Seize the daY!

lost article

have you ever read an old letter / article you wrote way back? and then you ask yourself "did i really write this?" i was trying to get rid of old unused files in my computer because it is due for replacement. as i was opening up files, i came across this article i wrote i think two years ago. it was actually a reaction to an article written by a first class cadet of PMA, when PMA was at the center of talks because of the oakwood mutiny. (most of the leaders of the mutiny were members of PMA class 95).

it is through this article that i realize how i miss my NDCP days, when we used to write speeches and policy briefs for the Secretary of National Defense ( i worked during the time of SND Orly Mercado and SND Angelo Reyes), when task forces were formed among the research officers to do a briefing on a flashpoint security issue with only two to three hours lead time, when we faced senior officers of the AFP to discuss the revolution in military affairs and the first thing they asked us was that if we have graduated from high school already (we used to go to interviews and panel discussions with our backpacks)

anyhow, i am posting that article here to reminisce my defense writing days ;0)

Reading the article was brought about by idle time. I was once a researcher at the National Defense College of the Philippines & my area of research was the military. I have dedicated many hours reading about the military. But the countless interaction (which i think was a privilege and honor for me) with the men and women in uniform were far more enriching than reading any book on the long gray line.

As apolitical as it may seem, the Armed Forces has been used by sectors of society to advance interests, which most often than not do not serve the purpose of the many men and women in uniform. The PMA has become subsequently the victim, the easiest organization to blame for the "failures" and anomalies in the AFP instead of being the refuge for better reforms.

I have always kept high respects to the graduates of PMA. Pardon to other officers who are not alumni of this institution, but one can tell the difference of the Ayers to other officers. Realistically however, there will always be bad seeds among the produce of this organization, but to generalize, will be a great injustice to PMA who have become instrumental in more ways than one, in molding the leaders of this nation.

I have pure admiration for the writer and the rest of the Cadet Corps who holds the same fervor of idealism and service for this country. I can only wish that the spirit and idealism of the writer will spread like grass fire not only to the whole of the cadet corps but to the rest of Armed Forces.

Here's one snappy salute to the men and women who continue to believe that the love for God, country and people is above the love for self, those who continue to willingly shed the last drop of his/her blood for peace and progress even with sometimes, sad to say, an ungrateful society.

sucked out life @ 10:24 AM