Lessons in MIndanao

In about two months, I have already spent a year assigned in Mindanao. I have not written much in that year but mind you, I have a lot of thoughts about my stay. I will try to share these thoughts now.

After graduating from the academy, the next important thing is the first assignment. Months before my graduation, I have made up my mind that I wanted to be assigned in Mindanao. As I go on with this narrative, I hope to be able to explain why I made that decision.

When we arrived, I was a bit confused with the new environment. I simply felt that Davao City was too overwhelming. A very big city yet different from those that I have been accustomed to in Luzon. But I was excited to the adventure that I am about to go through. More than being able to do what I was supposed to do, I wanted to find my purpose in this new place.

Being in Mindanao allows you to meet a variety of people. In Luzon, people usually think that its only Christian and Muslim. Coming here is totally different. For one, Mindanao is generally a “tri-people” place. Aside from the Christians and Muslims, there are the indigenous people who are native to her. I first met the Lumad people of Davao. They are a fascinating group of people who has embraced modern culture yet still very rooted to their culture. I enjoyed listening to them when they talk about their customs and traditions. It seemed that they never fail to surprise. The more they talk to me, the more I realize that I have not seen much of this beautiful place. On a sad note, I felt that some of their traditions are the very reason why they remain to be poor. Their elders view education more as an added value for the dowry (especially for the women) rather than a means to improve their lives. Parents would encourage their children to stay home rather than explore the world and discover their interests. Although many are becoming enlightened with the benefits of education, still I pity those who remain complacent and blame their miseries to the government who obviously can not provide everything they need. When I left them, much as I wanted to help them, I realized that no matter how hard we try we can only do so much for people. After which it will solely be their decision whether they want more of what life has to offer. Accepting that reality brought me to so much frustration that almost made me want to go home.

But then again, the whole experience was educational, as it taught me to adjust my standards to the realities of the complexity of human society. That is why coming to Sarangani became more pleasing. I saw people who remained committed to helping their localities and public servants who wanted the best for their community (and of course those that are not). I saw little places trying their best to improve their current state and above all very proud of their heritage which is truly very admirable. Coming here, renewed my commitment to ensure that the service that I do to them should be made towards helping them achieve their aspirations. On a personal note, I am reminded of thoughts that I had as a cadet of wanting to "be the change I want in this world." I am finding my purpose together with an amazing group of soldiers that continues to validate my decision not so long ago of joining the Philippine Army.

Today, I am faced with the tremendous task of organizing a gathering of young people and teach them how to take part in nation building. Somehow I realized that the religious facade of the Mindanao conflict is but an icing on the cake of bigger problems that are not so obvious. I have resolved that the Mindanao issue is not of religion or culture but of a struggling people wanting to go up and yet only a few wanting to push them up. I realized that the solution to ending the war in Mindanao is really just to lend a genuine helping hand to the people of Mindanao. I need all the help I can get and somehow it is overflowing. I know it will keep on coming. Please pray for me and above all pray for Mindanao.

I'll have more of posts like this in the coming days.

How close is the series Tayong Dalawa to the real thing in PMA?

When the teasers for this telenovela started to come out, I have been bugged by all sorts of question about PMA. I tried to answer some but then again when almost everybody asks the same question one becomes tired of it and eventually I just smile or maybe shut up. And so, when the date of its first episode was finally revealed, I was one of those who wanted to see it. Not because I idolize Kim Chiu or what but because I wanted to know how close their portrayal is to the real thing. When it was already being shown, I had to answer more questions, this time there is already a basis upon which questions can be asked, so I'll try to make this as enlightening as possible.

For those people who have consistently visited my blog in the past years, you would realize that i have practically blogged about the whole four years of my stay at PMA except for the first nine months when I was plebe (I think you know why I was not blogging during those times). I am not so certain of this but I think I was the first one that did this and I think nowhere in the Internet or perhaps in any form of media can you find an almost daily account of a cadet's life at the Philippine Military Academy. I did not intend it to happen but blogging was my way of relieving the stress while I was a cadet. My accounts may differ from one cadet to another but generally this is how life in PMA is.

