MANILA, Philippines - Those travelling along Maharlika Highway at Sitio Taguan, Barangay. Bukal Sur in Candelaria, Quezon may be intrigued to spot that the home of the Quezon Provincial Public Safety Command is named after a woman.
In the country, military camps have been traditionally named after male heroes or after men of valor or men of extraordinary contribution, either to the defense of our country or have played a remarkable role in our society. Consider this — Camp Vicente Lim, Fort Santiago, Fort Bonifacio, Camp Aguinaldo, Camp Servillano Aquino, etc.
This camp is named after a woman, the late Soledad L. Dolor, who happens to be a former Assemblywoman, a visionary business leader in banking, real estate, medical and academic institutions. Since the Dolor family before and after World War II was in the pharmaceutical business, Filipino guerilla soldiers and other civilians hiding in the nearby towns in Batangas would often go to Mrs. Dolor for medical consultation and treatment for free.
Moreover, she has been honored with a Papal Award of the Order of the Sacred Cross, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, in 1981 for her remarkable deeds in socio-civic-religious advocacies. For example, Mrs. Dolor has donated several properties for the building of churches, schools, parks and other public facilities in many parts of the Philippines.
Richly deserving, one might say, that a military camp be honored by affixing her name even if she had nothing to do with the military, except that on January 14, 1988, Mrs. Dolor donated this two-hectare lot upon request of then Lieutenant General, AFP and Chief of the Constabulary Renato S. de Villa.
The strategic location of the property suited the needs of the military, as site for the headquarters of both the Police District I-A and the 237th PC Company of Quezon PC/INP Provincial Command. Mrs. Dolor, in her generosity, agreed to the request since this would be for the added security and peace of the area. In particular, the residents of Candelaria, Tiaong, Dolores, San Antonio, and Sariaya in Quezon, shall be benefitted.
Since the donation in 1985, no due, proper recognition had been accorded to the donor. Thus, last March 1, 2011, the camp was formally named Campo Soledad L. Dolor in simple but meaningful rites. Mrs. Dolor, in fact, had done so much for the region, which probably makes the naming of the camp after her an appropriate and relevant gesture.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was graced by Mrs. Soledad Dolor’s son, Danilo L. Dolor, and Mrs. Dolor’s granddaughter, Tanini S. de Leon, and other relatives. Col. Hansel Marantan, Company Commander Quezon PPSC, together with all the men in uniform present, expressed deep gratitude to the Dolor family.
More importantly, there was the unveiling of the marker which briefly states the history of the Camp. Gen. Raul Bacalzo, present PNP Chief Gen. Samuel Pagdilao, regional director, PRO, Region IV-A and Gen. Ericson Velasquez, Quezon provincial director, assisted Danilo L. Dolor. All throughout the special program prepared for the occasion, joy filled the air.
When queried why the camp was named after a woman, Gen. Raul Bacalzo, replied, “The renaming of the camp after a woman will form part of our transformation program, signifying the fact that since our camp has been renamed Campo Soledad L. Dolor who is a woman, we are hoping that the camp, as much as possible, will have the touch of motherly care to its constituents.
This reply marks an important innovation or reform in the military in the Philippines. A motherly touch, a woman’s touch, is perhaps what shall bring credibility, integrity, and renewed vigor to all our men in uniform?