Archive for June 2013

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Laang Kawal Magazine Vol 1 Issue 4 released

Laang Kawal News Magazine volume 1 issue 4 has just been released. It is the official publication of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Reservist and Retiree Affairs, J9.

Check your reserve centers if you have it now.

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JOKE TIME: Ang colonel at ang airman

Isang araw, ng matapos mag-lipat sa kanyang bagong opisina, may isang colonel na nakaupo sa kanyang desk habang kumakatok sa pintuan ang isang airman.  

Conscious sa bago nyang posisyon, mabilis na kinuha ng colonel ang telepono malapit sa kanya. Sinabihan ang Airman na pumasok at may sinabi sa telepono.

"...Yes, General, magkikita kami mamayang hapon at makaka-asa ka na darating sa kanya ang iyong mensahe... Sa ngayon Sir, maraming salamat sa iyong magagandang salita."

Sa pakiramdam nyang naimpress ang isang airman. Tinanong niya ito, "Ano kailangan mo?"

"Nothing important Sir," sabi ng airman, "Kailangan ko lang po i-install yung telepono."

He... He... He...


© iamreservist.blogspot.com

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Guns for Peace Program

In the hope of making peace with our lost brothers, the Armed Forces of the Philippine's Gun For Peace Program (GFPP) shall offer cash incentives to NPA members who will surrender with their firearms to the government and grab the big opportunity to start a new life away from the dangers of the armed conflict. 




The program is a transition mechanism and an avenue that will truly facilitate NPA rebels and other armed threat groups who wish to lay down their arms and surrender. 

Aside from the firearms remuneration package which will go as high as P200,000 for light machine guns, surrenderees can also benefit from other government programs instituted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and scholarships to the children of the victims.

Thanks for the program, it is exciting to learn that more rebels have decided to surrender and live a normal life. It is adamant that supporting armed conflict will never be the solution to our country's problem. 

We should all look forward to working together for peace and prosperity. 


© iamreservist.blogspot.com

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Photo Files: Happy Father's Day!

"By profession, I am a soldier and take pride in that fact. But I am prouder – infinitely prouder – to be a father. A soldier destroys in order to build; the father only builds, never destroys. The one has the potentiality of death; the other embodies creation and life. And while the hordes of death are mighty, the battalions of life are mightier still. It is my hope that my son, when I am gone, will remember me not from the battle field but in the home repeating with him our simple daily prayer, 'Our Father who art in Heaven."
- Douglas MacArthur

© iamreservist.blogspot.com

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JOKE TIME:

Isang umaga bago umakyat ng bundok ang mga sundalong Pinoy at mga sundalong Amerikano para sa BALIKATAN TRAINING may instruction ang Opisyal ng mga sundalong Pinoy sa tropa:

OPISYAL: Ok to all Filipino soldiers we must all speak in ENGLISH!

Habang naglalakad na sa bundok ang tropa. Nang biglang nakita ng Pinoy na sundalo ang Bag ng Amerikano na nakabukas:

PINOY: Sir yung Bag mo bukas.

AMERIKANO: What?

PINOY: Sir your bag is tomorrow!


he he he

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Photo/Files: Happy 115th Independence Day Philippines!

Araw ng Kasarinlan, the Day of Freedom

If you can possibly use the power of your imagination to take part of that special afternoon of June 12, 1898 when General Emilio F. Aguinaldo officially announced the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of the Philippines at the balcony of his house in Kawit, Cavite. 

Imagine that scene of the people proudly seeing a waved Philippine flag. 

On top of their lungs shouting "Mabuhay ang Kalayaan ng Pilipinas!"

While listening to the Marcha Filipina, the tune of our now called Lupang Hinirang.

You can just imagine.

Fact is, it's a wonderful time to be a Filipino every month of June as it will the month to celebrate a day of freedom. A time to celebrate the greatest right we have as Filipinos. It constantly reminds us that our nation is as great as it can be. And ultimately it proves that we are brave, sacrificing, and united in love.

Yet at this present time, I wish that every person of this nation may try asking themselves what freedom means to them today. Some may say freedom from NPA bandit oppression, freedom from poverty, freedom from bullying, freedom in equality, but in reality, the general populace are more concerned with the issues of AiAi and the sexual preference of Charice or whoever. 

