Honoring the Filipino ‘Kawal’

It was General Douglas MacArthur who once said, “Give me ten thousand Filipino soldiers and I will conquer the world.” Our nation’s protectors were given the respect due to them during the Alay Sa Kawal Foundation, Inc.’s (ASK) 27th Anniversary and Recognition Night held at the City Club, Alphaland Makati Place. The ASK, chaired by Vice President Jejomar Binay, is the oldest and most active NGO dedicated exclusively to the welfare of the “kawal,” the Filipino soldier. The program included the symbolic awarding of cash assistance and certificate of recognition to the families of the brave soldiers who were wounded (WIA) or killed in action (KIA). The generous corporate and individual donors were also warmly acknowledged with dog tags, in gold, silver and bronze, for their benevolence. Among the guests were head honchos of major corporations like Development Bank of the Philippines president Gil Buenaventura and Wellex Group of Companies chairman William Gatchalian. The recent spate of natural disasters that hit the country has made our military see action far from the battlefield. Let us support the dedicated men and women who risk their lives upholding our sovereignty and, lately, rescuing our rural folks in areas battered by natural calamities. For donations to the ASK Foundation, please call 911-6001 loc. 6837 or 547-1453 or send donations to Segundo Ave., Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.