Reflection: My Life as a Filipino Soldier 2

Sometime in November 2008, we received a shocking news. A security patrol somewhere south was waylaid by members of the New People's Army and several soldiers were killed. It was also reported that the patrol Team Leader was captured by the rebel- bandits and was being held in the jungles of Agusan- Compostela Valley area. We have been expecting to be deployed in the Basilan- Jolo area because at that time, there were also intense fighting between government troops and the terrorist Abu Sayaff Group and other lawless elements. A class of Scout Ranger Students have just been deployed ahead of us. Unfortunately, the C130 that shipped them and was supposed to lift us, crashed on its way back to Manila shortly after taking off. The remains of the plane and the bodies of the crew (some of them fellow Aer’s were buried deep in the belly of the sea. They served their country well.

We arrived at Davao Airport safely via another C130.  I was met by a familiar face- my squad mate Lt Jojo Baya who was then with the Philippine Air Force Special Operations Wing while waiting for his turn to undergo flying school training. He hastily prepared a sumptuous boodlefight of our favorite pancit canton and scrambled eggs for me and Omar, and invited one of our favorite yearlings- Matiti. (Sadly, Jojo died in a vehicular accident while he was enjoying a furlough in his hometown. He was confined at V Luna for a couple of weeks but eventually succumbed to his injuries. May God Bless his soul.)

From there, we went through several mission briefings and  planning sessions. Most of  us were new in the area and we were unfamiliar with the terrain. Mountains and jungles may look the same from afar but once you're inside them, they're altogether different. Mastery of the terrain is paramount to every operation and more often than not, it spells the difference in the outcome of a mission. Every good and seasoned soldier knows that there are several things that must be considered whenever planning for a mission. These are People, Weather, Enemy, Terrain which amusingly goes by the acronym PWET. We were told to always be conscious of your PWET. (In Tagalog, pwet refers to a person's behind). We also analyze the METTT-C or Mission, Enemy, Time, Terrain,Troops and Community. 

Whatever the acronyms are, these basically tell us to carefully take into consideration these factors when doing detailed mission analysis. We have to familiarize ourselves with the people's socio- cultural and socio-economic conditions. We have to factor in the political and legal aspects and of course, we have to consider their sentiments towards us and the enemy. People in rebel- influenced areas would usually behave with contempt and hostility against government forces while those with a lesser degree of influence would exhibit openness and warmth. There are also those areas that are considered rebel strongholds but whose people will give you warm treatment- sometimes even too warm and accommodating than normal because they're hiding or protecting the rebels. These are red flags that combat leaders must be able to read early or else the troops would be jeopardized. 

We didn't stay long in Davao City. As such I never got to roam around the fabled city that is home to Kadayawan Festival. We were immediately shuttled to our mission area by our trusty and rusty M35 trucks. The newer KM 250 and KM 450 troop carriers were not yet introduced that time. I'm sure we were all anxious and nervous heading towards known enemy lairs.. Some of us have already had prior experiences in combat while others were practically neophytes when it comes to actual combat operations especially those from the Police and the Air Force. Except for the occasional banter and usual jokes, we were all silent. Our voices drowned amidst the rumbling sound of the truck engines. I was silently praying in between short conversations. I was nervous as well. It was a test mission after all-our final test, the culmination of almost a year of training. Whether we graduate from the course or not entirely depended on us, or more precisely, whether we come out alive or not. So there I was, side by side with soldiers as anxious and at the same time as hungry for glory and as eager to graduate. I was confident I had the best training and I was thoroughly prepared. I was ready to face whoever and whatever kind of enemy would come our way. I promised myself I'll fight to the teeth should it come to such and I would never back down. I was clutching my beloved M16 rifle which I had fired hundreds of times before.. On my chest were 12 steel magazines fully loaded with 5.56mm rounds. My combat pack had all the necessary supplies I would need in the jungle for at least a week until the nest resupply-food, water, spare clothes, hammock and personal items. It weighed around 18-20 kilograms.I was ready. We were ready for action, for the hunt. When we neared the designated drop off point, my heart was beating so fast I could almost hear it. But I maintained my cool and calm. This was what I wanted. This was what I came for.

It was just beginning.

The Story of 2Lt. Jun Corpuz, PMA’14

Last November 2, 2014, another Cavalier perished in the continuing war against terror- against the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group. 2Lt. Jun Corpuz, 22, died very young- too early even for us who have been prepared and continuously told that soldiers do get killed in the battlefield. He just graduated from the PMA last March placing 13th among the 222-strong Class of 2014. 