Kalayaan is a term taken for granted by many; it may come in different forms and served in different ways. Kalayaan should also be protected, informed to the many, and must be practiced justly. It is time to be more aware of the things that should be us and for us. A lot of people already sacrificed their lives to protect this freedom; from internal threats that we make press that soon become forgotten. If we fail to act and love this country, it may not just be our sovereignty over some areas be taken away, it can also be our identity. 

So free yourself on that day and feel the air of freedom once again. 

Our dar President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the celebration of the Philippine’s 115th Independence Day at the Liwasang Bonifacio in the city of Manila.

Be there. Don't forget to wear the flag.

Trivia about our flag:

  1. General Emilio Aguinaldo, a prominent leader in the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonial rule, designed what was to become the Philippine flag during his exile in Hongkong in 1897.
  2. The original Philippine flag, was first sewn in Hong Kong in 1898, was made of silk.
  3. It was hand-sewn by three Filipino women by the name of Dona Marcela Marino de Agoncillo, her daughter Lorenza, and Mrs. Delfina Herbosa de Natividad, the niece of Dr. Jose P. Rizal.
  4. The Philippine flag was formally unfurled during the Declaration of Independence on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite.
  5. The golden sun of our flag is not exactly in the center of the triangle but shifted slightly to the right. It represents the original eight provinces that started the Philippine revolution against Spanish rule.
  6. Along with Bulgaria, the Philippine flag can be turned upside down. If the Philippines is under a state of war, the red stripe is flown upwards, while blue at times of peace. 
  7. Computer colors or HEX are Blue (#0038A8) Red (#CE1126) White (#FFFFFF) Yellow (#FCD116) based on the Republic Act 8491 in terms of their cable number in the system developed by the Color Association of the United States.
  8. Eight rays of the yellow sun represent the eight provinces as Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Laguna, and Batangas.
  9. In 2009, a Senate Bill was introduced to add an additional ray to represent the Moro people in Mindanao who also fought the Spanish and was never occupied by the Spanish colonial government. As of September 24, 2009, it is in the process of bill reconciliation in Congress.
  10. Symbolism of our flag:

    BLUE FIELD - stands for peace, truth, and justice
    RED FIELD - stands for patriotism and valor
    WHITE TRIANGLE - stands for equality and fraternity
    EIGHT RAYS OF THE YELLOW SUN - represents the original eight provinces that started the Philippine revolution against Spanish rule
    THREE YELLOW STAR - represents Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the three geographical division of the country.
Some phrases are taken from Timawa with revision.

 © iamreservist.blogspot.com

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PHOTO/FILES: Preparation Freedom

Preparation Freedom

Civil Military Operations Group, Philippine Army showed their dedicated team in the preparation of this years' independence day that will take place on June 12, 2013 at Luneta Park. Regardless of the sun's passing, they used their own truck to light up areas where tents need to be properly set. And with the constant thunderstorms and lightnings' coming, these dedicated soldiers shows no reason to stop their days' work for the freedom day. 

#preparationfreedom #kalayaan 2013

© iamreservist

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Batang Mandirigma: Cpl Jelyn Dayong - Cadorna


Fourteen years have passed since a young guerilla fighter named Jelyn Dayong surrendered to the Philippine Army. Her previous life with the New People's Army may have slid through tough moments for a cause she can't grasp to understand but her wise decision to surrender gave her the most meaningful life she now has today.

She was thirteen years old at the time when she ran away from home in order to escape marriage. Too young and with a fragile mind, rebels took advantage of her weakness and recruited her to adapt their cause.

It was sometime February 1999 when resting somewhere in the mountain along with 19 other NPA comrades, a group of Scout Rangers engaged and surrounded them in Sitio Baglamag, Barangay Perdida, Alegria, Surigao del Norte. In the middle of the fireflight, Dayong was wounded while her comrades left her hopeless, fleeing away from the hot zone.

Meeting government troops in the area, it gave her the most scariest experience of her life having thoughts of her last breathe be taken away. To her surprise, our soldiers gave her the appropriate care in return.
It was not easy winning this young girl's heart full of left ideologies. A year of support and therapeutic help was given under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development by letting her attend bible study sessions, rebel returnee testimonials, and one-on-one sessions to name a few.

The new Dayong she now chooses to be granted her the future. After being able to finish high school, she decided to join the Philippine Army serving as a public servant and a true soldier for the masses. Others may not be as fortunate as she is but she is doing all her best to inspire the youth for choosing the right path.

