tapos aawayin tayo”

Ang corny no. Dalawang magigiting na Commander ng isang Kumpanya ng mga Sundalo, mga PMA Graduates, matatapang sa digmaan, tapos ang pinag uusapan hinanakit kasi na away ng misis sa Valentine’s. San ka pa. Kahit anong gawin namin, balik ng balik ang usapan sa ganun, hindi maikakaila na gusto man naming paniwalaan ang aming mga pinagsasabi, alam naming sa aming mga sarili na tama ang mga misis namin sa pag away sa amin. Ang masaklap, ay alam din namin na hindi talaga kami ang inaaway nila. Ang inaaway nila at patuloy nilang magiging problema eh bakit kailangan nilang isakripisyo ang kanilang mga asawa para sa kapakanan ng ibang tao na madalas eh ni hindi naman marunong magpakita ng pasasalamat sa serbisyo na ginagawa ng kanilang mga mister.

Ang totoo, hindi naman kasi talaga yung pag away ng mga misis pag Valentine’s day ang pinaka issue. Mas gumugulantang lang sa mga asawa namin ang katotohanan ng araw araw nilang pagsasakripisyo ng kanilang sariling kaligayahan na makapiling ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay pag Valentine’s. Kung tutuusin nga eh mas grabe ang kanilang sakripisyo kaysa sa amin na sundalo. Kami kasi, kahit pa anong sabihin namin pinili namin ang maging isang sundalo, yung mga misis namin pinili kami bilang mga tao na minahal nila, tinanggap na lang nila ang aming pagiging sundalo. Kailan man ay hindi magiging makatarungan na isakripisyo nila ang kanilang sariling kaligayahan kasi nga sundalo ang asawa nila. Pero ganun eh, kaya tanggapin na lang, lalabas na lang yung mga issue pag may mga okasyon gaya ng ginawa ng mga kapitalistang gustong bigyan ng dahilan ang mga tao para gumastos.

Bukas, Valentine’s uli. Ako ngayon, ito, kakabalik lang sa isang napakahabang conference. Hindi na ako inaway ng misis ko. Ang kagandahan ngayon eh medyo napag usapan na ng maaga na walang mangyayaring romantic sa Valentine’s. Yung mistah ko, sana hindi sya awayin. Hindi ko alam kasi nandun sya sa malayo nakikibaka.

Sinusulat ko ito para hindi naman masayang ang mga nararamdaman ko. Pinipilit ko man na hindi magpa apekto sa Valentine’s na yan, talagang magaling ang mga burgis eh, naloko nila ang buong mundo. Talagang ganyan ang buhay kailangan may magsakrpisyo. Sana lang hindi masayang yung mga sakripisyong ito, malaki man o maliit. Sana maalala ng bawat isa sa atin na gaya ng lahat may mga mahal din kami sa buhay. Oo, pinili naming ito, pero hindi naman dapat maging parusa para sa amin ang serbisyong ginagawa naming para kayoy maging maligaya. At sana mas lalong hindi parusa sa mga nagmamahal sa amin. Lintik na imbensyon ng mga burgis yan.

Happy Valentine’s sa mga kasama kong sundalo at sa kanilang mga mahal na hindi nila makakapiling dahil sa tawag ng katungkulan.

Ordinary Heroes

Victory pose. Taken after the encounter. The man in front is the surrendered NPA

I am not feeling that well just barely recovering from a 28-day combat operation. I just realized that yesterday was National Heroes Day after scanning through my Facebook account. Although late, I feel that I should write my own account of heroism I recently saw during the long combat operation I went through

I have been a Commander of an Infantry Company for almost two years in Davao Oriental. My unit was mostly tasked to initiate developmental projects in cleared areas in our area of operation. By cleared, I mean areas that have been declared as insurgency free. With such task, some would comment that my unit is the most “un-warrior” among the other units in my battalion. Nonetheless, the very nature of our tasking provided opportunities that our counterparts did not have. Aside from being the one located in the most civilized part of our battalion’s domain, I had more opportunities to improve my organization in all aspects of what I feel a snappy infantry company should be. Also, having been deeply immersed with communities and helping them out somehow softened the warrior spirit of my troops. I feel that our efforts paved the way to humanize the members of my unit to a point that they have become more caring, more emphatic and more committed to serve the people. This I saw in the most recent test of courage we had during the previous combat operation.

Surprise attack.

Pursuing an enemy formation that was engaged two days earlier by another unit, I found myself in the advantage position. I was moving from the opposite direction from where most of the troops have begun are and have crossed a very high mountain range for the past two days. Luck favored me as my troops were able to tactically occupy our designated position deceiving the enemy that all troops were on their rear. My Battalion Operations Officer instructed me never to compromise my position which we did by staying at the vegetated part of the mountain side.

In the morning of August 7, a text message arrived from a concerned civilian asset in the area about the location of the enemy encamped just beyond a cornfield. The location, luckily again, was just around two kilometres away from us. We planned our attack dividing my platoon into two with one doing the attack whiles the other conducting blocking at the enemy withdrawal. During the briefing, I explicitly said that I did not want to have dead rebels. I want them captured or surrendered.

An impossible dream.

For some reason, I have always imagined a scenario where instead of a fierce firefight with the enemy, I was able to arrange my troops in such a way that when we finally engage, they will all just surrender. I did not share that idea with others since even I knew that it was ridiculous. But to my mind, that would be the perfect illustration of the IPSP Bayanihan (our present campaign plan) in practice. In my stint as the Company Commander, I have always believed in the greatness of such plan and made it a point that my troops understood its greatness. Somehow, I feel that in the almost two years I have been talking to my men about the idea had some effect.

The actual encounter

Following a dry riverbed from an enemy encampment, we could hear the faint sound of a transistor radio. My lead scout and guide, all Scout Rangers, signalled halt after noticing a trail to the right of the riverbed and conducted reconnaissance towards its direction. The two would later tell me that from their vantage position, they saw one person about five meters away that was unarmed. The lead scout, already aimed at the person, asked the guide,

“Sergeant pusilon na nato,”(Sergeant, let us fire at him) to which the reply was,
“Unya ra dab, tan-awa usa kung nay pusil” (Not yet, let us see if he has a gun).

