FEBRUARY 18, 2010

THEN AND NOW, AND IN BETWEEN
By: Rear Admiral Miguel Jose S Rodriguez AFP (3rd from right, before Cyberarnis) with “The Boys in Charlie Company”

Yes, some good things do begin on April Fools day, such as that of 30 summers ago when 143 young men rode the midnight bus at Camp Aguinaldo to see the sunlight at Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City. On that fine day, we had a hearty mess-tray breakfast at the picnic grove, had our haircut, and the last peaceful lunch for months to come.

To the Mapitagan PMA Class of 1980, those thirty years seemed like only yesterday, as we vividly recall the Class of 78 receiving us to begin a life we never imagined. To me, they all looked like a hundred Cadet Prestosas, except Cadet Caccam. The oath-taking at the flagpole in fatigues was the only sane thing that happened that day, Yes, we became the first Dumbguards called Fourthclassmen, appropriately, on April Fool’s Day.

Summer camp was a just a cute pseudonym for beast barracks, a transformational experience that ensured conformity to a regimented life. It lasted fifty-one days. For the upperclassmen, it was too short; for us, it was forever. Then we were incorporated into the Corps, and it was like summer camp all over again, this time with more upperclassmen. We produced sweat pools at the hallways, especially during weekends when loveless yearlings bent their ire on us, while energetic base drums provided rhythm to our favorite pastime, the mashe-mashe, not at all the pleasant dance number it sounded like. We learned the life of a mosquito bar, romanced the shoe brush, discovered that butt stroke was not a swimming event, and bridge was not a game of cards. We learned how it was to be really hungry and to be really full, and how bukayo can be so delicious when its the only food you’ve got. And yes, we did get reprieves when talents showed up, from Dick Sugon’s hallway songs, to Allan Sta Ana’s van full of boodles.

We had two foreign mistahs, Ringstad and Yaakub. Before long, there was none, as Ringstad gave up on account of the pile-ups in the sink, and Yaakub became a Filipino (aka Jack Torio) in word and in deed, having learned Tagalog, Ilocano, and Bisaya with great ease, while struggling with removals in almost all academic subjects, yet devoting study periods to writing letters. What’s more Filipino than that?

As fast as it started, plebe year was over., but not before we had to wear girlie clothes for the One Hundred Night Show, and gyrated to the tune of The Calendar Song.

Yearling year would have been perfect, except for the Pantabangan FTX incident that claimed the lives of four classmates; Joseph Simangan, Alfredo Husmalaga, Orlino Corpuz, and Nanie Suyo. We lost a good number of mistahs when Bravo Company almost got wiped out due to a fatal hazing incident. Calculus also exacted its toll, but not because we didn’t understand Purcell, but because of Lora in Nang Maghalo ang Tubig at Langis, and Galema of Zuma in Wakasan and Holiday komiks, and of course, the pen pal corner where pictures of Cdts Palaroan and Torres were ever present.

Then, we were brave enough not to text our girlfriends for even a day, something we are now duty bound to do hourly with our wives, under penalty of death. We were content with PEMESCO and JRS, and “mabalin ti zone,” to lament how much we miss them, except when detailed as hop suicide squads to the music of Barry Manilow, the Commodores, or the Bread.

And who can forget Second class with its Summer Cruise aboard LT54? And the nightmarish Col Estavillo? And the big cabinet-like computers at SLU where we learned FORTRAN and COBOL, only to be thrown out by WINDOWS much later.

Our Class was the transition class. We were the last to use the slide rule, and the first to be issued the casio fx calculators; the last to use M1 Garands, which were replaced by M-14 rifles, to the happiness of Cadets Zyril Carlos and Edwin Talens and other road run rear-enders (this author will not incriminate himself). Our Class first used gabardine uniforms, freeing the flat irons for more cooking jobs. The subject of Spanish, which less and less people spoke, was changed to Mandarin, which nobody spoke. We were the first recipients of the Foreign Professor Exchange Program, and we remember Maj Dans from the US Army spending time with us. No, Lt Gaboy was not a foreign professor. We started with six CCAFP companies, and graduated with eight, making the mythical Hawk Company a reality. Dumbguards ended with the Class before us; we were the first Fourthclassmen, as if the name change mattered. And we eradicated hazing, by the simple expediency of changing its name to maltreatment. We were also the first class to hold graduation rites outside the Academy, in the then swanky Baguio Convention Center.

On February 18, 1980, 107 proud members of the Mapitagan Class received their diplomas. Of the original 143 cadets appointed to this Class, only 61 original members survived. The other 46 who made up the 107 were former upperclassmen who added to the strength, diversity, and complexity ( or complexion, or confusion) of PMA Class 1980.

Forty-five joined the Army, while thirty-four entered the PNP. The Navy welcomed seventeen, and the Air Force got twelve. Of course, Yaakub had to go back to Malaysia, but not before getting married to a wonderful Filipina.

By mid-1980, the Class was joined by four US Academy graduates. Mike Agudo, Mike Asuncion and Manding Guzman joined the Navy, while Jun Sanchez entered the Army. Three later moved into the civil sector, leaving Manding to serve his full term as one of the best, level-headed officers to ever join the Navy.

