Showing posts with label Reserve Force. Show all posts

Moments of Bayanihan: Helping Hands for Tacloban

I read that it was a long dawn for the whole Visayas last November 9, 2013 as people felt the gust of wind coming towards each home. People feeling a bit nervous, the region is known to experience a lot of storms annually, but this time Typhoon Haiyan (Local name Yolanda) impressed fear as waves came toward coastal homes as high as 20 feet pummelled through with anger. 

There was a presence of swirling clouds in the area, as light broke through from the skies, every eye caught witness of devastation; they saw how the wind was tearing away iron roofs and waves swallow every single infrastructure around their beloved city. This must have been the strongest of storms ever recorded by history.


When people went down from roofs and posts the next day, they saw was a show of mother nature turning man-made structures into scrap, even finding their main evacuation centres as mere death trap.

In Bogo, northern Cebu, thousands of residents had taken refuge in the blue-roofed sports complex, where they set themselves up a few days before the storm’s planned arrival with catering and card games.

“But the wind started howling and the rain started coming, and soon the babies and the children were screaming that the roof was going to blow off,” said the mayor, Celestino Martinez. “I was trying to tell people to be calm. I had to shout over the noise, saying: ‘No don’t worry, the roof won’t blow off, the panels are too big.’ But they did blow off, piece by piece. (Source: The Guardian)

Those unfortunate ones were swept away by the tidal wave, displaced far away from their original place, lying as if they were oversized dolls. Some even had arms that positioned as shields for protection. It was an ugly scene.

To make things worse, communications and electricity was down; posts bowed down, powerless to withstand. Airports especially in Tacloban was swept flat and clear while harbours were filled with rubble. Many people unaffected by the storm had no reliable source of how bad the damage was yet everyone was still hoping for the best. If the need arise, many are here to help including the Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Force just waiting for that snap of order for deployment.

It was initially estimated that about 10,000 lives were lost. Families were looking for their love ones. Thousands hurt and wounded. Many grieved while aide came with a critic. When I was tucked in Manila; me and my fellow reserves participated in relief packing and loading and transferring goods. Volunteers worked round the clock. The 'Bayanihan' spirit was born again yet we were never deployed given that the government already spent money to train us for emergency response. While waiting we packed, carried relief goods in our backs, and gave out instructions as to how other people could help. 

A week passed after Yolanda tore Visayas into devastation and tears. A group of five Philippine Air Force reserves with Nurse and EMT certification decided to fly out to Tacloban for three days leaving our snappiest BDA's behind. Staying home was never our call after hearing out that nurses and doctors were already aplenty in those stricken areas. We never agreed. We still hear people calling for help. 

On November 16, 2013 the group started a humanitarian mission entitled 'Helping Hands for Tacloban'. Initially planning to leave Manila via PAF C-130 Hercules, it never materialised. Thankful with Air Asia Zest who gave out free seats a day after. The twenty of us arrived safely but in teary-awe at Tacloban Airport last November 17, 2013.

The HHCL (Helping Hand Central Luzon) group headed by President Ivy Tejada. A Philippine Air Force reserve assigned at 2nd ARCEN, Clark Air Base, Pampanga.

Soldiers participate in Brigada Eskwela 2013, kicks off May 20

In the spirit of 'Bayanihan sa Paaralan', units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be joining in for the annual activity called Brigada Eskwela in the preparation for the schools' opening on June 3.

Brigada Eskwela is a nationwide, long running, voluntary campaign held by the Department of Education since 2003. The activity aims to enjoin the entire community into the spirit of Bayanihan by bringing teachers, parents, soldiers, police officers, and other concerned sector together in doing clean up and repairs within the school setting.

"Ngayon po ay simula ng Brigada Eskwela, nagpapasalamat po kami at naimbitahan muli upang makatulong sa kapwa naming Pilipino," [Today is the start of our Brigada Eskwela, I thank the organizers for inviting us so we could help again] says a reservist belonging to the Army Reserve Command.

During the activity, our soldiers from both regular and reserve forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will help not only in cleaning and fixing school facilities. The versatility of our skill set can also offer in maintaining computer and electrical aspects of the school as well as the infrastructural repairs needed in order to promote safety among the students who will be using it in the next school opening.

The Brigada Eskwela 2013 will kick off starting on May 20 and will end on the 25. 




© iamreservist

Moments of Bayanihan | The Nurse with a Soldier's Heart

When people usually talk about the word military, what pops out of my mind usually has the same meaning of being raw, rugged, and extreme. But everything changed when I had the chance on meeting a nurse wearing a battle dress uniform, I felt devotion where two selfless career in one life can shine.   

