MY LAST SOAR MY LAST HURRAH IN THE SKY (APPROPRIATE GREETINGS ) Believe it or not, I felt the mix of excitement and pressure again kanina, yung pakiramdam noong unang lipad ko for Contact Proficiency 1. Salamat at nandiyan si MAJOR ENA SANTOS (T-41 IP); MAJOR DEX BALILLA (SF IP); at ang mga crew to assist me at para mabawasan ang kaba ko. Iba na kasi pag nasanay ka na back-rider o pasahero na lang. Maraming salamat sa inyo. Palakpakan natin sila! Every homecoming is indeed a time of marveling. And my return today to then 100 th Training Wing, now Air Education Training and Doctrine Command, harks back to mind that momentous time I first entered Basilio Fernando Air Base 34 years ago. Truly, for those of us who have entered the portals of Fernando, the years have swiftly passed by and we have witnessed how we are like seedlings before how we have grown blossomed and became fruitful in our own special way. I can very well remember the pride and happiness evident in the members of my family s faces after seeing how I transformed from a feeble youngster to becoming a responsible and reputable pilot and officer just like my late Manong ELMER, 2LT ELMER RESTOR FALLORINA, a proud member of PAF Flying School Class Page 1
80-Alpha. During those times, my goal was to finish flying school like my brother. Each passing day, I was so thankful na naka-survived ako. I remembered that time...(cg, PAF may wish to share some memorable moments during his flying training) Nakakatuwa na naalala ko ngayon lahat ng experiences na yun. During that time, may gripes pa pag naaalala ko; ngayon, tatawanan na lang because it all contributed to what I am today. I hope that I and my classmates made our former IPs or instructors (CG, PAF may wish to name some of his IPs) proud. Wherever they may be ang aking taos-pusong pasasalamat. As I look back at how far I ve looked past the horizon, looking back at who I was then and what I have achieved for the past 34 years, I feel really really blessed. Kaya maraming maraming salamat, 100 th Training Wing o AETDC maraming salamat Fernando Air Base!!! Indeed, each one of us has our own Fernando Air Base story. It is true, that in the modest confines of this air base comes out men and women of character sharpened by those diligent instructors and IPs whose passion and commitment provides the building block of what the Air Force will be in the near future. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, 100 th Training pa man ito, AETC o AETDC, nilinang at hinubog ninyo ang halos buong Hukbong Page 2
Himpapawid. Wala ni isa mang makapagsasabi na di naging bahagi ng kanilang buhay ang Fernando Air Base. This Unit s essence is to lead out men in women into what would make them a dependable, capable and upright member of the Philippine Air Force. To lead out is not to show what is obvious but to provide the valuable insights and values that would guide them in any endeavour to take the lead and raise the bar of excellence just like what MAJ SANTOS, TSg Elcano, A1C Ignacio and Dr Almedilla have done and epitomized. As A-E-T-D-C starts another challenging year, I urge all of you to see beyond the numbers. It is not about the quantity, it is the quality and impact of what we do that is appreciated by the many. In the same manner that you should measure your success by the quality of the people who undergo training in this noble institution. Numbers tell only half of the story. Let us tell the WHOLE story to our people by the quality of our people through the way they project themselves as members of the Philippine Air Force by the actions that speak volumes of what the Air Force is all about. We must not be impeded nor pushed down by the kind of facilities or resources we have. What others consider as weak must become our strength. What others think as deficiencies must become the source of our collective vision, inventiveness and fortitude. We must learn to be appreciative of opportunities and Page 3
chances given us. For in the end, what will matter most is not the academic record or number of medals, awards, positions or assignments; BUT THE SUM OF YOU KUNG ANO ANG NANGYARI SAYO PAGKATAPOS MO DITO SA FERNANDO. Lest you misunderstand me, academic excellence, class rank, number of awards, positions also matter; but they are simply important indicators of individual progress and they should not rule over one s head. This is not to say that we make it hard for our people and be stringent with the way we conduct our courses. It is about finding what is best to help every student to achieve his goal and create his own impact in the organization where his courage will be put to the test where his knowledge will be put in use to solve real-world problems and where his character will speak highly of the Air Force as an institution of men and women who are competent and whose talents and skills know no bounds. As I end, I challenge you to stay relevant in the midst of all these changes that are happening around us. We evolve in response not only what is happening to defense and security outside of our borders. Rather, we evolve as well, in terms of the over-all scheme of things which changes society for the better. The technological, political, social, economic and environmental changes are happening each day to create a better nation for us and a better air force that is responsive to peace and development. It is time to Page 4
embrace the changes and how to adapt it to our educational posture is a challenge for all of us. We are an important part of national structure which means that we cannot make ourselves impregnable to change. So let us keep pace let us plan and strategize for the Air Force of tomorrow Let me close by, once again, thanking each and everyone the A-E-T-D-C Family under MAJOR GEN TJ TANJUAN for this champagne flight for this last opportunity to share your pride in celebrating AETDC anniversary and, most of all, for all the support and assistance in my incumbency as. May God continue to bless this profession we have come to love nearly as much as our own family. And I do pray for the continued success of AETDC and of our beloved PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE! God bless you all! MABUHAY ANG HUKBONG HIMPAPAWID NG PILIPINAS! MABUHAY TAYONG LAHAT! Page 5