Matteo Guidicelli on the ‘best experience’ of his life

MANILA, Philippines — Call him 2nd Lt. Matteo Guidicelli.

After recently completing the Scout Ranger Orientation Course at Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan with flying colors, Matteo is recommending his experience to fellow actors and young Filipinos.

The Cebuano actor-athlete took on the month-long leadership-development training after enlisting as a Philippine Army reservist, a voluntary service to the country, especially needed in times of disasters and emergencies. He enjoyed no special treatment and battled tough challenges along with some 90 other trainees, made up of officers and Philippine Military Academy cadets. During his “emotional and happy” graduation, he received special commendation for being an outstanding student and the only reservist in the batch.

The STAR got to talk to Matteo about it during the launch of Sun Life Financial’s new and inspirational campaign, Kaakbay: Stories of Lifetime Partnerships, last Saturday (July 6). The event saw him and other celebrity endorsers Piolo Pascual and son Iñigo, Enchong Dee and Charo Santos-Concio opening up about “lifetime partners” in a series of videos, to be unveiled to the public via @SunLifePH on YouTube on July 13.

Obviously, Matteo has resumed his showbiz work, but it appears the army experience is giving his life and career a new energy and purpose. 

Below are excerpts from the interview.

On why he joined the Reserve Force and took part in the Scout Ranger course:

“I’m already 29 years old, but I’ve always wanted to do it. I found the opportunity. Scout Rangers opened the doors to me. They said, are you able to join? I said yes right away.

“Before being in the military, I was always working with different advocacies. I also have my own sports foundation. But I thought of focusing on one, and I felt the army was the best because it represents the country. It’s helping the country, it’s helping the troops and it’s helping our fellow Filipinos.

“You know, other countries (in Asia) Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, they all have mandatory military training. In Israel, (they do it for) three years. Us, we don’t. And the youth today need that discipline and need that patriotism again. So, I encourage our youth. It’s something that you will cherish forever, I promise! It’s about discipline and what the army will teach you, it’s something that you can pass on.”

With his supportive family and girlfriend Sarah Geronimo

On what his training was like:

“It’s the best experience of my life. It’s super tough, especially in the first week, I wanted to give up.

“The Scout Ranger training is the elite course of the Philippine military so it’s the hardest training of our Philippine military not just physically but also psychologically. The psychological part really (made me struggle) because from civilian life, I went directly to the military the next day. So medyo na ‘war shock’ ako, as they call it.

“But the military is very supportive. There were counseling and life coaches talking to me so I became OK.”

On his family and girlfriend Sarah Geronimo’s reaction to his decision:

“I told Sarah, love, naaawa ka ba sa akin? She said, ginusto mo yan eh, bahala ka na (laughs).

“At first, they were all against it. You’re in the middle of your career. You’re 29 years old. You’re in showbiz. Why would you leave everything behind? But I felt like this was an opportunity of a lifetime, a skillset, lessons learned that nobody can take away from you. So, I had to do it.

“Good thing, they visited me after a week, so I was a bit emotionally stable already at that time. I toured them in the ranger camp. And they were shocked. Of course, it’s the military, life is different there. But I feel blessed to be given the opportunity and I was able to accomplish it.”

On his biggest learnings from the training camp:

“My biggest learning there is to enjoy the very basics in life. Even if you’re in the mountains for four days or one week, that gust of fresh air, it feels like heaven, like you’re in a five-star hotel.

“Second, what I learned is respect for our soldiers. Before I joined (as a reservist), when I was still a civilian, I already had a lot of respect for our soldiers but after this, my respect for them is just indescribable — their sacrifices for our nation, for their family, to protect you, to protect us.

“Actually, they said at first that si Matteo mahihirapan ito kasi hindi siya sanay sa hirap ng buhay (Matteo would struggle because he’s not used to hardship). I didn’t understand that. But when I was there, I realized that I’m really not used to hardship in life. But it humbled me so much. It made me realize the basics of life. We would sleep on the floor, on the ground. We would take a bath in the river, submerge in a canal. It really humbled me. It made me appreciate life, and each and everyone of us.”

On what’s next for him and what he plans to do with the experience:

“We have several projects with the military. A few days ago, we went to Jolo, Sulu, where a bombing happened. We talked to the soldiers there. I will be doing the same activities and I encourage all our kababayans, especially our artistas, to help out the country, to join the Reserve Force. Anybody can enlist, they can go to the website of the Philippine army or on Facebook (for details).

“Actually, si Sir Robin Padilla, we were together this morning, baka magpa-commission siya (or) join the Reserve Force. As a reservist, we do social activities. Di naman kami sasabak sa giyera, but (game) ako if ever, because we had training for that.

“My work as an actor continues. I just had a meeting with Viva, we’re planning a film within the month. Actually, I have a movie coming out soon, Mina-Anud, which is based on true stories, by Regal Entertainment. (But) the army is now a part of me. It has become a family. It’s us, we’re Filipinos, it should be part of our lives.”