The fires started when another person stood up with a slinged AK-47 facing them and was in the act of unslinging his weapon.

The exchange of fires lasted for about 45 minutes while the clearing of the encounter site took more than an hour. The initial result were six landmines, 20 backpacks , an AK-47 and one rebel who surrenedered. Later during the night another one who escaped from the encounter site surrendered and the next day when we returned to further scour the area, we discovered additional backpacks and additional three landmines. All in all there were around 47 of those backpacks that were left.

The stories after.

Talking amongst each other, my troops felt some sense of frustration. During the encounter a handful raised their hands as if to surrender only to disappear in another moment. They were frustrated at the fact that they could have just fired at them which meant that we would have piled up more body count and perhaps more firearm recovery. I asked them why they did not fire, their answer would be my crowning glory as commander of this company.

“Ingon man ka sir nga dili pusilon ang mosurrender” (You said not to fire at those who will surrender)

In jest, I would sing to them the popular theme song of the animated movie Frozen “Let it go” just to break conversations on this topic. I would also ask another soldier what is our goal in life, to which they will reply “World Peace.” But when we become serious and really talk about the incident, I explain to them that ours is not a matter of more body counts and more recovered firearms. It is being true to why we are soldiers in the first place. I would later hear comments about why I did not ordered the shooting of all those who raised their hands when we it could all be justified as we were in an encounter. I believe many of my soldiers got the point of my instructions but somehow wanted some validation among our peers who believe that accomplishment is still synonymous to more body counts and more recoveries. I also hope that those rebels that they did not kill will come to their senses and eventually surrender. I pray that they realize that the generation of killing each other is coming to an end.

To my mind, those brave men I fought with in the morning of August 7 are the bravest and honorable soldiers I had the great opportunity to serve with. They are ordinary men who served this country and at the face of danger and adversity, chose to be gentle while it is easier to be harsh. They chose to follow orders even if their mind says otherwise. They are soldiers of the highest form of courage. The courage to do what is right even when it is unpopular.

It will take a while before all the stories will fade down. A few days ago, I sent all of them home for some relaxation with their loved ones. They will come back here after two days, and we will continue doing what we do best, being soldiers for our people. Belated National Heroes Day to all the men and women in uniform out there. 

Reception: the way we do it

Last Saturday, three recently graduated Privates reported to my Company. They were two month old soldiers having graduated shortly before Christmas of 2013. They were soldiers reporting to their very first unit. We were more than happy to receive them… the way we knew it should be done.

Reception in the military is never the one that most civilian look forward to. In all occasions, it is something that we dread having gone through. Unlike the usual buffet and bonding with acquaintances, reception in the military is all about sweat, more sweat and sometimes tears.
Tradition has decreed that it is a means to introduce the neophytes to the hardships of military life. It is an introduction to what waits ahead of them as soldiers. It is their reception to a life of hardship as servants of the people.

My own reception.

My reception into the military is much grander (as it would seem). It was shorty after lunch where we were huddled in front of what I would later know as Melchor Hall. I knew what was to come as I was not new to the ways of the military, but the feeling going through it, I was clueless. There was a marching band in front of us, as we marched towards the sacred Borromeo Field. There were some officers in front of us. After some speeches, cadets started to march in front of us, they were to be our mentors; in the Academy they were called the Plebe Detail. It was the command of then Commandant of Cadets now retired General Cachuela that gave me the cue. As he gave the order for the upperclass to take charge of us, I said to myself: “This is it.”

Members of PMA Class 2002 came like roaring tigers. I was received by now Navy Lieutenants (and soon to be Lieutenant Commanders) Guevarra and Pahilanga. I did not know them but they knew my family name. I was unfortunately the brother of their upperclassmen whom they would describe as “magan.” The succeeding events came like a blur. I only remembered being shouted at, being totally confused and shocked. When it was finally time to sleep later that day, I shed my first tears. I wondered what I was doing there. I regretted my decision to enter the Philippine Military Academy. The day was April 1, 2000.

Dark days of Reception.

In the military tradition, Reception was never exempted from isolated cases of malpractices. A few years back, videos circulated about reception rites going out of control in some police training unit somewhere in Southern Luzon which depicted the recruits short of animals. The media caught this video and broadcasted it for all to see.
It is because of these cases that military organizations have been wary of exposing this kind of tradition to clueless civilians, whose understanding may not be as broad as we would want to be. When it was our time to receive the plebes then when were cadets, there was a whole set of rules on what we can and we can not do. More importantly we were told to remember the real meaning of why we were to have them undergo the reception rites. Today as an officer, the seven members of Class 2010 that I received are my good friends with some of them occasionally doing their “pangangaya” in text messages or in Facebook messages.

Today, there is a greater demand to be more cautious as to how these practices are performed. For my part, I feel that there is a greater need for us in the military to make people understand why and how we do these rites.

Receiving the new Privates.

As commander of an Army Infantry Company, I sanctioned the Reception rites of three new Privates. Shortly upon learning that a handful of them are to be assigned to our unit, I huddled up my key Non Commissioned Officers to discuss how we were going to do it. We decided on six stations at ten minutes each, one squad for each station. There was to be no body contact, only exercises. Since there was no Company Command Post, we decided on an isolated beach as the venue. The different squads manned their stations and my NCOs supervised the whole activity. I took the pictures.

The stations where all coupled with the usual squat thrusts, “helicopter” exercise and some rolling in all directions. One gimmick stood out as they used a pole where one Private sat while the other two carried the pole on their shoulders. The two were so tired carrying their classmate around with the pole as they were ordered to run back and forth from one end to the other. After all the stations, the whole company (at least those that were present), formed a line where all three crawled under. The three of them were then brought by the First Sergeant to a chair where everybody took turns to shake their hand as they formally welcome them to Charlie Company. A company boodlefight culminated the activity with grilled bangus and pork as viands.