Although I am a soldier, I am still shocked and saddened whenever I read or receive news of soldiers being killed in combat. They say it’s “all in a day’s work” but I think I would never really get used to it. Death is even more painful if it comes to someone whom you know, you care about or love. I did not personally know Lieutenant Corpuz. I have never met him but his life’s story is basically the story of many members of the Long Gray Line. 

Basilan's hero: Fresh PMA grad dies in Abu Sayyaf hands

(By Carmela Fonbuena; Published 9:28 PM, Nov 03, 2014; Updated 9:38 PM, Nov 04, 2014 http://www.rappler.com/nation/73900-fresh-pma-grad-dies)

MANILA, Philippines – It was only in March when 222 members of Philippine Military Academy "Siklab Diwa" Class of 2014 were throwing their graduation caps to celebrate the completion of their 4-year military courses. It was a moment when the class seemed oblivious to the controversy that gripped the nation back then – the dismissal of their classmate Cadet Jeff Cudia.

Seven months later, the class suffered its first loss. Second Lieutenant Jun Corpuz, 22, died on Sunday, November 2, in a clash with Abu Sayyaf in war-weary Sumisip, Basilan. (READ: Junior officer, 5 soldiers, killed in Basilan clash)

Soldiers die in battle all the time. But Corpuz was too young. He won't make it to his first alumni homecoming in February 2015. He's never even had a girlfriend, according to his mother Elizabeth.

“I thought I poured out all my tears yesterday. He was a good boy. He was never a headache. I will not forget him,” an emotional Elizabeth told Rappler in Ilocano on Monday, November 3.Jun was very close to his parents, who live in Bacnotan town in La Union. He spoke with them several times a day, thanks to the unlimited call promos by the networks. It was the birthday of his father Crecensio just last week, October 27, and Jun sent him a cash gift of P2, 000.

He always told his parents not to worry about him. "Mas tahimik sa Basilan kaysa sa Sulu (It's more peaceful in Basilan than in Sulu)," Elizabeth recalled Jun telling them.

He also spoke with them an hour before the 7:30 am attack on Sunday. It was a typical call. She was having her coffee and she was making sure that Jun had breakfast. She would learn about her son's death early in the afternoon.

Jun was a platoon leader of Alpha Company, 64th Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. It was his first assignment. And 5 of his men also died:

·         Sergeant Tranquilino Germo of Aleosan, Cotabato

·         Private First Class Rolando Entera Jr of Aleosan, Cotabato

·         Private First Class Freddie Pandoy of Aleosan, Cotabato

·         Private First Class Raffy Canuto of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat

·         Private First Class Mark Anthony Singson of Pigkawan, North Cotabato

Lieutenant Corpuz’s death reminds me of another Jun who fell in the Basilan-Sulu battlefield. In my previous articles (Last Taps: Remembering the Mandala Heroes), I wrote about my very own classmate 1Lt. Dhel Jun Evangelista who perished on August 12, 2009 in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan after a gallant stand against extremist rebels. The most recent (and I certainly hope the last) casualty the Class 2006 had was Cpt. Mark Gamboa who heroically died last September (See For Mark G.) in Lantawan, Basilan. Dulan Cordero, Roldan Samera, Eugene Pinera and Ermin Soloren also sacrificed their own lives for this cause. Other classes have had their own ‘share’ in the continuing conflict in that part of the country but I think the Mandalans have given the most number of young men there. Six Killed In Action. Some were lucky enough to have cheated death but were left with lasting marks on their bodies. Some were even luckier to have escaped unscathed. And some are still out there slugging it out with the bandits. While some of us are already doing desk jobs and pushing papers, some are still leading at the forefronts and pressing it on. They belong to those whom we really look up to. They know who they are.

The Army's history is replete with these kinds of stories. I was also a 2^nd Lieutenant in 2008 when I almost became just another ‘lesson learned’. A wayward bullet pierced my left arm and exited through the left side of my body narrowly missing my rib cage. A six-month confinement in the hospital temporarily took me out of the field but it didn’t bring back my original arm. The injury was so severe it cut both my ulnar and median nerves. Even the best nerve doctor was not able to put it back to its old form. Among many other things, I guess I will never be able to do pull-ups and rope-climb again. Lucky me, I am not a leftie. 