And so, I go back to ABS-CBN's Tayong Dalawa. For one, I do not like how they portrayed the way one goes to PMA. First and foremost, the Academy does not discriminate social status among her potential cadets. I hated how the richer David Garcia seemed to get in that easily while the poorer one was having a hard time getting in because of "financial problems." If truth be told most of the cadets and even those who have graduated already from the Academy are those from humble beginnings. They are sons and daughters of farmers, ordinary laborers and even jobless parents. Another startling truth is that most of those who do not survive training are those who came from well-to-do families. I do not have the figures to support this claim but, if you ask any PMA graduate they will give you the same observation. I think that this is because those who came from good lives are not used to the difficulties of training as a cadet that is why they back out while those who have been used to being poor and all see PMA as their passport to a better life. In fact, one of the things that made me stay inside the Academy was the stories of these classmates who were forced into PMA by their circumstances. I felt that I had to respect my place in the Academy because for many of my peers inside its halls, it was their way out of their miseries. Of course, I have to respect the writers of this series, it was necessary for the drama of the show. I am making this assertions to encourage those young people from humble beginnings not to be discouraged by their social status but instead use it to motivate them to dream big. The Academy is a place for everybody who dares to achieve beyond their expectations and be the best that they can ever be regardless of economic status.

All of the marching and routine activities that was shown was real. Most people even are startled that we actually do the funny thing in the hallway moving from one place to another where we seem to just slide our foot in little steps briskly instead of walking the normal way. That by the way is what we call "trotting." In the Academy you are earning your privileges as you grow in rank including your privilege to walk. When you are a plebe (a new cadet) you are to always trot inside barracks and always double time when outside. Those are just few of the things that you have to do which if I will try to enumerate all can be written into a whole manual on how to become a plebe at the Academy.

Some of the buildings that was used in many of the scenes was off limits to civilians even if you are Kim Chiu. I find it funny how in the confrontation scene with Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu when they graduated, they were confronting each other near the stairways of Lim Hall which is Administration Building. In my four years at the Academy, I can not remember a time that I brought along a civilian there much more go into a dramatic confrontation with anyone. Its actually the building where the offices of the Academy are. With that I mean most of the top honchos of the Academy are there going about their usual business. When we go there we try to be very careful of everything that we do because there are more eyes that will observe our demeanor. Of course, the viewers do not know what building is what.

When Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu were "roaming around" and they got lost somewhere in the woods until Anderson was bitten by a snake, I find that hilarious. I do not think they could have strayed so far into the woods that he can't possibly know where they are. Even if he was to join the Air Force, I think anyone who has gone through PMA has a very good sense of direction and to be lost that way was unimaginable. Also, with the training that he received, it was the stupid first aid for his snakebite. If indeed he was bitten by a poisonous snake, he would have died before he was able to go home the following morning. I felt that the writers should have considered him already graduating from the Academy with very good survival instincts when they wrote that scene.

Another part that got me confused was how Gerald Anderson was able to roam around Baguio City in civilian clothes while he was still a cadet. In the dialogue, I think he applied for a "Weekend Pass." I do not remember such a thing as a weekend pass, what we have then was "Weekend LEAVE." Assuming that he blurted out the wrong words, it would still be impossible since a cadet is only allowed to go on weekend leaves when he is already on his last year, believe me it was my task to make the necessary communications for this type of leave when I was a cadet. Considering the uniform that he wore when he met Kim Chiu (meeting at Melchor Hall is still not allowed but that's another story), he was a yearling or a second year cadet, he is still not allowed to enjoy such privilege. Meaning, he went out of camp without authority, an offense that could have him discharged from the Academy. If I was to do something like that as a cadet, I would not even think of riding a boat at Burnham Park for fear that I might be seen and be caught. Again, with due respect to the writers, that was an incorrect portrayal.

Well, I still do have many comments, in fact one thing that kept me from watching that series was just to see if they had the correct portrayal. But then again, I still put my praises up to those who came up with the show since I think it is still the closest portrayal of life in the Academy that I have seen so far. I would like to personally thank them for putting my Alma Mater into the limelight. I think that most of those I commented upon can be justified with their cinematic reasons. I loved it when every now and then some people I know inside the Academy are included in the scenes, it brings a smile in the face. For that, thank you very much

Victims of Irony

This picture was taken sometime in January. Two days before this picture was taken, around three to five kilometers away, a group of soldiers had a firefight with rebels leading to mass evacuation of civilians. In that firefight that lasted at least two hours, no casualty was reported but more or less 200 families had to leave their homes to avoid the conflict. When we went into these communities to pursue the rebels, it was like I am legend in the Mindanao context. Livestocks were running free, houses were deserted and valuables left. It is ironic how such a beautiful place can become a ghost towm in an instant because of war yet none of this horror was captured by any of our local media much more big media outfits. It was merely some tale that only a few of us knew. The day after I took these picture, when I went back to the mountains for yet another pursuit operations, an improvised explosive device (IED) was discovered within the vicinity of the evacuation center where the civilians that were displaced was staying. Meanwhile, the rest of the world goes on with their lives.