Last night, I presented to the three our Company Implan. The Key NCOs discussed their expectations of the three as the most junior members of the unit. Right now they are on restricted status for the next month. We will be distributing them to the different squad after that period and hope that they will become good soldiers.

My own thoughts.

I posted the pictures that I took during the rites. There were mixed reactions and I felt that I had to say my piece on why I shared those pictures for the whole world to see. I understand the sensitivity of the matter as not all can comprehend the seemingly barbaric way of receiving new members in the military. But I feel that there is a greater importance in accepting that this is the life in the military. It is not a matter that should be hidden but rather should be celebrated. The civilian world will never understand their military unless we, as members of the organization, endeavour to make them understand. In the advent of IPSP “Bayanihan” where our primary tool is the support of the population on us, it has become important for them to understand the very nature of our organization. I feel that with the right supervision and elaborate planning, traditions in the military can actually be incorporated into the understanding of our civilian counterparts. When soldiers die in battle, people understand that it is part of our life us soldiers. But when we celebrate the coming of new members into our organization in a way that is uncommon to them, we are called barbaric.

Years from now, I will remember those three Privates. I pray that they will go on to become good soldiers. I pray that they will go through difficult circumstances to do what they are supposed to do.  I will also want them to do what we did to them when another batch of new soldiers join our ranks. Not the exercises or the sweat but the sacrifice and hardship it entails to be called noble soldiers who will serve the Filipino People. I hope.

The CAUSWAGAN brand of politics

For the past nine months, Barangay Causwagan of Banay-banay, Davao Oriental has hosted me and the Company which I command. It is an obscure Barangay with the smallest voting population in the whole Municipality. It was formerly a major NPA Mass base and, after the successful conduct of Peace and Development Outreach Program or PDOP by my unit, is now the undergoing continuous immersion to prevent enemy recovery efforts and strengthen the Government in the community. While obscure and somehow little compared to its other neighbouring localities, it is home to the brand of politics that I so admire, that I wish is the kind that the whole country practices.

Having grown up in large metropolitan cities, my work now offered me the opportunity to get a glimpse of how rural communities are. Growing up with only our Village Homeowner’s Association being the semblance of a local governing body, dealing with the rural barangay was a welcome experience as I see how the little people in the grass roots level aspire to improve their way of life. True to its name, Barangay Causwagan (meaning development) is the typical community. Its people and its local official all aspire for Causwagan. At the onset of this year’s Barangay Election, I can honestly say that Causwagan stood out from all the Barangays I have been to.

Our country’s political practice is marred with so much controversy especially during election time. Scandals suddenly come up; people who are friends suddenly become enemies after siding with competing candidates; sometimes relatives become bitter rivals. Well, Causwagan is an exemption. There were three (3) major players vying for the Barangay Captain’s position. There’s the incumbent, the former Barangay Captain which the incumbent defeated last election, and a newbie. All three have strong winning prospects with almost equal support base. While our tradition of politics usually begin their campaign plan with show of force in the locality, these three candidates began theirs with a show of UNITY. Together with their line-up of candidate Barangay Councilors, on their own initiative, agreed to a caucus and laid down informal rules for the campaign. It wasn’t the showbiz type of caucus where candidates, in front of flashing cameras, wear their hypocritical smile. Rather, it was a private affair with no press release whatsoever which will only be heard about in chit chats among those who witnessed it. If not for the announcement at the miting-de-avance on the last day of campaigning, this event is merely an urban legend. The event did happen and none of these honourable politicians advertised such event for their own political mileage. The campaign period happened as it should and issues discussed remained professional. It was something that I have never witnessed in any of the campaigns I saw in the past.

During the miting-de-avance on the last day of campaign period, all 23 candidates for this election, sat side by side with each other. All the speeches were about selling themselves to the audience hoping for their vote. They all maintained their being honourable individuals. The dinner served to the audience was paid for by all candidates and their supporters assisted the distribution of such. It was impossible to distinguish who supports who as the dinner was more of a fiesta celebration than a political event. When all is said and done, the campaign period culminated, not with bad karma, but with smiles from everybody. There were no distinct political lines; it was a community aspiring for the best leadership for their community.

The election happened and the winners were declared. In yet another show of being an honourable bunch, they all gathered and organized a victory motorcade through the community. Election season has ended and the community moves on. Just like that.

Of course, these are my personal observations. Saying that the competition did not stir any conflict amongst them may not be entirely correct. But their display of sportsmanship is worthy of admiration. Most of these people do not have College Degrees. They grew up relatively poor. Surprisingly, they are able to display a brand of politics that is far more superior than other groups who pride themselves as well educated and/or with better breeding. I am proud to have served this people. I hope that by writing about them, our people can see what can be possible. I am hopeful than if one community can do it, our country still has a chance. This election has winners and losers but in Barangay Causwagan, they are all winners.

Changing Logdeck

SITIO LOGDECK, BRGY MARAGATAS, LUPON – Local residents of Sitio Logdeck decry claims of certain groups using them as supposed victims of a government project which these groups have branded as a ploy in order to allow mining operations in their community. Herminigildo Marianito, speaking as Sitio Leader of said community, stated that: “Nalipay gani mi sa pagtrabaho sa among kalsada ug maningkamot mi nga makatabang para mas mapadali ang pag human ani nga project” (We are even happy that they are working on our road and we will try our best to provide assistance in order to hasten the completion of this project).

According to these groups, the Local Government Unit of Lupon, which facilitated the project, is only doing the undertaking in order to allow mining companies to operate in the community. Ironically, the economy of communities to be benefited by the project is all based in agriculture. There have been reports that certain groups have indeed conducted exploration activities in the area for possible mining operations but none of them was able to push through with their plans. Recently, a mining operation in adjacent area known as Chromite has ceased to operate after their permit from the government expired. This mining operation utilized the road networks coming from Banay-banay and Pantukan towns and has not encroached the area of Sitio Logdeck from the time they begun operation up to its end. No mining permit has been issued to any company by any government entity that applies to Sitio Logdeck and its nearby communities.