I’ve seen worse. I’ve seen and heard soldiers crying in pain that’s why I have never felt sorry for myself. I have never felt any anger towards whoever fired the lucky shot that almost killed me. Curiously, I’ve never even hated the rebels. I guess we were just on the different sides of the fence, fighting against each other in the name of our respective causes. We were both willing to die for our cause only that the guy who got me was quicker. Was I at the wrong place and at the wrong time during that instant? 

My only lamentation was that we were both brown-skinned. I am sure both of us also spoke Filipino or Tagalog. We were both Filipinos for God’s sake. We both live (or lived, if he's dead) in the Philippines.  But I think that’s just how it is. They broke the law of the land. Break the law and its long arms will go after you, at all cost.

I wish though that their bravery would be put into good use- in some other ways, in some other arenas. But certainly not against fellow Filipinos.

The scars that soldiers take back home with them from the battlefield are not only physical. Some of us suffer wounds not even the best doctors can heal- wounds invisible to the naked eye but not to a perceptive heart. Some have both physical and psychological wounds. Some are eventually healed but some are just too deep to reach, to severe to cure.

It is not only soldiers who suffer these wounds. Their families are sometimes left with greater pain and anguish. There is no sadder picture than a mother clutching a photo of his fallen son or daughter, or a father hugging the flag-draped coffin, a wife sobbing with her innocent children, a brother or sister who’s lost a sibling, a child who’s lost a father. 

When a wounded soldier lies on a hospital bed, nobody can give the best of care to him but his family. Not even the best nurses can give the most comforting touch a mother, a wife or a daughter can give. No amount of therapy can ever equal the words of a father telling his son “don’t give up, kaya mo yan”.

Jun’s family lost him too soon. He wanted to fulfill his dreams for them. He wanted to be the fulfillment of their dreams. But he already was. He already is. He has made his family prouder with his heroic death. Amidst the chaotic world that we live in, amidst the controversies our country is presently embroiled with, Jun and his soldiers proved that we can all be heroes in our own small or big ways, that we can all do our part in making this country peaceful and free. 

Indeed, they have done their part. And they did it the best way they can.

Mighty Mike: Not Just Another Story of Heroism

I woke up early this morning and immediately took to the computer looking for news articles related to the recent clashes between soldiers and the dreaded Abu Sayaff  bandits. Yesterday, my CO told me about the fate of the 1^st Scout Ranger Company. Accordingly, 5 Rangers were killed in a fierce fighting in Talipao Sulu. As my instinct would have it, I tried reaching my contacts in the Basilan-Sulu area to know what unit was engaged and who led it. After some attempts, nobody among them replied. I figured they must have been busy pursuing the bandits so I tried other channels. Finally, another friend, also a Ranger said it was Mike Asistores’ unit that figured in a 5-hour gun battle against about 300 bandits. Five Hours??? 300???Yes. You heard it right. But he can’t give me more details as he wasn’t there himself, so this morning, I Googled “soldiers killed in basilan-sulu”. And this was what got my attention:

Junior officer holds line in Sulu clash despite wound, appalling odds

By: Priam F. Nepomuceno, Agence France-Presse
November 16, 2014 3:34 AM  

MANILA, Philippines - Despite being wounded the third time in his seven-year military career, 1st Lt. Michael "Mike" Asistores, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 2007, did not flinch even one bit and continued fighting during the desperate clash with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in Talipao, Sulu Friday.
His third battle wound took place two hours in desperate fight with the bandits. Asistores was first wounded in an encounter with New People's Army rebels in Lingig, Surigao Del Sur in 2008. He got his second combat wound in a three-hour encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Al-Barka, Basilan in 2011.
Asistores, 30, said that they started engaging the ASG brigands around 2 p.m. As of this posting, the soldier is a combat leader of the 1st Scout Ranger Company.
He said that at about noontime on Friday, his soldiers crawled stealthily and came as close as 20 meters from the enemy positions in their forest lair at the foot of Mount Tunggul and Bud Bunga, which is located at the boundary of Talipao and Patikul.
"It was my recon elements, led by Lt. Dante "Esprite" Espiritu, who spotted the bandits in a makeshift hut. He radioed to me that they will initiate contact as one of the bandits unknowingly approached their hiding positions in order to relieve himself," Asistores recounted.
He also said that Espiritu could not wait for him and his group to link up as the bandits would surely detect them infiltrating.
At this point, Espiritu and his men opened fire, not knowing that around 300 ASG brigands were all holding positions in the terrain above them.
The bandits were led by ASG leader Radulan Sahiron a.k.a "Commander Putol", Hairullah Asbang, Jurim Hussein, Hatib Sawadjaan and Juli Ekit.
Minutes later, Espiritu was forced to call for reinforcements as two of his men were downed by ASG fire.
"I could hear Esprite's voice over the radio amidst the heavy volumes of fire from various directions. They were almost surrounded by the enemy," Asistores said.
At this time, he added that he and his men were only about a hundred meters in their designated rally point.
Having experienced the "pintakasi" (attack from all directions) tactics used by the ASG in Basilan, Asistores promptly assembled a platoon to help his heavily engaged comrades.
While approaching the encounter site about 20 minutes later, Asistores and his men spotted the bandits who attempted to outflank the position of Espiritu. They were about 100 meters apart.
"The bandits wanted to annihilate the platoon of 'Esprite' by attempting to surround them, so I positioned my platoon about 50 meters behind of the bandits to join the fight," he said.
Asistores said that he was surprised upon seeing the bandits assaulting his position despite being raked with gun fire.
"The young-looking bandits were very daring and unmindful of our fires. They kept running towards our position despite being hit repeatedly. They were very ferocious and daring," he said.
Finding himself being slowly overwhelmed by the enemy, Asistores called for more support from his battalion commander, Lt Col Eugene Boquio.
He also dispatched soldiers to collect the casualties from Espiritu's.
Seeing the dead and wounded soldiers around him, Asistores pressed the fight by rallying the remaining soldiers to hold their line to provide support as the casualties are being evacuated.
After two hours of exchanging gunfire with the bandits, Asistores was hit by a shrapnel but he maintained his composure to inspire his men.
"One of my team leaders, Sgt. Kitong, came to my side and helped me control our remaining troops. He was very concerned when he saw that I was already bloodied," said Asistores.
He also said that he was lucky to have brave NCO (non commissioned officer) leaders in his company.
"I credit my NCOs for keeping the integrity of my unit. Aside from Sgt Kitong, my platoon sergeant, SSgt Tumala, was among those who exhibited conspicuous courage by running from one team's position to another to provide leadership amidst the volley of fires," he said.
Kitong was among the 28 soldiers who were wounded during the 5-hour long firefight.
He sustained a gunshot wound on his abdomen when he was trying to carry one of the critically-wounded team member.
Kitong was first wounded as a private of the 10th Scout Ranger Company when he figured in a six-hour firefight against the Abu Sayyaf in Balatanay, Basilan in October 2001.
He was awarded his first Gold Cross Medal, the third highest combat medal for grabbing an M60 machinegun from the Abu Sayyaf in that encounter.
Meanwhile, Asistores said that the ASG "borrowed" their courage from the marijuana leaves that they smoked before the firefight. His men recovered some of the left-over of smoked marijuana in the encounter site.
"That solved the puzzle about their bravery in combat. They are drug-crazed fighters," he said.
Asistores said that he considers all five men who paid the ultimate sacrifice as his personal heroes.
"They have shown us that the true spirit of the Scout Rangers. Walang iwanan. (No one is left behind)They died fighting for the country with their combat boots on their feet," Asistores said.
He also said that he and his men who are now recuperating in the military hospital in Zamboanga, are all willing to come back to Sulu and rejoin their beloved unit.
"I will gladly go back and be with my men in the frontlines. We must crush the Abu Sayyaf and end its kidnapping business," Aristores said.
Col. Allan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, is confident that the military can gradually decimate the Abu Sayyaf ranks.
He also said that the Abu Sayyaf has nowhere to hide if the civilians will cooperate with the military in identifying them and pinpointing their jungle hideouts.
Latest information released by the military placed the death toll at 15, with five from the government side and 10 for the ASG with 28 soldiers and at least 30 from the bandits wounded.(http://www.interaksyon.com/article/99293/junior-officer-holds-line-in-sulu-clash-despite-wound-appalling-odds

Last night, I broke the news to my wife who is a good friend of Mike. And her reaction was "What? Wounded na naman? Thank God he is alive!".

Well, as the article said, he's been wounded three times already. His pretty-boy-matinee-idol looks have been punctured by bullets and shrapnel through the years- all for the love of country. Chick-magnet-turned-bullet-magnet.

We have been pushing him to get married already prior his stint in Basilan-Sulu. Actually, we did not know he was there until this news. As a Ranger, he was here and there. That's how they are-heroes in black suits.

