The Metrobank Foundation's Outstanding Philippine Soldiers 2009: Top Brass

MANILA, Philippines - To willingly give up one’s life in service to country is probably the highest sacrifice that one can make. Thousands of our soldiers risk their lives every day in the line of duty. From among this number of heroes, ten soldiers have been recognized as The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) of 2009.

The TOPS award is given by Metrobank Foundation together with the Rotary Club of Makati Metro. “This recognition is unique in the sense that it is an expression of the private sector’s high appreciation for the military’s commitment to protect our country and people,” says Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña.

Out of 79 nominees, judges chose ten outstanding soldiers as this year’s TOPS awardees: from the Army, Lieutenant Colonel Lope Dagoy, Staff Sergeant Fidel Delara and Master Sergeant Romeo Jandugan; from the Navy, Colonel Romeo Tanalgo, Data Processor 2nd Class Reynor Calzado and Technical Sergeant Ramon Cabeguin; from the Air Force, Colonel Restituto Padilla, Jr., Staff Sergeant Blas Austria and Technical Sergeant Salvador Buenaobra, Jr.; and Colonel Pedro Herrera Davila of the Judge Advocate General Service. Along with the prestige of recognition, the ten awardees receive a P250,000 cash prize.

One of the purposes of TOPS is to “raise models of excellence within the sector, which the other soldiers may choose to emulate.” Indeed, the ten awardees stand as good models of service for both soldiers and civilians alike.

Despite being ambushed by the NPA in two separate incidents, Lt. Col. Dagoy’s dedication has remained unwavering. Through cooperation with different NGOs, Dagoy has further served his community by taking part in medical and dental missions, and coordinated with the Department of Agriculture to implement the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Looking beyond conflict, he has played a key role in establishing a partnership with Gawad Kalinga to build housing for former NPA members.

Dagoy entered the PMA for the opportunity of free education and a stable career, being the sixth among nine siblings. Upon joining the Army, he realized the importance of his job as a soldier. “Realizing the gravity of the problems that our country is confronting, it has become a personal resolve and commitment that I shall make my contribution relevant to the mission of the AFP and the government in ending this threat,” says Dagoy. He adds that he strives for “social and economic development long denied to our people.”

SSgt. Delara is a firm believer that peace contributes to the development of the country. “When there is peace, there is progress,” he says. Among his many efforts to keep the peace, he lead an insurgency awareness information drive that resulted in the desisting of communist recruits.

 As part of the military, it is a job hazard to receive death threats, and Delara is no exception. “What makes me stay in the military service is my will to protect the nation against communist insurgents,” he says. One of the threats he received said he would not live to see 2009. Instead, this year, he is being honored as an outstanding soldier.

Receiving the TOPS award is also a poignant moment for MSgt. Jandugan, who first joined the military “to take revenge” for his family who were victims of atrocities caused by the NPA. He soon learned, though, that being a soldier is not about revenge, but protecting and serving the country and its people. “I realized the true meaning of soldiery is to protect the people and the sovereignty against any threats to peace and prosperity.” Through his lectures and interactions with different communities, he has gained the people’s trust and made them believe in the sincerity of the AFP.

Family plays a vital role in many soldiers’ lives. “I was born to an Army father and I was fortunate to see in him the discipline, patriotism, and the willingness to sacrifice for his country and its people,” says Col. Tanalgo.  “Even with limited financial means, he was able to provide us a decent living. The characteristics of my father encouraged and motivated me to become a soldier.”

Currently chief of staff of the Philippine Marine Corps, He has figured in most of the major victories of the military in Mindanao, including campaigns against kidnap-for-ransom gangs, local and foreign terrorists and illegal drug cartels.

We put our lives in danger in order to protect and prove our love for our country and people,” says DP2 (SSgt.) Calzado. A graduate of a technical vocational course, he has put his knowledge and training in information and communications technology to good use by developing computerized programs for filing and tracking of documents, maintenance and repair of Navy ships and equipment, an MIS-GIS database, and near real-time communication. His innovations have been adopted not just by the military organization but even by other government offices, thus generating millions in savings.

For outstanding soldiers, saving lives is much more important than taking lives. “Soldiers are not only engaged in war but they are also involved in civil military operations such as medical missions, rehabilitation of school buildings, and the construction of roads and bridges,” TSgt. Cabeguin points out. He was part of the relief and rescue operation in Bicol when typhoon Reming hit the country. As leader of a medical team, he courageously rushed to the frontlines to save wounded soldiers during a massive offensive operation against the MILF. Aside from being a TOPS awardee, Cabeguin has also received the Gold Cross Medal for his exemplary acts of courage.

A rescue operation is also the most memorable experience for Col. Padilla who successfully saved a whole family trapped on their roof due to lahar. As part of the Air Force, Padilla has been able to manage and direct a total of 324.8 hours of air combat missions without any accidents.

“Service is in my blood,” says Padilla, whose father and father-in-law are also soldiers. “It has been the primary motivation that kept me in service all these years. I always find fulfillment in being able to make a difference, pursue the right things, correct what is wrong, and lead a comrade.”

Lack of good quality equipment and resources has not made TSgt. Buenaobra lose his enthusiasm in his work as a ground radio communications specialist. He has become an expert at fabricating needed equipment out of scrap materials, such as the portable runway lighting system now used in most air force bases in the country. He also incorporated the dual band amateur handheld radio in the MD-520MG attack helicopter, which provided a good back-up radio for the existing communication equipment of the aircraft. His innovative gadgets not only saved money but also enhanced the security of the armed forces.

Aside from leadership and ingenuity, the true test of an outstanding soldier is integrity and honesty, traits displayed by SSgt. Austria when he found and returned a bag to a fellow soldier, containing more than P90,000, which was to be used for the salary of the personnel of the detachment. He was also instrumental in apprehending an impostor who obtained a loan from a bank in Basa Air Base after falsely identifying himself as a soldier. The more than P300,000-loan was returned to the bank. Despite his own financial difficulties, honesty still prevailed for Austria.

He has participated in numerous operations against insurgents and criminals, but he also assists in the re-integration of rebel returnees and in relief and emergency missions during disasters.

Championing service over money, Col. Davila, who used to work for one of the top law firms in the country, finds fulfillment from helping the less fortunate as part of the military. “Serving the people fills my heart and soul with joy and having that sense of giving back to those who are in need. By performing my duty, I contribute in my own humble way towards addressing people’s needs.” Aside from prosecuting high profile cases and representing the military as legal counsel of the AFP Chief of Staff, Davila also initiated the preparation of a set of military jurisprudence and other vital documents in digital form for AFP use and the setting up of a digital library on military law.

This year’s TOPS awardees were chosen by a distinguished panel co-chaired by national security adviser Norberto Gonzales and representative Maria Zenaida Angping of the 3rd district of Manila, with Justice Portia Hormachuelos, Ambassador Donald Dee, Rev. Fr. Mateo J. de Jesus of San Beda College, Philippine STAR president and CEO Miguel G. Belmonte, and 2008 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Public Service Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip as members. They were all impressed by the bravery, leadership, and honesty displayed by each awardee.

When asked what they would choose between bravery and having a good heart, all of the TOPS awardees chose the latter. “Being brave connotes toughness in the face of adversaries which is a virtue required among warriors and combatant soldiers. While having a good heart connotes the ability to understand the conflict and desire to solve it with minimum loss of lives, including adversaries who shall opt to surrender through peaceful means,” says Dagoy.

We need more soldiers, and more citizens, like the ten TOPS awardees – Filipinos who are brave, but filled with compassion as they strive for peace in service of the country.