From the Army, Mon Loria and Orly Beltran transferred to the Corps of Professors. From the Air Force, Van Solomon, Noel Manabat, and Aurelio Tiangco transferred to the PNP, where poor eyesight was made up for by blinkers and sirens. Navy-mate Jeeves Ubalde added the P to the PN, to the extreme delight of his now PNP-mates!

Over time, a total of 38 mistahs left the service (4 PAF, 11 PN, 10 PNP, 13 PA). They are now either successful businessman, or successful golfers. A good number of them are in the States; Obe Antonio, Noel Dominguez, Gene Enriquez, Mandy Espenelli, Pako Francisco, Timmy Garrido, Guzie De Guzman, Del Lorenzo, Van Solomon, Alan Sta Ana (bunkmate!), Edwin Talens, Mervin Tiu, et al, all so gracious hosts every time we were in their turf.

We mourn the loss of eleven mistahs who died in Line of Duty. The sorrow is still with us, but the good memories will always evoke a smile, even a silent laughter, for the shared moments ever in our hearts. We said goodbye so early to Bushen Rivera, Pong Arroyo, Mon Esplana, Jun Briones, Joey Madriaga, Aurelio Tiangco, then in mid-career to Nes Bernardino, Tagoy Pascua, and Lito Cruz. We were still grieving over Mart Jubas, when the death of Caloy Clet shocked all of us. We remember their good examples of how to treat our fellowmen, not only the people we serve, but the mistahs and friends we serve with, and especially, the family we love.

As the Senior Host Class, we bring into this year’s Homecoming the pride of having done extremely well in all fields of endeavor, as manifested by the stars now on our shoulders, and with more to surely come. Heading this parade of stars are RADM Edmund Tan, Deputy Commander of the Philippine Coast Guard, and MGEN Joji Segovia, the Commanding General of the Army’s Second Division.

The Army one stars are Cadet Amat EI, Willy Campos, Noel Coballes, Nene Delos Reyes, Ed Del Rosario, King Reyes, and Cesar Yano. With seven BGs and one MG, we can expect it to be raining stars very soon for the remaining 17 Army Colonels.

Of the 22 mistahs in the PNP, sixteen are now Chief Supts; Jufel Adriatico, Nick Bart, Vic Caragan, Sammy Diciano, Leo Kison, Noel Manabat, Ben Mantele, Gil Meneses, Nelson Nario, Ager Ontog, Mirong Ramirez, George Regis, Cecil Sandalo, Emil Sarmiento, Danny Siongco, and Jeeves Ubalde.

Of the five Air Force mistahs, the early stars were Greg Macapagal (me natural wings kasi), Epoy Marayag, and Larry Cruz. The stars of Nes Deona and Eldon Nemenzo are now in the flightline. It is worthy to note that all Class 80 Air Force guys are rated Pilots, having achieved the ultimate dream of any Air Force officer worth his salt.

And for the Philippine Navy, home to seven proud members of the Mapitagan Class, the Commodores are Jing Velasco (retired, now US based), Mike “Ige” Rodriguez (Commander, Fleet-Marine Ready Force, also the Navy’s Disaster Response Commander for NCR), Bogs Abogado (Commander, Naval Forces Northern Luzon), Manding Guzman (Commander, Naval Forces Central) Zyril Carlos (Deputy Commander Philippine Fleet), Ed Tamayo (Commander Service Force), and the lone Marine of Class 80, Tino Pereyra (Deputy Commandant, Philippine Marine Corps). Class 80 Navy Group stands proud of the fact that all are Senior Command Badge Holders, and all have been promoted to Flag Rank, setting a standard for junior classes to follow.

After thirty long years, age has caught up, with our first compulsory retiree Efren Yebra bowing out last April 7, 2009, followed by Jing Velasco last Sept 6, 2009. Tony Baraquiel will join this year’s February 20 Homecoming four days before he retires, and Leo Kison exactly one month before retirement.

Has age really caught up with us? Not so! Until the two remaining bachelors of the Class get hitched (Cadet Amat and Eldon Nemenzo), we will forever remain young.

And if that question begs to be answered by the way our ladies look, age has really been defied! The Class 80 Ladies on Parade will look like FAMAS Night, with that stunning allure (shock and awe!) that first jolted us, still working that same old magic on us. We thank you our charming ladies, the apple of our eyes, and the object of our undying desires (warning to Viagra users, it leads to hair loss. Alam na!). And it doesn’t matter that some of us are sleeping with grandmothers, they’re still the best looking grandmas in the world.

To our Lord Almighty, our leaders, our families, our co-workers, and our fellowmen, we thank you all for the opportunity to have served our country and people for the past 30 years, and the chance to enjoy every step of the way. We are fulfilled not only by what we have made of ourselves, but more so by what we have made of others. As we look forward to the horizon of our dreams, we will always seek the chance to make a difference in the lives of others, for we are the MAPITAGANS, and that forever we will be, as we continue to live up to the ideals of the Academy.