A news clipping from the paper named Inquirer dated January 10, 2000 said, "The recruitment of child rebels started to swell after the surrender of Jelyn Dayong." While initially thought to be an isolated case, it was soon found that the NPA has recruited a staggering 86 child rebels in Mindanao alone. This is a clear violation in the international Convention on the Rights of the Child. 


It has always been the goal of this blog to promote peace and condemn the people who promote armed struggle, especially those who recruit minors just for the success of their laughable cause. I am for peace, no to armed struggle!

Read more: 74 NPA members surrender recorded since January
References:

  1. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2479&dat=20001010&id=u1g1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=gSUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1554,35129739
  2. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-153478874/child-rebel-now-army.html


 © iamreservist.blogspot.com

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Young PMA officer killed after engaging with NPA Bandits

A bright young army lieutenant, 2Lt Dennis Avila, PMA Class 2011, died while fighting the New People’s Army (NPA) bandits in Bgy San Luis Malitbog, Bukidnon last June 7, 2013 (Friday) at 11:15am. 

Prior to the encounter, Avila and his team were performing combat operations in the village of Abacahan in Mat-I, Claveria, Misamis Oriental where they spotted 30 fully armed bandits who engaged them hours of intermittent gun battle.

He and another Pfc Andilong was wounded in the intense firefight with the bandits and were airlifted to the nearest military hospital but Avila succumbed to his wounds. 

Lt Avila showed courage and dedication to his duty even for a short stint of time. He was assigned at the 58IB after graduating PMA. 

Buhay ang iyong Kagitingan sa aming diwa, Second Lieutenant Dennis Avila!

The author of this blog pledges to pray for our troops everyday. To the family who lost a love one, the Filipino people extends their condolences. The brave young officer named Dennis Avila is now home.


© iamreservist.blogspot.com

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Navy Reservist to be honored after Cebu Pacific 5J 971 mishap

The 'Guiding Voice', Captain Bok of Cebu Pacific 5J 971 © Sherwin Reyes/PhilMug
Reservist News - After the Cebu Pacific crew failed to provide much needed attention to the passengers, Captain Bok or ENS Marlon Deang Bo of the Philippine Navy Reserve responded the call to help his fellow passengers during the mishap of a Cebu Pacific flight 5J 971 after it missed the runway in Davao International Airport last June 1, 2013.
Because of this 'heroic' attempt to calm the passengers, he will be honored from doing his heroic deeds. A Navy spokesperson Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo, the Navy’s Civil Military Operations Group spokesman said, “We are formally documenting his heroic deeds so the Navy, as Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano, the Flag Officer in Command if the PN also desires, can honor the hero of that Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 971,”.


 I give my salute to you Ensign Marlon Bo! Isa kang laang kawal na dapat gayahin! 

 QUOTE:

© AFP/Karlos Manlupig
MANILA, Philippines – A Navy reservist will be honored by the Philippine Navy for his “heroic deeds” after he helped calming down passengers in a Cebu Pacific plane 5J 971 that missed the runway of the Davao International Airport and landed on mud and grass at the side on Sunday.

Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo, the Navy’s Civil Military Operations Group spokesman, identified the “hero” as Lieutenant Marlon Bo, a Navy reservist and a graduate of Philippine Merchant Marine Academy in 2003.

“We are formally documenting his heroic deeds so the Navy, as Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano, the Flag Officer in Command if the PN also desires, can honor the hero of that Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 971,” he said Wednesday.

Bo was one of the passengers in the Cebu Pacific plane when the incident happened.

Nino Alinsub, also one of the passengers, recalled how Bo helped the passengers to safety.

“It took the courage of one person, whom we only know as Captain Bok from the Philippine Navy, to stand up and calm everyone down. He knew what he was doing, and he was in control when even the cabin crew looked like they were really at a loss on what to do. Capt Bok gave clear instructions for everyone to sit down, so that we could leave row by row to prevent the plane from tilting over. He was the clear definition of a “guiding voice,” he said in his blow-by-blow account.

The stricken Cebu Pacific Manila-Davao flight plane was removed from the runway of the Davao International Airport late Tuesday night.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/421173/navy-to-honor-hero-in-cebu-pacific-plane-mishap

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15ID SARU holds family bonding summer camporee

In lieu with the changing climate and the unpredictable weather of our country, safety preparedness should be everybody's concern. Especially now that the rainy season is coming up fast. 