I am not a Ranger myself. I have very high regards for these men who, most of the time, spend their lives behind enemy lines. They have so many stories to tell. Let's start with Mighty Mike A.

Recognition Day: More than a Rite of Passage (Part 2)

Maaga pa ay gising na kami sa pinakahihintay na araw namin- ang Recognition Day. Nakatakda kasing ibukas ang aming barracks para sa mga bisita lao na sa mga kapalmiya namin. May open house kumbaga. Ikalawang open house na namin ito. Ang una ay yung sa Summer Camp/ Beast Barracks pa. Bagamat pangalawang beses na ito, kakaiba ang naramdaman namin noon sapagkat nasa totoo at regular na barracks na kami. Todo- linis ang aming ginawa para naman ‘di kami mapahiya. Kinuskos namin nang husto ang mga dingding, pinunasang maigi ang mga bintana at pinakintab ang mga sahig. Inayos naming mabuti ang aming mga kama at kabinet. Pantay na pantay ang pagkakahanay ng nga damit sapatos at pati na ang mga libro. Halos walang makikitang alikabok o anumang dumi ang ordinaryong mga mata. Sa maalala ko ay mayroon pa ngang mga kurtinang ikinabit na parepareho ang kulay sa lahat ng mga kwarto. Pati ang pagkabukas o paling ng mga bintana ay pantay- pantay din. Ang mga salamin naman ay pinalinis nang mabuti gamit ang dyaryo at basahan. At syempre mayroon pang air freshener upang maging mahalimuyak ang aming mga kwarto at kahit paano ay hindi umalingasaw ang pawis na dulot ng mga kabado naming katawan.

“Ang barracks ang piping saksi sa bawat sakripisyo, paghihirap at ginhawa (meron din naman), mga halakhak at hagulhol, at tagumpay at kabiguan namin sa loob ng ilang buwan. Ito ang aming tirahan at tahanan at sa loob nito ay isa kaming pamilya. Ito ang umaaruga sa amin habang malayo kami sa piling ninyo. Dito ko gugulin ang apat na taon upang matupad ang pangarap ko katulad ni Sergeant Mar Cariño sa pelikulang “Mistah”.” Ito sana ang sasabihin ko sa aking mga magulang noon pero syempre hindi ko yun nasabi sa kanila nang sila ay pumanhik na sa aming kwarto. Ang tanging nabanggit ko ay “welcome po”, salamat po sa pagdalaw ninyo, at eto po ang aming kwarto. Katulad noong una, hindi pa rin ako nayakap o nahagkan ng aking mga magulang. Hindi rin ako nakapagmano man lamang sapagkat ayon sa tradisyon at kaugalian, bawal na bawal talaga ang PDA lalo na kapag nakasuot ng full dress white. Sabi ko sa kanila ay saka na lamang ako yakapin kapag nasa labas na kami. Kahit mabigat sa loob ay pumayag na rin ang aking ina. 

S’ya nga pala, bago ang araw ng pagkilala ay maroon pa kaming pinagdaanang seremonya. Suot ang kanya- kanyang Company Athletic Uniform (berde ang suot namin sa Alfa), nagpakitang gilas kami sa mga bisita kung gaano na kalakas ang aming mga isip at pangangatawan mula nang huli nila kaming nakita. Animo’y mga atleta o manlalaro kami na nagpapaligsahan sa ibat- ibang ehersisyo na ang aming ginawa sa harap ng napakaraming tao na dumayo pa mula sa ibat-ibang daki ng bansa. Balewala ang Army Dozen noon- dala na rin siguro ng adrenaline at kasiyahan. Umikot kami sa lahat ng walong kumpanya sa gitna ng Borromeo Field upang patunayan sa mga nakatataas na antas na handang- handa na kami upang ma- recognize. Hindi namin alintana ang pawis at putik na bumalot sa aming katawan bagkus ay ang kasiyahan at excitement sa napipintong pagtatapos ng aming paghihirap. Makalipas ang ilang oras ay tumunog na ang trumpeta- hudyat na tapos na ang unang bahagi ng programa. Pinawi ng malakas na buhos ng tubig mula sa trak ng bumbero ang putik at pawis na bumalot sa amin. Napawi na rin ang iba pang mga agam-agam at hinagpis na naipon sa amin sa mga nakaraang buwan.

