Armed Forces to honor ROTC notables

MANILA, Philippines—From Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to top corporate executive Manuel V. Pangilinan and University of the Philippines president Alfredo Pascual, 100 of the most distinguished products of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) will be honored Sunday night.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is set to formally hail the achievements of 100 outstanding graduates of the century-old ROTC in the “Gabi ng Parangal” at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officers Club.

“The military cannot be more proud and at the same time inspired by the achievements of the graduates of the ROTC program,” the AFP Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Jessie D. Dellosa said in a statement.

“The sense of patriotism that was inculcated in them by the program was one of the driving factors that made them excel in their respective fields. We are optimistic that the ROTC program will continue to shape leaders of character from future generations,” he said.

The awarding ceremony is part of the anniversary celebration of the corps with the theme “ROTC Centennial, 100 years of Molding Leaders from among Our Youth in Nation-Building and in Defense of the Motherland,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Arnulfo Burgos said.

The theme serves as a reminder of the corps’ contribution in producing a number of exceptional leaders and accomplished individuals in various fields of work, he added.

Established in 1912, the ROTC was a mandatory two-year military training course for male college students until it became one of three components of the National Service Training Program in 2002, along with civic welfare and literary training service, for all college students.

The AFP said the ROTC program “contributed to the success and character of those who are working at present in non-government services such as the tri-media, sports, academe, business and industry sector, faith-based groups and non-government organizations.”

“The century-old corps’ program also honed the skills of our men and women in the military and other uniformed services,” it added.

Noted ROTC graduates in government include Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Amando Tetangco Jr., Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Francis Tolentino, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Senators Franklin Drilon and Francis Escudero, and former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.

In the private sector, the ROTC graduates include Concepcion Industries chair Jose Concepcion Sr., broadcaster and former Vice President Noli de Castro J, Gawad Kalinga Chairman Antonio Meloto Jr. and Philippine National Red Cross head and former senator Richard Gordon.