Residents of the community have been very supportive of the project as it was something that they have been dreaming of for a long time. They have even volunteered to clear the area where the road will pass in order to hasten the completion of the said project. Before the project, they relied on single “habal-habal” motorcycles as primary means of transportation. One person pays one hundred fifty pesos each excluding baggage. Their produce (corn, copra, charcoal etc.) which they sell either in Banay-banay or in Lupon is charged at around two pesos per kilo. Once the road is completed, these expenses are expected to lessen as bigger vehicles will be able to go to the area.

The community of Logdeck was formerly a mass base of New People’s Army’s Front 18. For several years, the NPA’s were the ones running the affairs of the community. In 2010, the NPA Anniversary was celebrated in the Sitio. Upon the arrival of 28th Infantry Battalion in Davao Oriental, the Sitio and its immediate vicinity became battlefields as these NPA bandits refuse to let go of their control of the community. In January 2012, combined forces of 4th Scout Ranger Company and 28th Infantry Battalion encountered a group of NPAs in Sitio Barabo of Brgy San Isidro, still of Lupon town. The NPAs retreated in Sitio Logdeck which was adjacent to the encounter site. Reports later revealed that the casualties of these encounter was treated in the area. A month later, the 28th Infantry Battalion conducted the Peace and Development Outreach Program (PDOP) in Sitio Logdeck. PDOP is the Army’s primary tool in clearing a community of NPA influence. Soldiers immerse in these communities in order for them to bring the people closer to government. At the same time, the soldiers partner with other government entities in order to address the problems of the community. In the case of Sitio Logdeck, a basketball court and a water system were constructed. The soldiers also have introduced livelihood projects such as tilapia raising and vegetable growing. The farm to market road is a long delayed request of the community which is only being implemented now. By December of this year also the Sitio will have, for the first time, electricity. All of these activities intend to address issues in the community that forces the people to support or join the insurgency. Sitio Logdeck has now changed and is now moving towards a better future which is the primary goal of PDOP and the government as a whole. They have come to understand the lies that were told to them when it was the NPA that reigned over them.

Residents of Sitio Logdeck has come up with a manifesto in order to express their true sentiments regarding the government project that was undertaken for them. They are very thankful that despite their unfortunate past with the insurgents, the government did not give up in bringing them back into her arms. More importantly, they have become partners of the government in bringing about development in their community. In October 21, they will be celebrating the Araw ng Logdeck, the anniversary of the establishment of their Sitio. With the farm to market road already completed by then and a bright future ahead, the event will have more value as a milestone of peace and development in their community.

Passion into Action

With the way things are unfolding is this country now, a few people has bee asking me, how am I? Initially, I answered that I have been detached to reality as I have not been watching the news. I only get tidbits of information through Facebook News feeds and the calls I get from concerned colleagues who are in the front lines of Zamboanga. Unknown to many, our battles here continue. While many have been pre-occupied with how terrible things have become, the New People's Army, in this part of the country continue to harass and undermine the government that tries so hard to serve her people.

Upon the initial report of the death of my classmate 1Lt Rama, I started to go though my coping up mechanism of just doing things. He is the fourth in our class to offer his life and it has always been my way of showing appreciation to do better at my current mission. When 1Lt Damian, who was my upperclass, bratmate and classmate in Ranger School, died a few days later, more thoughts stirred the my belief on the reasons why I do what I do. I am so glad that I have never suffered the experience of losing a man under my watch but losing good friends to a war as stupid as what is happening now in Zamboanga, I can just mourn silently and continue to do my job.

Many people now have opinions on how things are happening for this country. This varies from expressing appreciation to our soldiers, to how "luoy" they are while lawmakers are allegedly spending our taxes for their personal use. Last night, the news of four soldiers who ransacked a certain house in Zamboanga opened up more opinion even generalizing all soldiers as thieves. While it did not gain traction in disgracing the whole AFP, it was a realization, including other opinions before it, how others seem to fall short of their appreciation of whatever it is that they appreciate.

Social Media has allowed a convenient way of expression to all of us. The sad thing though is that it has limited this expression to simply the thoughts in our minds rather than actions that we actually undertake in order to put to life that "passion" we feel behind our thoughts. Putting it bluntly, do our soldiers have to die first before they are to experience first hand our people's appreciation. I saw how many people has expressed their condolence to the death of our comrade in arms. While they may have personified the horrors of the war in Zamboanga, your condolences do not change any of the situation. They are simple bits of data that are stored somewhere as part of social media. Nothing more. Nothing less.

To top it all, I am sure when all of this issue has mellowed down, and others spring anew, opinions will once again flood social media and sadly, nothing will change. 

I therefore call on our people, what are we doing amidst all the things that are happening around us? Do we stop at Social Media or do we put our passion to action? Many of my comrades have died, not just in this war and in many other conflicts all over the country. Let's face it, your remorse and condolences does not help this country move forward. All over the country, there are schools that need teachers, communities that need livelihood trainings, infrastructures that need to be built and many others, big and small things in order to help out. I urge you to ask yourself what you can do. Let us not sensationalize our situation that it is already is, as one people let us find out what we can do to help each other. It is not by dying that one becomes a hero, it is by doing something for the sake of others.

It's early in the morning and my day begins. I hope none of the people I know will be in harm's way. As what we say here... Work lang ng work...

Quote from a classmate (I am not sure if this is his original): "The job is hard, but somebody has to do it. Let's go Army"

May the sacrifices of those who died for this country never be in vain.

(Note: I have plenty of ideas how one can help out, maybe message me in Facebook, I would be glad to provide you with those)

A fallen Mistah

This morning, I was greeted by the sad news that my classmate was the latest fatality in Zamboanga City. He is to be the fourth in my class, all four of which died in battle.

About a week ago, I had an animated conversation with a neighbor about this incident in Zamboanga City. As I was not aware of varying opinions circulating about the incident, that conversation provided me some insight as to how the public perceived that incident. What made me more involved in that conversation was when I learned that there were some Filipinos who think that the whole thing was a gimmick in order to divert people's attention away from the Pork Barrel scam. I found that offensive as actual people are dying over there. I am more enraged now considering that somebody I personally know has fallen.

