Historical perspective
Andres Bonifacio, Jose Rizal, Emilio Jacinto, Gregorio Del Pilar. These names resonate in the annals of Philippine history. A generation that waged a full revolution in Asia against 2 colonial powers, Spain and the United States of America. What binds them is that they did so in the full flower of their youth. Emilio Jacinto was only 19 and then Gregorio Del Pilar was 21 when he was felled at Tirad Pass.
Of course there are examples of the youth rising to the occasion in all countries in history. The point is that it was the youth who spearheaded the Philippine Independence movement in the 19th century, the youth who fought the Americans, the youth who fought the Japanese and the youth who fought in the insurgency wars on both sides.
Why the youth?
The energy of the youth has known no bounds. Alexander The Great conquered the known world when he was in his teens. The youth does not pay heed to mountains, jungles and seas. Given motivation and a mission, the youth will endure everything. This is because of biology.
Going back to the question on why the youth? The answer answered is in the historical perspective and in the above mentioned biological capability.
The beginnings of a Citizen Army
Having known the biological perspective, let us revisit the model for a citizen army. Ancient Rome during its republican days comes closest. Rome then has no standing army. All it had was a cadre of Non-Commissioned officers, the modern day sergeants. Its legions were formed when the Roman Senate called for the formation of an army. The typical Roman soldier was likened to Cincinnatus. Cincinnatus was a farmer when there are no wars and when called upon he was part of the newly formed legions that battled Hannibal of Carthage from the plains of Italy to the walls of Carthage in North Africa. After the war Cincinnatus returned home back to his farm
That is the historical context of a citizen-soldier, he who defends his country when his country is threatened.
In the Philippine Experience
During the Commonwealth era, President Quezon (also a veteran of the Philippine Revolution of 1896) acknowledged the need for a professional standing army. But unlike most modern armies at the time, Quezon knew that a standing regular army is an expensive national hobby. Instead, the model for the Philippine army was based on the Roman and Swiss Army model. It was an army of trained citizens. An army composed of the children of Illustrados were not enough. They did not have enough sons. That is why there was the landmark National Defense Act of 1935.
“ARTICLE II
EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS AND RESOURCES
Section 3. Military service shall be obligatory for all citizens of the Philippines, and the methods and procedure for the classification, selection, examination, induction, training, and release of all citizens from their military obligations shall be as prescribed in Title III of this Act.”
This army was not formed to invade but to defend. Defense capabilities were oriented towards defense. The ideal was for every able bodied male to be trained in military matters and that any invader, though technologically advanced will find it hard to occupy and rule the Philippines. Interconnected with alliances and diplomacy, any invader would find the Philippines ungovernable since more than 35% of its population is trained.
That was the Swiss and Roman model adopted as the national defense strategy of the Philippines. It is very important to note that Section 3 referred to all citizens or able bodied males of military age be given training
Contemporary Experience
It is a given that such was followed by reforms in that sector after WWII. The most enduring was the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). The ROTC was instituted during the 4 year college course of all male students and female volunteers.
The intention is to create a corps of professional soldiers or reserve officers from the ROTC program. The products of the Philippine Military Academy would not be enough to fill in the officer corps of the reserve army. Thus, the need for an ROTC program.
The notable products of the Philippine ROTC program were Gen. Romeo Espino, the longest serving AFP Chief of Staff (1972 – 1981) a graduate of UP Los Baños with a degree in Agriculture. Gen. Alfredo Santos was appointed AFP Chief of Staff. Gen. Santos was a graduate of Mapua.
One of the most prominent ROTC graduates who made it to the post of AFP chief of staff was Gen. Alfredo M. Santos. His role as corps commander of the Mapua ROTC contingent led him to a military career which culminated in his appointment by President Diosdado Macapagal as head of the AFP. A living example is Gen. Jose Magno who came from UP ROTC. He also served as GSIS chairman. In the US, Gen. Colin Powell was also a product of the US ROTC program. He was the first black national security advisor under President Reagan, first black Chief of Staff under President Bush and first black Secretary of State under President Bush the younger.
Clearly, the ROTC program has already proven itself to be a rich harvest ground of leaders and public servants.
Obligation
It is rarely recognized that ROTC is a builder of character. The derision on formation and marching belies that it is needed to instill discipline and team spirit. It is not easy marching in cadence when you are with 30 others in the formation. This means one’s self is subsumed to a greater whole. Think about it.
As with Cincinnatus, there is an obligation to be rendered by every Filipino. Freedom is not just given, it must be guarded and defended. The national patrimony must be guarded and defended. The freedom of every Filipino must be guarded and defended.
The ROTC (mandatory) must be revived. It is legal and its ideals are the same with the ideals of the Filipino people.
South Korea has a reserve force of 5 million, Vietnam has 4 million, China has 4 million the Philippines has less than 500 thousand out of a population of 100 million. Otherwise, we will meet the invaders with street sweepers and tree planters.
The lines of Bonifacio, Rizal, Jacinto and Del Pilar must continue.