Kinabukasan, pagkatapos ng open house, ay nagsipuntahan na kami sa Quezon Avenue upang humanay para sa nakatakdng parada. Sa kabila ng kasiyahan ay abot- langit pa rin ang aking kaba. Siguro ay dahil mas mataas na ang inaasahan o expectation sa amin kumpara sa noong nakaraang incorporation. Sadyang mahirap gawin ang tinatawag bridge posture o position (ito yung exaggerated na porma ng katawan na parang nakaarko ang likod at nakabaon ang baba sa leeg na ginagawa upang mahubog ang postura ng isang plebo), pero nakuha ko itong tiisin sa loob ng ilang oras. Sabi kasi ng aming iskwad lider at buddy ay matatapos na ang ganitong mga klaseng gawain kapag kami ay recognized na.

Muling nanindig ang aking balahibo nang magsimulang tugtugin ng banda ang Awit Plebo o Plebesong...

As each Saturday adds to our past

Every month filled with mem’ries that last

We have left at the end of each day

Some weak habits of thought or of play

Insignificant in their esteem

‘till the day that is still but a dream

The parades and inspections and then

The corrections are part of a glorious scheme

 Knock Knock

Oh, we do or die, raise our knees waist high

For we’ve learn to do without asking why

Though we often doze

Change within us grows

And true manliness clearly shows

Knock Knock

Para akong nakalutang sa hangin subalit tantyado ang aking mga hakbang at sensitibo ang aking mga tainga sa lahat ng mga utos o command. Pinag- igihan ko ang pag- martsa sapagkat alam kong nanonood kasama ng napakaraming tao ang aking pamilya at mahal sa buhay. Mas magaling na rin kami sa pagsaganap ng pagsasanay sa paghawak ng sandata o manual of arms kumpara noong parada ng Incorporation Day. Dumadagungdong ang palakpakan ng mga manood sa bawat hakbang o kilos na aming ginawa.

Hindi nagtagal ay hinudyat na ang seremonya ng pagkilala o recognition. Sa saliw muli ng Awit Plebo ay bumuo kami ng hugis walonsulok o octagon na kumakatawan sa walong balangay- mula Alfa hanggang Hawk. Bilang na bilang ang mga hakbang na aming ginawa sapagkat bawat isa ay may nakatakdang posisyon upang maging perpekto ang hugis ng walonsulok. Nang mabuo na ang hugis ay saka naman nagmartsa papunta sa aming mga harapan ang mga tigre at leon-ang mga nakatataas na antas o upper class. Muli kaming nag-bridge sa kanilang harapan tanda nang pagiging plebo. Nagsimulang tugtugin ang Strong Hearts at habang ito ay itinutugtog, isa- isa kaming kinamayan ng mga upper class at ibinangon kami mula sa bridge position upang ganap na maging matikas ang aming mga tayo.

Let every heart with fervor sing

While bugle sounds recall

Let scroll unfold old tidings bring…

The mem’ries dear to all –

For hearts are young again, my dear

For hearts are again.

We’ve known the warmth of hearts before

Let old mem’ries live again.

Ito na yung tinatawag na blessed handshake-isang ordinaryong kamayan lamang kung titingnan ngunit may nakapaloob na malalim na kahulugan. Ang higpit ng pagdadaupang palad at yakap ang tanging saksi sa kung anumang kahulugan mayron ito sa bawat kadete. Hindi ko rin namalayan ang pagpatak ng aking luha lalo na nung kamayan at yakapin ako ng isang kadete na sa tingin ko ay ang siyang nagpahirap nang husto sa akin ngunit siya namang may pinaka maraming naituro at naibahagi akin.

 Our alma mater hail to thee

May each loyal sons proclaim

Tho’ yonder we may roam and die

We’ll ever be the same

For hearts are strong in thee, my dear

For hearts are strong in thee

We’ll stand the test of time and woe

Ever loyal sons to you.

Ito ang Recognition Day. Ordinaryong seremonya lamang kung titingnan ngunit sa gitna nito ay ang napakaraming kwento ng sakripisyo at tagumpay, pighati at kasiyahan, luha at halakhak at higit sa lahat mga samahang nagsimulang pandayin at pagkakaibigang susubukin ng panahon at kapatirang nagbibigkis sa Long Gray Line.

And when the taps shall sound for men

Banners drape my last remains.

Let singing comrades burry me

To the echo of the strains

For hearts will live and die for thee

Forever live in thee

Young blood shall come to carry on

When the old strong hearts are gone.