The thing that set me off is the careless habit of people to just say what they want without any regard as to what their words really mean. It troubles me more that while many people especially in social media can pretend to be concerned with the way they comment on issues, very few actually participate in real activities that promote peace, patriotism and social responsibility. While it is easy to post away reactions to corruption and other similar sins, it is so hard to find people who are willing to sacrifice just a little bit to better society. While everybody condemns war, only a few works for peace.

I speak of these things not only as someone who just lost a comrade in arms. More importantly, I say this things as one of the may government workers who still fight it out not just against the MNLF but for a better citizenry who should do more rather than say more. My classmate is gone and the rest of us will try harder to glorify his sacrifice. He is a good man who has a family like
many of us. He died a hero, fighting for a country he loved. I hope that his death will inspire us to do more, help more and pray more. Walang ibang tutulong sa bayan natin kundi tayo tayo ring mga Pilipino.

Salamat Mistah sa sakripisyo. We shall prevail and your death will never be in vain.

Going back to the way it should be

I have been reading my blog entries from about 5 years ago hoping to gain some inspiration. I have tried (and failed) to bring my blog into life with entries about being an officer and the things that I do. I thought then that just as I was writing so much of my life as a cadet, it wouldn’t be that hard to continue doing so, this time writing life as an officer of the Philippine Army. So I thought.

Coming into the real thing was so much different. Unlike cadetship where leadership was merely a lesson, the actual field where leadership is actually practiced involves more than ideas that need to be dissected and understood. Rather, it involves actual people and objectives that need to be satisfied and met. While cadetship was more geared towards surviving it through graduation, life as an officer is geared towards surviving every hazardous activity required of him and his men. Now, the latter would have been easier to write about as it involves more hard-core emotions and a larger environment that people can relate more to. Ironically, from my side, that is not the case. Aside from the difficulty of finding time to write about these things in the right frame of mind, there is also my own personal difficulty of wanting to put justice on the kind of ideas that I present. I feel that whatever it is that I will write about will have to portray the real and unadulterated sacrifice of the ordinary soldier. I would like to think that cadets, per sec, are interesting in its simplest form by virtue of the mystery of the Academy while officers, are ordinary people who happened to wear ranks higher than most soldiers. This contrast presents a greater need to put more effort in putting each story into a pedestal where people can admire and appreciate more the contribution of our soldiers to our society.

Another thing that troubles me also is how I seem to find myself wanting people who read my blog to be impressed. Pardon me for saying this, of course I like people approving of my person when they read the things that I write; but from the day that I started this blog around 10 years ago (yes it has been that long) I have always made it my personal mantra to simply be honest and go away with trying to impress readers. I felt then in the same way that my conviction stands now that writing is more of an expression of the truth. The truth that sets my spirits free, the truth that allows me to have peace with myself and God, the truth that allows people to see the depths of a person’s heart.

And so, going back to the little reminiscing awhile back, I realized how simple it was when I construct my ideas then. It is only now that I realized that my love for writing has somehow took a backseat as I lost my flavor for honesty and trying to be impressive. Perhaps my becoming an officer has done that to me. Truth in my world now depends on what it is that we wish to accomplish. It is related to how we wish to appear to the larger public and how our actions affect the general perception of our organization. Truth now simply has to get things done. Period. With trying to be impressive, it seems to me the whole AFP organization is about impressing each other. Not that one has a better idea or has better work performance, what matters most is that one is able to positively impress the person who makes the decision that affects you. Good intentions are out of the question, what is important is you develop what they call a “service reputation” among your colleagues. This reputation is the one that propels your career more than your talent and sincerity.

Five years into being an officer. I have come to understand the reason for my difficulty in writing the blogs that I so much loved to write then. I have become a different person whose personality has been sapped by the organization that I so strived to serve into. I am hoping that this is a good thing, but something in my heart tells me it is not. While my life then was a simple as expressing my own personal goals and aspirations that happen to be as part of our Army, it is now dependent on so many other things that I am still trying my best to figure out. More importantly, I have come to the acceptance that this is not how I wish to live my career. I wish to come back to the days when service to my people was such a comfortable place for me. I wish to relive that ease in just firing away my experiences in this piece of space in the internet. I am starting it right now. 

Thoughts on my 4th Wedding Anniversary

Today is my 4^th Wedding Anniversary. Nothing much really since for the 4^th time also, I am so much distant from my lovely wife whom I should be celebrating this glorious day. But not to be dismayed, and after reading a couple of Nicholas Sparks novels, I am inclined to make my effort to remember this day even if just through this blog, hoping that in one way or another I will be able to communicate my love for my dear wife through the words that I write and through the people that will read this.

I believe we are like most couple who have the usual episode of disagreement even with our frequently distant set-up. The Army has not afforded us with the normal marriage such that my wife will say that in the years that we are married, we have actually been together only for at most a year. In reality though, I do not like to hear those words. Although I pretend to be unaffected by those words I also wish that days with her and my little girl would be more frequent. If truth be told, if not for practicality reasons I would have no qualms leaving the ‘glitz and glamour’ of a Philippine Army Officer in favor of a more normal family life. But by some divine providence, the cards drawn out for me would have to be this and I am determined to make this work.

My wife, unlike me, did not have the luxury that we had growing up. Although mine is not well-off either, hers is more of a survival thing having a mother who moved heaven and hell to provide for them and a sister who placed it upon herself to sacrifice some luxuries in favor of her siblings getting an education. That was primarily the reason why, I would like to think, it became easy for me to woo her. Here comes a young and dashing lieutenant coming to her hometown at a time when the peace and order was very volatile. I would like to believe that it seemed to her that I was some knight in shining armor that can protect her. In the early part of our marriage, it was evident that her feeling was that of difficulty of accepting the life that I introduce her to. Specifically, the family that she suddenly found herself a part of.

As newlyweds, her self-esteem, especially when around my family, was very low and even with me, I often recognize her insecurity as not being good enough to be part of our bunch. For my part, I felt that it was my foremost responsibility to usher her into the “weirdness” of my family. It was a task that involved me having to say hurtful but honest things to other people that I love. In several occasions, it entailed me feeling hurt as it felt that I have to choose between her and my family when all I wanted was a relationship where all of them becomes one big happy family. The drama unfolded with me writing letters to my father, sending long text messages to my wife and praying hard that all will be well.

