Ironical as it seems, because former president Duterte had obvious alliance with China and had seconded Pantaleon Alvarez’ call for a separate Mindanao republic, his overtures for the return of military training in Philippine schools is quite laudable. Historically, one must remember that it was Manuel L. Quezon, president of the Philippine Commonwealth who started ROTC in his foresight of a future invasion of a raw material rich Philippine archipelago. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower nixed his offer for him to train the Filipinos for a future invasion which is why he had to rely on Gen. Douglas MacArthur who readily accepted the plan.
History will also tell us that this same Eisenhower, future American president, decided in favor of liberating Europe first rather than helping his “little brown brothers” in the Asian stage of war. And it was the same American Caesar, MacArthur who returned to “liberate” the Philippines.
But being liberated is not accurate term because for me, the Filipinos liberated themselves. Of course, there was also American help from those Americans who saw in the Filipinos their own Asian brothers but let us remember that it was the American leadership which surrendered Bataan and Corregidor even when the Filipinos were even crying against the act. But the Japanese Imperial forces were already helpless against the guerillas who were relentless in pursuing them. These guerilla units were either led by Americans, who were recognized by the Filipinos out of courtesy for real soldiers even if they are foreigners who are staking their lives for the Philippine cause and locals who reject Japanese imperialistic designs in Asia. But one must take note that the ROTC guerillas under Quezon and MacArthur’s plan were the most active guerillas. In fact, there was even those ROTC-led units which gave the invaders their most harmful strikes.
This is why I personally would like the return of military education in Philippine schools as early as secondary education. As a former principal who pursued the cadetship program in both the junior and senior high schools, in which I am a pioneer of the latter, I saw how valuable military education was. The batches under my cadetship program showed more disciplined units who are even ready to take on military training leadership in tertiary education and are more ready to take up careers necessitating military discipline such as the nautical and marine courses. In fact, I want it on record that our Junior cadets in CAA were recognized by the staff of the Las Pinas Doctors’ Hospital to be the ones bringing the victims of motor accidents on Aguilar streets with the victims being taken cared of very well. Our cadets were also the champions of the exhibition rescue games of the first rescue summit held in UPHR. Before my retirement, I was talked out of continuing the program by my superior whose motives were not evident and like any good soldier I acceded. I accepted with a heavy heart because I knew we were doing the best for our students. I was afraid that the request was made because my program was detrimental to the growth of the senior scouting movement in high school which I also supported. In fact, quite unexpectedly, when I sent a group of my straight teachers to the training, it was called an invasion by the gay scouters who were already notorious in victimizing boys in the privacy of the camp tents. Now, why would members of the federacion identify us as invasive. What could this imply? This is why before my retirement I really asked for reforms which I am afraid never came and I really openly opined that some of these scouters are “only scouting for boys”.
Which leads me to a bigger predicament in education scene. Are not LGBTs trying to stop military training in schools because of their personal agenda? I leave the tomboyish girls out of this because personally I experienced a lot of them transforming into women when we were surrounded by a private army in Bataan way back during the elections in 1971 where we received commendations. Or are the reds afraid that CMT, ROTC and COQC, etc. may inculcate in the cadet an unwavering allegiance to the republic?
VP Sara Duterte had a chance to include CMT or CAT in secondary education as her father dreamt but she resigned. Now, who among the solons or senators would champion this cause?
Capt Ricardo B de los Santos, Ph. D.
Former Commandant, USAR-CRG