Instrument for Healing Hands -

"A military nurse treats a foreigner suffering from allergies during the Hot Air Balloon festival sometime February 2010. A nurse had taken oath to serve any person suffering from discomfort. While a military nurse extends herself to marry the career of arms and an instrument for healing hands."

It is probably a non-refutable fact if I say that military nursing can be one of the most difficult jobs available in the world as Lt. Gen. Nestor R. Santillan, AFP (Ret) once said, "The life of a soldier is a life of duty, not adventure; a life of sacrifice not choice; a life of service not profit; that is why we call our job, the service... the greatest reward for a soldier is to see the country and people we serve benefit from our dedicated service..."

I see now that there are little pointers to differentiate a civilian nurse to a military nurse... but being able to see their duty of marrying the career of arms and a provider of holistic care. They are undeniably one of most aspiring people in the field today.

If you are a nurse, try to imagine this when you wake up with the sound of reveille in the morning, run for your physical exercise, bathe in excruciatingly cold water, don your army uniform, wear those heavy combat boots, then accessorize yourself with stethoscopes, first aid kit, penlight, among others... 

Towards the start of your shift, one of your objective is to help the wounded soldiers and regain the hope of life within them. Some may have probable post traumatic stress disorder which can be a big hindrance to your healing hands. You see them without limbs because they just came in from the battlefield. Even a cold or flu can still make the day bad. However, you, being their support makes a big difference and their dependents vouch for your care to teach them in taking part of their well-being.

It is not just soldiers whom our military nurses support. Their dependents are also part of their circle of care. On the wider scale, the whole community is also an extension of their responsibility.

By these words I say, military nurses are a great asset to the troops, their dependents, and the community. 

Along with reservists and their nursing degree (photo on left), they work hand in hand for nation-building; pushing greater horizons of service to community education and rescue operations. This is Bayanihan.

It is not an everyday scene that you see military nurses in the field. Not because they only show their service in the back of the stage, rather, they just don't do it under the spot light to gather fame. These camouflaged Nightingales are too busy rendering their service for the people who need them most.

This blog is dedicated to the military nurses of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. To the nurses with a soldier's heart.

© iamreservist

Moments of Bayanihan | The Unknown Soldier

Libingan ng mga Bayani
- The Unknown Soldier - 

"Here Lies a Filipino Soldier Whose Name is Only Known to God."

Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes Cemetery) in Taguig City, Philippines is where I spent my night for the Undas (Halloween). It just feels right that I wanted to share a piece of my experience and feature the story in this blog. This was my first time being here with a bag full of questions to fill a curious mind. 

It is probably the best time to visit the area, after all, this is the Halloween and the cemetery is open for twenty-four hours from November 1-2, 2012. I spent two days and a night just taking photos of our heroes. 

Libingan ng mga BayaniWhile roaming around the evening, it felt like romance having to see elderly people lighting up candles. Children were also there listening stories of valor. But what actually caught my heart is the tomb called the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" situated in the center of the cemetery. 


This was specifically established in memory of those soldiers whose names have not been known after their death mainly because their bodies are no longer in the shape of recognition. 

When I was munching every moment and pondering the beauty of their sacrifice. One stranger stood beside me and openly shared his heart. He said, "How great can this be? A soldier whose name is unknown to all of us but he has full of my respect." I felt it. And from that moment, it somehow feels good to be reminded of what Bayani (Hero) truly calls for!


One or many has to know that we Filipinos owe our freedom from these men who did the ultimate sacrifice of accepting death for the love of his country. How can the nameless be full of respect? Because he is a hero. 

I took my last photo (first photo above) under the shimmering stars at 0300H. I just felt that these stars were there for a reason... It felt like I am glancing through every legacy and sacrifice of the soldiers who were not named. 

Oh! Only God knows, but whoever you are... I thank you Sir Soldier Sir!

In lieu with the season of remembering our soldiers, I am dedicating this post to my grandfathers and their siblings who dedicated their service before I was born. I did not know very much about your lives and the things you've done to free this country. But this fact constantly give me that amazement that loving this great nation is part of my blood. 

Happy Undas everyone! 

And I'm proud to be an Filipino, 
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died, 
who gave that right to me.”
~ excerpts from Lee Greenwood, edited.

© iamreservist

Moments of Bayanihan: A Reflection of Help

- A Reflection of Help -

This is a reflection of a soldier helping distribute relief goods gathered from different NGO's during the time of Cagayan de Oro's worst mischief. 

#theheartofasoldier