Andres Bonifacio, Jose Rizal, Emilio Jacinto, Gregorio Del Pilar. These names resonate in the annals of Philippine history. A generation that waged a full revolution in Asia against 2 colonial powers, Spain and the United States of America. What binds them is that they did so in the full flower of their youth. Emilio Jacinto was only 19 and then Gregorio Del Pilar was 21 when he was felled at Tirad Pass.
Of course there are examples of the youth rising to the occasion in all countries in history. The point is that it was the youth who spearheaded the Philippine Independence movement in the 19th century, the youth who fought the Americans, the youth who fought the Japanese and the youth who fought in the insurgency wars on both sides.
Why the youth?
The energy of the youth has known no bounds. Alexander The Great conquered the known world when he was in his teens. The youth does not pay heed to mountains, jungles and seas. Given motivation and a mission, the youth will endure everything. This is because of biology.
Going back to the question on why the youth? The answer answered is in the historical perspective and in the above mentioned biological capability.
The beginnings of a Citizen Army
Having known the biological perspective, let us revisit the model for a citizen army. Ancient Rome during its republican days comes closest. Rome then has no standing army. All it had was a cadre of Non-Commissioned officers, the modern day sergeants. Its legions were formed when the Roman Senate called for the formation of an army. The typical Roman soldier was likened to Cincinnatus. Cincinnatus was a farmer when there are no wars and when called upon he was part of the newly formed legions that battled Hannibal of Carthage from the plains of Italy to the walls of Carthage in North Africa. After the war Cincinnatus returned home back to his farm
That is the historical context of a citizen-soldier, he who defends his country when his country is threatened.
In the Philippine Experience
During the Commonwealth era, President Quezon (also a veteran of the Philippine Revolution of 1896) acknowledged the need for a professional standing army. But unlike most modern armies at the time, Quezon knew that a standing regular army is an expensive national hobby. Instead, the model for the Philippine army was based on the Roman and Swiss Army model. It was an army of trained citizens. An army composed of the children of Illustrados were not enough. They did not have enough sons. That is why there was the landmark National Defense Act of 1935.
“ARTICLE II
EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS AND RESOURCES
Section 3. Military service shall be obligatory for all citizens of the Philippines, and the methods and procedure for the classification, selection, examination, induction, training, and release of all citizens from their military obligations shall be as prescribed in Title III of this Act.”
This army was not formed to invade but to defend. Defense capabilities were oriented towards defense. The ideal was for every able bodied male to be trained in military matters and that any invader, though technologically advanced will find it hard to occupy and rule the Philippines. Interconnected with alliances and diplomacy, any invader would find the Philippines ungovernable since more than 35% of its population is trained.
That was the Swiss and Roman model adopted as the national defense strategy of the Philippines. It is very important to note that Section 3 referred to all citizens or able bodied males of military age be given training
Contemporary Experience
It is a given that such was followed by reforms in that sector after WWII. The most enduring was the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). The ROTC was instituted during the 4 year college course of all male students and female volunteers.
The intention is to create a corps of professional soldiers or reserve officers from the ROTC program. The products of the Philippine Military Academy would not be enough to fill in the officer corps of the reserve army. Thus, the need for an ROTC program.
The notable products of the Philippine ROTC program were Gen. Romeo Espino, the longest serving AFP Chief of Staff (1972 – 1981) a graduate of UP Los Baños with a degree in Agriculture. Gen. Alfredo Santos was appointed AFP Chief of Staff. Gen. Santos was a graduate of Mapua.
One of the most prominent ROTC graduates who made it to the post of AFP chief of staff was Gen. Alfredo M. Santos. His role as corps commander of the Mapua ROTC contingent led him to a military career which culminated in his appointment by President Diosdado Macapagal as head of the AFP. A living example is Gen. Jose Magno who came from UP ROTC. He also served as GSIS chairman. In the US, Gen. Colin Powell was also a product of the US ROTC program. He was the first black national security advisor under President Reagan, first black Chief of Staff under President Bush and first black Secretary of State under President Bush the younger.
Clearly, the ROTC program has already proven itself to be a rich harvest ground of leaders and public servants.
Obligation
It is rarely recognized that ROTC is a builder of character. The derision on formation and marching belies that it is needed to instill discipline and team spirit. It is not easy marching in cadence when you are with 30 others in the formation. This means one’s self is subsumed to a greater whole. Think about it.
As with Cincinnatus, there is an obligation to be rendered by every Filipino. Freedom is not just given, it must be guarded and defended. The national patrimony must be guarded and defended. The freedom of every Filipino must be guarded and defended.
The ROTC (mandatory) must be revived. It is legal and its ideals are the same with the ideals of the Filipino people.
South Korea has a reserve force of 5 million, Vietnam has 4 million, China has 4 million the Philippines has less than 500 thousand out of a population of 100 million. Otherwise, we will meet the invaders with street sweepers and tree planters.
The lines of Bonifacio, Rizal, Jacinto and Del Pilar must continue.