Going back with post number 400

I will try to really make this post good. I think that I have to do some kind of redemption to this blog after being silent for the past four months. Of course, it was not because I just had no blogging energy in me. The truth is I have found myself several times blogging inside my head because ideas are just flowing and in the past years, blogging became my form of expressing those. Finally, two days ago, I went to General Santos City for a very special personal mission: fix the blogging problem. A couple of thousand pesos after, I'm back in the blogging world writing from a Compaq Presario B1200 Notebook.

Well, in the past four months aside from the Christmas vacation I had, was more on going up mountains one after the other. I learned to manage my soldier, understand the reality of our Armed Forces and enjoy the little things that I get to experience while performing my task. I had many thoughts really which I hope wil be able to share as I have the chance to blog more during my idle time. I am still trying my best to enjoy my most recent investment. To those who kept on checking my blog even if I was not updating, thank you very much. I assure you I am back

To celebrate a life beyond death and continue fighting

This is a long delayed blog. I promised myself that I will only write about my classmate's death once I have processed everything and that I have made perfect sense on why things had to happen the way it did. I want that when I finally write about my classmate, those who will read will give my classmate the true honor and respect he deserved paying the ultimate sacrifice dying for this country. I also hope that those of us who are still fighting will have reinvigorated spirits believing that our cause is more than our own personal fear and discomfort. This is a tribute to the life of the late 2LT Jeffrey Domingo, who died fighting for this country.

I was already in the bus heading back to Sarangani where I am posted when I received a text message from one of the many soldiers that I have handled. He was expressing his condolences to us. I felt that I had to somehow give him good words and so I did. I told him that we should do our jobs well, apply our training because it will make our lives longer. As the text messages continued to exchange between the two of us, I realized that I was trying to be strong. I was trying my best to believe in the words that I was saying to my soldier. I was afraid.

In most cases when we learn about people dying, we always say that it was unexpected. In my case, I realize now that my classmate's death was not actually unexpected. No matter how I try to convince myself otherwise, the truth remains that the moment we became soldiers we have become aware that death may occur anytime. More than that, I realized that the life that we live each day is already a blessing in itself while I try my best to do my job.

My classmate, in his happy demeanor was in most cases someone who wanted the best for the people that he cared for. Soldiery has somehow made an image of us being uncaring and insensitive but in his case, his actions speak of the kind of man he is which has added to the sorrow and grief of his death. And I think that has become true to everyone in soldiery. I think that in most cases that people see us, they forget that deep inside we are no different from anyone only that we have embraced a profession that entailed more than what other professions ask. He was a man who wanted a good life just like the rest of the world.

In so doing, we have found ourselves in places that we have never dreamed we can go to. We have done things that we thought before we will never be able to do. Met a variety of people and in the process discovered ourselves. Adventure never seems to cease as each day is filled with surprises. Each surprise leave a lasting impression in our lives. These stories become part of the larger reason why we stay in our profession.

I guess, I will never really be able to explain why things had to happen. Why death has to come this early. But in the few moments that I was in that bus going back to where the action is, it was the moment when I was just so certain that I was where I was supposed to be. I remembered texting my father saying: "Daddy, ganito pala pag namamatayan ka na ng classmate, naiisip mo na yung pagsusundalo pala hindi lang basta naglalakad sa bundok at naghahanap ng kalaban." In those brief instances, I was reassured that the life that I chose was the one that defined the kind of person that I am.

Yes, we celebrate life each day even beyond death because it is the only way to honor those who have died fighting for our cause. We continue fighting because we will never accept defeat more so when much has already been given up. We go on because just like the rest of the world we want a good life.

I do not know if I have made sense but I write anyway. I am not even sure if I have been true to the original goal of this write-up. But just the same, I want to put out the contents of my heart. I pray that when we have our few moments, we take time to pray for the soldiers that fight for this country.

I love you people