Unknown to my family, although they were part of the reason that made it difficult for me, they were also the inspiration that helped me choose what to do in every situation. While they criticize my wife, I understood that it was just their way of showing that they wanted the best for me. In the same way, while I feel the hurt that my wife felt in those occasions, I also understood it was part of the painful way of accepting the out-of-this-world way my relatives show their love for each other. It was my love for all of them, my wife especially, that cultivated in me the patience to endure the sometimes disconcerting situation I was caught into. It was a love that I learned from a family that had difficulty of showing it but is able to express great amounts of it in ways unimaginable.

I write all of this now as a tribute to the marriage that has been nurtured for the past four years. Last week, as I saw my wife being part of a family that I loved so much, I felt greater joy and admiration for her as somehow I knew she has found her place. The greatest gift that I have received would have to be the words of my aunts, uncles and most especially my father validating that I married well. I also write this for my wife, who had to make drastic adjustments on the kind of person she is especially on her perception of family. More importantly, I write this as a reminder to myself to constantly work to make my marriage work. Four years has been a difficult but fulfilling adventure but in those times, above all, I learned that my choice should always be borne out of love, and nothing else.

Soldiering outside the convention

Today is one of those few days where my schedule is empty. Aside from few routine activities, I spent most of the day beating Russia in Red Alert 3. Tomorrow, I will be meeting with a group of skilled Bamboo craftsmen in Purok Lower Waywayan. We will plan out their participation to the Inalima 2012. It’s an annual trade fair in time for the Araw ng Davao Oriental celebration. Together with the President of the Don Mariano Marcos – Federated BDS (BDS for Barangay Development System) Association or DMM-FBA, we will develop a working plan that will sell not just the bamboo furniture set made by the group but also the skill that will propel them to development.

In Barangay Don Mariano Marcos, Lupon, Davao Oriental, I am tasked to conduct the Peace and Development Outreach Program (PDOP). In the PDOP concept, the soldiers perform non-traditional roles such as community assistance and people empowerment. Beginning in February 2012, I went from one Purok to another discussing about how ordinary people in the community can become partners to development. After sometime, we began organizing them into groups we called as Barangay Development System Association or simply BDS. From the initial discussion of how they can become partners to development, we also conducted intensive planning workshop and further discussion with them to reinforce the message that we wish to deliver. Slowly, we saw how the way the people changed. From originally coming to meetings that we called out of fear of the soldiers, we were invited to meetings to assist them in the plans that they wanted to implement in their locality. The officers of their group initiated their own programs that will support their community. For my part, I tried my best to bring in inputs in their plans and programs. By end of April, we have already come up with the Federated BDS Association with 17 Local BDS Associations as members covering the whole of Barangay Don Mariano Marcos of about 400 members. In May 7, 2012, the Governor of Davao Oriental inducted the officers of DMM-FBA. We were also provide with 30 bags of corn seeds, 60 sacks of organic fertilizer and assorted vegetable seeds.

In a seemingly unconventional way of soldiering, I have found a sense of fulfilment beyond the guns and combat operation that soldiery is traditionally known for. Today, we have an ongoing Organic Vegetable Farming Training conducted together with the Provincial Agriculture Office. We will also be conducting a training for Bamboo Craft making for the BDS of Lower Waywayan, an Ornamental Flower Growing training for the BDS of Purok Linao and many other trainings intended to improve the methods of the people in their income generating activities. The Federated BDS Association is also organized in such a way that they are able to plan out their development. They have the marketing committee that will look for market of the different products and services of the group, an education committee which plans out all the trainings that will improve their membership, a membership committee, a monitoring committee and another for finance and audit. In this system, the ordinary citizen becomes the primary proponent of their development while the soldiers conducting PDOP together with another partner from the Provincial Agriculture Office provide guidance in their undertakings. We hope to formalize a group among government agencies and other concerned institutions as a form of convergence of support systems to communities like Don Mariano. When this happens, the community is in charge of their development backed up by a support system where they can receive guidance in how to go about with their plans as a community.

People ask me how are these methods relevant to fighting insurgency and winning the peace. I tell them that we cannot be fighting all the time. Bottom line of the conflict in our country is that we want to live good lives. Whether one is on the side of the government or that of the insurgency, the normal person just want to be able to live a full life.. The present method tries to achieve that and more. While people have so long been afraid of conflict erupting when soldiers come to their communities, they have now called for more soldiers to come into their community and bring in the services that they badly need. The propaganda that soldiers commit abuses to civilians in communities are overused lies intended to perpetuate the exploitation of the insurgents. These methods also paved way to secured atmosphere that enabled other groups to come in and make their own contribution.

Very recently, one group decried militarization in the communities because of the presence of the soldiers. However strong they try to gather some attention to their allegations none bothered to support them as the soldiers brought with them the many benefits that they have been longing to receive. Also, while they try to manipulate popular opinion with their twisted rationale, no formal complaints have been filed against the soldiers in proper venues. This is an obvious acceptance that their claims are mere efforts to discredit the gains in peace and development that is now rampant in these communities. In due time, we feel that they themselves will surrender their efforts to the collective agenda being fostered by this new partnership between the government and the populace which will ultimately defeat insurgency and elevate the state of our beloved country.

Tomorrow, I will present to the members of BDS in Purok Lower Waywayan a comprehensive business plan that will begin with the launching of their product up to working system for them to collectively maximize productivity of their skill. Well that’s part of a day’s work. In a surprising way, soldiers have now become truly servants of the people. A soldier is called to protect. In the Philippine setting, protection is no longer that against gun toting groups; rather it is protection from poverty. Sadly, these gun toting groups also are victims of poverty that need protection. Ironically, soldiers are also victims of poverty as they themselves are members of our poverty stricken society. In the end the key to overcoming these obstacles is not through the barrel of the gun but rather by working together as one big family even outside the convention of traditions.

