An outstanding Filipino soldier’s story

One day in September, I sat beside a soldier and listened to his story of a seemingly evanescent peace which emerged from a longstanding conflict in the country. Staff Sergeant Michael S. Rayanon of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 of the Philippine Navy is one of the 10 Outstanding Filipinos awarded by the Metrobank Foundation. It was during the dinner following the recognition ceremonies that I learned about his pursuit of building trust between the military and the communities in Palawan where he is assigned.

The absence of flash and dash was typical of the winners in the 40-year-old annual, nationwide search conducted by the philanthropic arm of the Metrobank Group of Companies. He had completed a degree in Secondary Education in Social Science, a trajectory towards becoming a history teacher. Instead, he enlisted in the Philippine Marine Corps, yielding to an aspiration from his younger days to become a soldier. “It was one of the best decisions I had ever made,” he said. “I found a profound sense of identity, purpose and fulfillment.”

Sincerely yours

SSG Rayanon counts it a privilege to belong to the military whose mandate it is to promote peace and safeguard our countrymen. His assignments have brought him to different communities around the country as a humanitarian aid provider, as well as a peacekeeper in conflict zones. He honed his communications skills through 19 years in the service and now serves as a public affairs non-commissioned officer.

A genuine concern for the people in the places he is assigned helped to overcome suspicion and mistrust between the community and the military. He bridged the divide through his unit’s Community Support Program, particularly in Palawan. Michael strategically engaged farmers, teachers, social workers and students to be part of the reserve force. This not only expanded his battalion’s human capital but effectively positioned them for a quick mobilization in crisis situations.

He reached out to the local leaders of the community to build trust and develop programs specific to the needs of the people. They saw his sincerity as he mobilized humanitarian aid in the aftermath of natural disasters. When a super typhoon badly damaged communications infrastructure, he used satellite phones and radios to provide rapid damage assessment that resulted in the timely delivery of life-saving assistance. Foremost in his mind was the well-being of the children and women who are the most vulnerable in such a situation.

Rebel turned Marine

SSG Rayanon recounted a time when he was tasked to lead the Limited Barangay Immersion in Barangay Tinitian in Roxas, Palawan. Residents there had been subjected to extortion by the New People’s Army who were quite active in the area. “We gathered actionable information from the community that resulted in a decisive encounter between Marine operating troops and the communist terrorists. The encounter led to the casualty of rebel leaders and the surrender of other high-ranking members. The death and the yielding of the other insurgents led to the declaration of Palawan as an insurgency-free province.”

Among those who laid down their arms was Justine Kate Raca, known as Ka Billy. She was a UP graduate who had been indoctrinated to the ideologies of the CTG. “In a soldier’s life, victory isn’t just about winning the war. It’s about seeing the positive results afterwards,” SSG Rayanon said. “The transformation of Justine Kate Raca as she returned to the side of the law and the government is priceless. Today, she is an officer of the Philippine Marine Corps, serving the country and its ideal.”

A father’s pain

The soldier, whose contribution led to the liberation of Northern Palawan from the insurgents, continued to work for the improvement of the community’s life. Besides the continued military presence providing essential delivery of government services, he tapped other agencies and local leaders for the implementation of barangay development programs. Three municipalities were beneficiaries of transformation projects amounting to P20 million.

He continued to reach out to young people and indigenous groups, speaking on the violence, hatred and intolerance promoted by extreme ideologies as he had known it from former rebels. These dialogues and educational initiatives were his way of protecting the peace and prosperity in Palawan that had been won at great cost.

Besides the risks in combat that exacted physical, mental and emotional stress, separation from his family weighed heavy on his heart. His eyes stared ahead as he mentioned his wife and children, who were not able to travel to Manila to be with him at the awards night. “As a father, I would like to build a close relationship with my three children like what I experienced with my parents,” he said. “I want to instill in them the necessary values and skills that would lead them to a better future. Unfortunately, being assigned to places far from home makes it hard but I am thankful for technology that allows virtual closeness despite the distance. I also make sure to provide for their needs and spend my work vacations with my family.”

Panatag Shoal

These days, the fisherfolk in Panatag Shoal occupy his mind. He had been assigned there and continues to be concerned about the peace and safety of those he once lived among.

SSG Rayanon hardly touched his food. The congratulatory greetings, the recognition accorded to the winners in the Senate and Congress, in media, the ceremony and the whirlwind of activities were a far different reality from what he was used to. “I didn’t think that what we were doing would receive any attention. We were only doing our jobs,” he said. “I could not imagine that Metrobank would go to far flung places to find us.”

As one of the ten 2024 Outstanding Filipinos, he receives a cash prize of P1 million. It is the most money he has ever had yet, like several of his fellow awardees, a considerable portion has already been allocated to help others. He has committed to build waiting sheds to protect those waiting for public transport in the province. He will also build a house for a rebel returnee whom he helped bring back to the fold. Such geerosity is characteristic of the winners, who largely give unsparingly for the good of others without thought of recognition or reward. It is a validation that truly, they are exemplars who walk among us, sparking hope across our archipelago, through the example of their lives.