In response to this, our friends from the Search and Rescue Unit, 15 Infantry Division Ready Reserve located at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City conducted their annual family-centered camporee which aims to deliver and train junior responders in disaster preparedness planning and response program in a fun, age-specific approach last May 25-26, 2013.

Fun-filled activities surprised the junior responders who will not only be trained in basic first aid, CPR for kids, victim transfer, family emergency planning, but will also receive outdoor training on camp management, tent-pitching, rappelling, and knot tying. Provided these kids undergo military-based training, they will also need to perform reveille and morning exercises. 

Junior responders being trained various outdoor management. 
Junior responders being trained on various knot tying.
Morning exercises is also part of the conducted camporee. To heed the call to help at SARU requires a person to be fit for duty. 

CPT Joam Morales PA (RES) teaching junior responders how to cleanse a wound. 
CPT Rommel H Marquez (INF) PA (RES) teaching kids about camp management. 

Kids enjoy rappelling activity with SARU personell.
These days, training at least one responder at home can provide fast first-aid delivery in such circumstances when it is needed. Parents and their children should see the advantage of planning their emergency policy and basic equipment at home because these actions do save lives, even their neighbors.
Pvt Donald Ordiales, PA (RES) conducted the storytelling prior to lights off. 
Photos from Search and Rescue Unit, 15ID (RR)

 © iamreservist.blogspot.com

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Philippine Army Shooting Team photos in AASAM 2013

Photos from AASAM Facebook page by their respective photographers.
Mga kawal natin sa AASAM 2013 ay hinahanap at vine-verify ang scores pagkatapos sa naganap na match.

Si Sgt Rudy Edas, PA ay tinutulungan sa mga technique upang maka-iscore ang isang US Army Specialist Christopher Payne sa huling araw ng Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting (AASAM). 

Photo by SGT John Waddell © Commonwealth of Australia 2013




Isang myembro ng Philippine Army Shooting Team ay dumaan sa isang obstacle course na parte sa Match 51 kasama ang isang sundalo na hawak ang bandila ng Pilipinas. 

Awarding


Champion Shot - International! Congratulations Staff Sergeant Armando Mejia of the Philippines!

Philippine Army Shooting Team Photos



Napakasarap isipin at damdamin ang isang Pilipino na gumanap bilang kontestant sa isang okasyon na ito. Talagang saludo kami sa kawal Pilipino! You do us proud!

Photos from AASAM Facebook page by their respective photographers.

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Ang ating sundalo sa AASAM 2013


Mga mahuhusay na 350 shooters galing sa ibat-ibang sulok ng mundo ay dumalo para sa Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting (AASAM) noong ika 2 - 17 ng Mayo, 2013 sa Puckapunyal Military Range, Victoria, Australia. 

Ito ay isang combat focused skill at arms competition para maipakita ang husay ng bawat sundalo ng kanilang bansa gamit ang current in-service small arms system capabilities, equipment and targetry, at training analysis ng combat shooting technique, weapon training doctrine, at small arms practice.
Naghayag na kampeon ang sarili nating' Staff Sergeant Armando Mejia, Philippine Army sa international champion shot category.  Photo by: Sgt John Waddell, Commonwealth of Australia 2013 


For champion shot results click here

Habang 3rd place naman tayo sa international teams weapons championship category. Isang oooahh naman dyan!
Mga Pilipinong kawal natin sa AASAM sa awarding ceremony. Photo by SGT John Waddell © Commonwealth of Australia 2013

Ang naturang kompetisyon at sinasalihan ng mga shooters galing sa United States, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China at marami pang iba. Ngunit ito ay kompetensya lamang sa husay sa lingwahe ng marksmanship kung saan ang isang team o indibidwal ay sasabak sa mga iba't-ibang pagsubok araw man o gabi. May assault course na mapapakita ang galing sa close quarter fighting at deliberate shooting to 450 meters. Mga isniper at susubok sa target na lagpas 1000 meters habang ang ibang contestants naman ay puputok ng iba't-ibang klaseng baril na standard issue sa kanilang sandatahang lakas. 