A Culture of Hatred

About a year ago, I remember arising from cyberspace hiatus after meeting three committed public school teachers in distant Sitio Kamugna during a combat operation somewhere in the hinterland of Davao del Sur. The talk of the town at that time was the scandal that involved a young boy named Janjan and Willie Revillame. I felt that people campaigning against Willie Revillame and his show was missing the point of why the incident happened. Today, I write this blog amidst various controversies, the Panatag Shoal Stand-off, the Lady Gaga controversy, the impeachment trial and Jessica Sanchez's runner up finish to season 11 of American Idol. In these controversies, I realized that similar to what happened a year ago to Janjan and Willie Revillame, it exposes the very culture of our people. I am calling it now a Culture of Hate.

Then assigned in various Muslim Communities in South Central Mindanao, my favorite task was to lecture the History of Mindanao Conflict to the people. This lecture traces the history of the development of Mindanao to be able to see how the conflict has come to its present level. At the end of the lecture, I would encourage people not to be victim of the biases that has been handed down to us by previous generation and instead cultivate a culture of peace; a culture that tolerates diversity amongst our people and acceptance of what we have become; and more importantly work to succeed celebrating this diversity. Thinking about that experience, I have come to understand my own biases and have learned to change it. Today, I see the opposite of that culture embedded within the controversies that I have enumerated above: the Culture of Hate.

In previous years, I have observed how our people have somewhat improved. Today, it has become very noticeable how many of our countrymen has realized their role in their democracy. Today we see, business people, ordinary students, social activists and many others from all walks of life care for a certain advocacy. I personally feel that these are indications of a maturing democracy as illustrated by the increase of public participation to the affairs of the state. However, recent controversies has exposed something that could lead again to our downfall.

Psychologists would tell us that there are two ways of looking at a glass half filled with water. It could be half full or half empty. While one would appreciate the water that is in the glass, another would see that there isn't enough water to fill the glass. In recent controversies, it has been obvious that there is so much attention on that what have not than that what we have. Sadder is that while many claim of their "concern" they totally miss the point of why they should be concerned in the first place. Many instead of trying to help out, they stop at just their advocacy. It starts and ends with being concerned JUST THAT.

Instead of us campaigning to uphold our national sovereignty against Chinese bullying, we launch hate campaigns against anything that is Chinese as if the Chinese people really care if we do not like them. We campaign against a multi awarded recording artist for her alleged indecency when no one forces us to watch her concert or even listen to her songs. What is more troubling is that we blame Lady Gaga for the inability of parents to nurture their children so that they will grow up to be decent individuals. Lady Gaga did not bring indecency to this country, irresponsible parenting brought indecency upon us. To single out Lady Gaga is hypocrisy since lewdness and indecency is an everyday treat around us. Do we actually think that dancers in variety shows wear those skimpy outfits for art's sake?

Then there is also the impeachment trial. Are those throwing remarks against major players from both sides actually understand the whole point of the Impeachment process? As far as I am concerned, our role as people is to protect the Impeachment court for it to be able to decide well. More than anything, we should safeguard our democratic institution not crucify those who we believe is guilty to the point of destroying their reputation and dignity. The sad thing is that there is no decision yet. With the way our people are going about their "advocacy" everybody loses for in the end every body's dirt is exposed, everybody is labeled a thief, liar, corrupt and so forth and nothing is done to advance the democratic maturity of our people. (I particularly take offense on @vicegandako 's twitter message saying to the tune of "lahat ng taga gobyerno corrupt iba't ibang level lang)

Then of course, there is also the success (or not-so) of Jessica Sanchez. The support that she has received from our countrymen is both admirable and amazing, but hating Philip Philips is just uncalled for. Both contestants are there for the win and everybody knows that American Idol chooses their winner through votation, had it been not for the judges who saw Jessica Sanchez's talent as remarkable, she would not have even be in the Finale. I feel bad that she was not declared the winner but it is also unfair to hate the winner.

The thing is, our culture seem to dwell on a culture of hatred. With the advent of social media, it becomes a royal rumble of some sort of throwing hatred at almost anything without really thinking of the implications of our actions. Our advocacy has become counterproductive for we, in fact, do not achieve anything other than accumulate more date into cyberspace. I wonder, how many of those who are so active in these advocacies bothered to really sit down and figure out how they can be part of solutions to the problems they so strongly feel about? When Japan was hit by a tsunami, there was no hatred of this kind, no fingers pointing to whose fault it is, it united a whole country to rebuild not just their destroyed properties but become a stronger nation When the country was devastated by typhoons and the recent earthquake, although any people helped those who were affected, many still posted hate comments regarding the faults of government, the corruption and even take advantage of the situation to forward their political ambitions. Such is another irony in saying "it's more fun in the Philippines". And even that tourism slogan wasn't spared. Instead of helping make that slogan successful, there are those who posted hate comments saying that it was copied from an old Swiss slogan (so what?). Bottom line, although our people started to notice that there is actually a glass with water, many see it as half empty rather than half full. I say that if we are not ready to take part of the solution to our country's problems we might as well SHUT UP.

We are living in a generation where it is so easy to do things. Problem is, it becomes so easy also to shed the responsibility associated with our actions. Voluntarily or otherwise we have used our new found freedom to cultivate a culture of hatred that although has somewhat awakened our collective spirit; is bringing us to doom. Can there be more positivity rather than just negativism. I am praying that there will be... in the coming days.... I hope.

Library UPDATE and another appeal

Books collected by Balik Bayan Books from their
 Facebook account(click to view)

About a month ago, I posted an appeal for help about a library that I wish to put up in Don Mariano Marcos. Since that day, the reaction has been overwhelming and God has been great leading people to support this cause. As of today, the project has collected three sets of books: one from a mother who heard of the project from this website, another from a friend who volunteered to collect books from my alma mater, Silliman University and from a US-based NGO Balik Bayan Books. In my initial estimate, the books we have collected is already enough to occupy the room in the Barangay Hall that was intended for the library. But then again, the journey does not end there, though books will now be available, there is a greater need for other efforts for the library to really assist the community towards development. In this regard I wish to outline other forms of help that can be extended to really support the improvement of this community.

