Saturday, December 03, 2005

The Roles of Military Reserves

Message of Aklan Vice Governor Ronquillo C. Tolentino During the 14th Founding Anniversary of the 601st (Aklan) Community Defense Center, 6th RCDG, ARESCOM on December 3, 2005 at 8:00 AM, Camp Jizmundo, Libas, Banga, Aklan.

Military reservists in this province must indeed deserve commendation during this very significant occasion, the observance of the 14th Founding Anniversary of the 601st Community Defense Center, 6th RCDG, ARESCOM. While in peace, military commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the province of Aklan in the reserve force remain in the forefront in waging a different kind of battle.
This is the battle in uplifting the lives of our countrymen, or specifically, our provincemates particularly those in distress or those who are still wallowing from the deprivation of basic economic and social services they urgently need.
Fourteen years of existence in this province is by no means a short period of time when reservists like you are called to serve our fellowmen. Oftentimes, you can be seen in various humanitarian activities and programs ranging from letting out from your veins your very precious blood to fill up emergency needs when our brothers and sisters need such fluid to resuscitate their very precious life.
Oftentimes, you can be seen in several medical, dental and civic actions designed to help the needy and clean-up our environment, little things considered small in the surface but have gargantuan implications in the lives of our people and the maintenance of ecology.
Oftentimes, you are in the midst of rescue efforts in times of floods, earthquakes, fires and other natural calamities and man made disasters to ensure that no life can be in peril in the light of those human maladies commonly experienced by Aklanons.
Many said Military Reservists are the total soldiers of the people. Rightly so, it can be certain that you can be easily mobilized in the case of conflict or in times of battle, More so, when you are called to contribute in times of peace, you engage yourself in undertakings more valuable and significant than what are being done in the frontline of actual battles.
Meaning, you are waging a total war as total soldiers. You are fighting a war against economic deprivation, a war against environmental destruction, a war against injustices and all kinds of war tending to undermine the economic and social integrity of your brothers and sisters.
Despite having been made optional in the curricula of colleges and universities, Citizens Military Training or the Reserve Officers Training Corps continues to attract students who enroll into the said curricular offering. It is probably because many if not all find training in this course very wholesome which equip everyone training under the said course a wholesome preparation for the battles of life ahead.
Fourteen years inside this camp named in honor of one of the great defenders of freedom against foreign aggressors, the 601st (Aklan) community defense center has indeed become a great institution composed of military reservists who do not hesitate to come to the defense of freedom and display patriotism for the sake of the Filipinos, Aklanons, particularly.
In this historic camp marks the end of the once chronic peace and order problem besetting this province during the past three decades, the lingering problem of communist insurgency. And, Aklanons owe it to the many army battalions which were based here in the past and continued to be based until at present. The diminishing threat of communist insurgency in this particular part of the country can also be partly attributed to the efforts of the military reservists now composing the 601st community defense center.
On the occasion of your celebration of your 14th founding anniversary, our people in Aklan, the Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan which I head, and the provincial government of Aklan under the leadership of Governor Carlito S. Marquez all salute you for your patriotism and heroism. With it, also goes our gratitude as Aklanons to the gallant men and women of the 601st community defense center for being with us in times of turmoil and in times of peace engaging in several laudable socio-economic activities and projects.
Again, we in Aklan doff our hats to all of you. Thank you and may you have a very successful celebration of this year’s edition of your founding anniversary. /MP

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