For the international results click here
For champion shot results click here
Mga isnappy at pogi nating Philippine Army Shooting Team (PAST) sa the AASAM 2013. Photo by SGT John Waddell © Commonwealth of Australia 2013
Dahil dito ay talaga namang masarap maging Pilipino! Ganyan din ang mga kawal natin, world -class!

 Mga pictures ng kawal natin sa naganap na AASAM. 
Photos by AASAM 2013 Facebook page by their respective photographers. 

 © iamreservist.blogspot.com

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Why our Coast Guard 'properly' did its job?

Chinese-Taiwanese media sparked an uncontrollable outrage among their people about the death of their fellow fisherman Huang Shih-Cheng due to a recent shooting incident. 

Before I go further, I should say that I humbly sympathize for the loss of life. 

Now let me clarify my points as to why our Coast Guard 'properly' did its job.

1. Nothing is disputed at all. The incident took place well-within our territorial zone [Philippine], specifically 43 nautical miles east of Balintang Island. Obviously far beyond any Taiwanese territory. I wonder why their media constantly blurs out or removes Batanes in the map. 

An example of a map printed by some irresponsible Taiwanese media removing Batanes islands from the map. Facts about Batanes island.  
Whereas the incident actually happened 43 nautical miles east of Balintang island (shown in map on left). Now based on the publicly released geographic coordinates by Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (TCGA), the intruding boat was located at 19'58", 122'58", deep within our territory recognized by the UN Convention Law of the Seas (UNCLOS). I had imagined that they themselves are telling us that their boat was indeed inside our territory!
2. There was no overlapping EEZ. Taiwan is holding us responsible for the death of Huang Shih-Cheng and demands fishing rights in the area, specifically their self-imposed overlapping EEZ with the Philippines. This is somehow absurd because UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) does not reveal any document of overlapping zones.  

This is an image showing Taiwan's EEZ (blue) and the disputed areas (green) courtesy of Sea Around Us Project.
3. Rules of Engagement.  On May 9, 2013 at around 5:00 a.m., our [Philippine] coast guard on board MCS-3001 detected four foreign fishing vessels inside our jurisdiction. All four boats were being addressed using alarms or sirens, and loudspeaker announcements but they all sped away towards the direction of Taiwan. 

Since it was vitally important for our Coast Guard to inspect their vessel for it's illegal fishing, they also have to open the possibility of smuggling, drug trafficking, illegal logging, and illegal migration activities. These possible violations will only be determined if the Philippine Coast Guard was able to board their vessels. 

A chase which lasted four hours gave a possible attempt to board one fishing vessel but upon doing so, several fishing boats tried to ram the Philippine boat marking it a 'hostile' act against law enforcers. With an intention to cause harm, the PCG decided to provide warning shots for them to stop. With no cooperation, the PCG then decided to immobilize their vessel, the Guang Ta Hsin 28, by firing at it's engine. During the process, a bullet hit the neck of a 65 year Mr. Huang Shih-Cheng.

The Taiwanese fishing vessel continued to navigate towards the direction of Taiwan until the Taiwanese Coast Guard escorted them home. 

According to the United States Coast Guard Rules of Engagement, the action of the Taiwanese fishing boat by intentionally ramming a law enforcer's vessel was a clear justification to shoot. There have been several accounts wherein law enforcers need to protect themselves in defense from hostile suspects.

U.S. Coast Guard member dies after boat rammed off 
Man shot after ramming a law enforcer

Regardless if the fishing vessel was a significantly smaller vessel compared to the MCS-3001. It should not be justified that our law enforcer's shouldn't protect themselves. 
I admire the boldness of the Coast Guard personnel who, in that decisive moment, made the choice to shoot the intruders' boat in order to prevent an further loss of lives. 

Yet I do agree that an apology to the Taiwanese people be given publicly. Being sympathetic on a fisherman's death is also as important but what I should also patronize is the need to be nationalistic in saying that my country was the victim in the first place. What the Taiwanese government is actually demanding is too much as it seemed politicizing the activities of poaching. 

I have my faith restored with them as evidence that our Coast Guard is still true to their oath in protecting the nation's territory and marine wealth.  

Therefore, I say thank you Philippine Coast Guard!
I call upon every Filipino out there, join the ranks! Be a Navy reservist marked with courage, boldness, and patriotism. It is time to take part and be a doer of good deeds. 

 © iamreservist.blogspot.com