Barangay Don Mariano Marcos has a problem of appreciation for education. Although the government was able to establish schools that can cater to the needs of the youth in the community, there is not just enough motivation for the young ones to view education as a means to a better life. The adults in the community has not really been made aware of the value of education and this attitude has been passed on to the children that they reared. Aside from a few minority who labored to send their children to college, many lack the motivation to assist their children in their schooling. The greater majority send their children to  school  just so they can receive the government's conditional cash transfer program that allocates a certain amount for every child (up to three children only) who is able to satisfy at least 85% attendance in the schools. It doesn't matter to them if their children actually do some "schooling" all they worry about are the certifications signed by the school that will be the basis for their cash transfer every quarter. Also, parents lack the knowledge and skills to be effective mentors to their children such that if they gain the interest to take an active role on the part of their children's education, I feel that they will also have a hard time becoming effective at doing such. It is because of this reality in this community that I realized how the library, although already a big help, lack the follow through needed to equip the community and improve their state of education. It is like a computer that has no operating system. For this reason, I would like to appeal for another form of help that will address this concern.

I am toying with the idea of a program for the parents and adults in the community that will make them aware of the value of education and also equip them to mentor their children. My problem now is a module that will do just that. I have been looking for someone who has a background on Child psychology and development (or some related field) that could develop a program that can be adopted by the community to change that attitude and pave the way for other members of the community to be players in the changing of way education is perceived in the community. Can anyone kindly link me to a person or group who can do just that? I would be very much willing to provide them all the information they can possibly need for this endeavor. Also, I am soliciting activities and or program of instructions that will help the teachers incorporate the library into their teaching methods once school begins by June.

The eventual goal in all this is to have a system in place that will really improve the community of Barangay Don Mariano Marcos. I am believing that this appeal will be passed on from computer to computer, people to people, until it reaches the correct person that can help. My e-mail is acabales@hotmail.com and I can be reached through 09177192179.

God Bless you everyone. Happy sunday

Meet APATHY

I just spent the whole day facilitating a Planning Workshop for the people's organization of Don Mariano Marcos. In the past almost two months, I have been busy going from one purok to another, talking to the people and teaching them how they can control their economy and be productive citizens for the community. The activity is part of the Peace and Development Outreach Program (PDOP), a program that aims to stimulate development in the community through community participation and citizenry skill enhancement. During the activity, I was again able to encounter pessimism, distrust, selfishness and just plain apathy. More importantly also, I came face to face with hope, perseverance, commitment and nationalism. I am proud to report that there is more of the latter in Barangay Don Mariano Marcos than the former.

But then again, this is not to say that the negativism of the people does not affect me. The truth is, although there is a good chance of success in our undertaking in this community, one person's apathy can just dissolve whatever good vibe that has been built up by the many others. It brings a frustration that just overwhelms whatever commitment and perseverance I have mustered to come to this day. Looking at the blank screen of my laptop after draining my phone's battery talking to my beautiful wife (whom I miss so much) I contemplate on finding inspiration for the coming days that I will continue my service as a soldier.

I look back at the time when I first developed this feeling about four years ago. It was in another barangay in Toril District, Davao City. The young and dashing, bold and daring ruggedly handsome newly graduated lieutenant Cabales was first deployed in a community called Atan-owe. The place was apparently named after two pioneering families that first settled there: the Atan's and the Owe's. The Barangay Captain at that time was a descendant of the Atan's and carried the last name. Although the Barangay was founded on the obvious understanding of the two pioneering families, times have changed. I was there at the time when this understanding was just part of ancient history that was changed by the power struggle that occured between the two. The struggle for power in the community led to a bitter rivalry that caught the community in the crossfire. The rivalry was so great that one party can not fathom any good to say about the other. Out of that desperation to cling to power, they have resorted to sell their souls to the insurgency. This was what destroyed the community, my first assignment.

The next community was a drastic change together with the change of the whole Mindanao situation. August 2008 was the time when the peace talks with the MILF bogged down. It was also the time when Ameril Umbra Kato attacked Maasim Municipal Hall in Sarangani Province. I arrived in October after a large MILF camp has been captured by the government forces and our immediate task was to expedite the return to normalcy of the community. After my company conducted a retraining, I was sent to my first combat operation in this unit. It was November 14, and shortly after we were dropped by our vehicles, the same vehicles was bombed as they returned to our Battalion Headquarters. Two died and I spent the next day chasing after leads on the whereabouts of the perpetrator of that atrocity. It was my first brush with death. The vehicle that exploded was the same vehicle that I boarded on the way to our drop off point. In the months that followed that incident, my major accomplishment was cultivating the Culture of Peace to the communities affected by the Muslim-Christian conflict. Teaching the people about religious tolerance and sensitivity, I was again met by apathy.

After more or less 15 communities taught, I was then assigned in a place called Barangay Kinam in Malapatan, Sarangani Province. The communist insurgency has destroyed the little hope that was left in the people there that apathy was more prevalent than the virtues that improve our existence. Ironically, it was there that I gained so much insight in the importance of my job as a soldier. From there, I was sent to even poorer communities in Don Marcelino, Davao Del Sur and some other communities in South Cotabato, still apathy prevailed.

I am now here in Davao Oriental, although apathy still meets me, I could say that hope greets me more often these days. By some twist of fate, the odds are turning towards me and somehow my experience with apathy has led me to muster more perseverance and commitment, enough to stop it from stopping me from doing what I have to do. Earlier, my conversation with another government work that helped facilitated today's activity, expressed to me her own frustration as she met apathy. Surprisingly, I was able to easily tell her that it is not something to be worry about. I told her what I learned in the past four years, we can only do so much and apathy was not something we can change that easily. It was something that had to begin from the hearts of the people we have committed to serve.

Today, I write this as an acceptance of that fact. But also, I write this to remind myself that no amount of apathy can change how I feel towards the work that I do. I write this wishing that apathy will not again frustrate me the way that I did today, I write this as a commitment to serve. So help me God.