Extemporaneous Speech

 

SECRETARY GILBERTO C. TEODORO, JR.

Guest of Honor and Speaker

Philippine Military Academy 109th Anniversary

PMA, Fort del Pilar, Baguio City

October 20, 2007

(May I request everybody to please rise for a moment of reflection in memory of those who expired in yesterday’s terrible incident and those who are still suffering.) 

(Cadet Domingo, kindly, once again, give the Cadet Corps Tikas Pahinga.)

 (Appropriate Greetings…)

 A pleasant morning to all of you.

First and foremost, let me say that it is indeed a distinct honor and privilege to be here on the occasion of the 109th Foundation Day of this prestigious institution, which has meant so much to our country, not merely at present in keeping peace and order and development for our country but in fighting for our country’s freedom, particularly in World War II, where these distinguished gentlemen. (SND asked the war veterans to rise.) let us give them a round of applause. They sacrificed their lives for us. 

It was not merely through simple words, but through the shedding of blood and sacrifice of blood and futures of families with the sole purpose of serving their country because of an instilled value of love of country.

The Academy is not merely an institution of education or an institution for building up a professional career, but a place where values, where morals and where skills are in ingrained through a unique concept, Not merely in the minds, not merely in the hearts but in the souls of each and every one who passes through its portals.

And thus, you have the frameworks courage, integrity and loyalty drilled into you when you start and to continue to flow through your veins with your blood as you come out.

I’m sure you have heard of the necessities ---that we keep to these ideals and the requirement of moral fortitude in the conduct of your duties --- not merely in your professional military career but with your own civilian life.  You have heard that time and again in sufficing to say for you ladies and gentlemen in the cadet corps, as you have the trust, by law and by the blood and sweat of the Filipino people for you to be here, I am certain that you will live up to your commitments, Sufficing to say that I am sure that you will not break that trust.

Normally, you will hear us preaching or lecturing to you about your moral duties, but with the program of instruction, with the example of your leaders in the armed forces now, I’m sure I do not need to do so once again because once again, I trust that you shall not fail the trust I have in you.

But, there are some values that I would like to cite.  One is competence. You can have all the morality, the goodness of heart in the world, but if we are not competent, then what is the use of a college level education and all the training that you received? 

So, I expect the Academy to produce not only those schooled and skilled in military arts and science, but even in humanities, economics, science and technology and other appropriate career-related subjects (That is for four years and it is impossible for four years to have what you need). I need this value of the thirst for continuing knowledge and education -- the habit of continuous study, seeking new ideas and information --- to be instilled as a core value of the Cadet Corps for the environment, which a young lieutenant faces today, is drastically different from the environment that a lieutenant faced ten years ago, twenty years ago, thirty years ago.  And it will be drastically different when the fourth classmen walk out as 2nd lieutenants and everybody needs to speak the same language.  You need to speak on the same plane and on the same level.  That’s the need to emphasize, not merely with the Cadet Corps, but in the whole defense establishment --- the obligation and the duty to keep abreast of current situations and developments and to predict the future (which is one of the heavy responsibilities on our shoulders).

 

Once again, in terms of honor, I am confident that the alumni, the Cadet Corps will always be ready to respond to the challenge, “All Right, Sir?”, because the honor code is the linchpin in building a strong character.  And we must also school the cadets to have the fortitude to face the real world when they step out the portals of the Academy.  And with reforms, with the roadmap, with the continuous striving for excellence and change that the Academy leadership is now undertaking, I am certain that you will succeed.

In terms of structural reforms, may I announce (and I have the honor to announce) the reactivation of the Board of Visitors to assist the Secretary of National Defense, the Chief of Staff and the Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy to make policies not merely regarding the curriculum, the administration, but also the resources of the Academy with members serving a term of two (2) years (which is renewable at the discretion of the Secretary of National Defense). And we are honored to have received the acceptance through the Board of the following individuals:            Mr. Francis Estrada, current President of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM); Dr. Consuelo Estepa, Professor of the UST Graduate School; Cavalier Ramon Farolan; and Mr. Greg Navarro. 

I must stress once again, together with the whole armed forces, the need to respect and to understand the concept of upholding human rights and human dignity. 

Today, we are at a challenge whereby we increase our risks because of the increasingly asymmetrical tactics and forms of warfare employed by the enemies of the state.   

Yet, the Armed Forces of the Philippines for that matter, are constrained by stricter legal norms, legal rules and regulations, which constrain the methods and the manner by which we conduct our operations. And, thus, these realities and the core value of the worth and dignity of each and every human being must be ingrained in the cadets. and I am sure, once again, that it shall not be debatable because the Philippine Military Academy is one of the most equal of all institutions --- a fourth class man, whether rich or poor, whatever status in life, whether he be from a rich family or coming from the farthest area of the Philippines, whether he be from Batanes to Sulu, whatever religion he believes in, he’ll be subjected to the same rules, the same regulations and the same obligation.   

And this is the very essence of human rights. Under the legal norms of a State, a political system, each one shall be treated no differently from a person who may come from A different walk of life, different language or a different religion.  And I’m sure that in that context, it would be easy to impart to our cadets this value of respect for human life. 

Lastly, (and I shall not belabor you on this beautiful day with a long and, perhaps, patronizing speech) may I address each and every one of you of the Cadet Corps.  You will soon be graduates of the Philippine Military Academy, which is without doubt the premier school of leadership, school for military careers in this country and, perhaps, in Asia. That endows you with an obligation on your shoulders, not merely to win wars or battles, not merely to be fighters for peace  (which is the mission of the armed forces at this point in time), but to be advocates of unity and oneness within the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

So, you must reach out when you go into the fold of the mainstream armed forces. to your brother or your sister officers who may not come from this Institution,  Put an arm around them and say, “We are one.  We are no different from each other.  I will judge you on the basis of how you act, how you think and not where you come from.”  And that takes a lot of humility. And I know, because of your love of country and your dedication to your duty, to your country, in the future, that you will take the first step in unifying each and every one in the armed forces, regardless of where he or she comes from. 

I wish to congratulate the Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy for all the achievements that have occurred, the roadmap and all the projects, the reforms and, perhaps, the reforms are there ---- the improvements that are going to happen in the Academy.  Congratulations, MGen. Maligalig.  

In closing, let me assure each and every one of you that I will continue to help you improve this Academy, not merely by thinking, but by listening and then we talk about it and then we do it. 

Once again, it is indeed a distinct honor and privilege to be back here in the 109th Foundation Day of the Philippine Military Academy. And let us work together to have a better Academy and to have more leaders who shall shape the future of this wonderful country of ours.

 

Adu nga salamat.  Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.

 

 

-- End --


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