Defense chief bats for ROTC revival (9:20 p.m.)
DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro is fighting for the revival of a mandatory Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC) for college students following the reduction of reserved officers in the military which is detrimental to national security.
The defense chief said his office and the AFP are organizing a dialogue with the concerned sectors to appraise them on the importance of a mandatory ROTC program. He added that they would enlighten them on the “strong need to strengthen our reserve force as we cannot afford a large standing army.â€
Teodoro added that the National Defense Act or the Commonwealth Act (CA) 1 requires a large number of reserve force, who maybe called to active service in case of war and national emergencies, “because the military cannot afford to have a big number of soldiersâ€.
The AFP is now studying the possibility of providing scholarship programs to ROTC cadets in hopes of recruiting more students to join the military force. <b>(VR/Sunnex)</b>
As former Corps Commander of the UST GOLDEN CORPS OF CADETS in command of some 6,000 ROTC cadets, in UST ROTC program produced 17 generals in the AFP, PNP, AIR FORCE, NAVY and sent thousands of candidates to PMA, I highly support the return of 2-year mandatory ROTC program for abled men and women in colleges and universities in the Philippines, and continued ROTC scholarships for enrolled in the “Advanced Cadet Officers Training Corps”.
The present “optional ROTC law” is illegal; it runs counter with Philippine Constitution mandating all able men and women of colleges and universities undergoing mandatory 2 year ROTC training.
Free countries around the world have mandatory ROTC training. Are Philippine colleges & universities able bodied men, women and parents MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY INFERIOR, COWARDS, SELFISH AND LESS PATRIOTIC COMPARED WITH OTHER COUNTRIES? I don’t think so; it is the inferior thinking of the AFP, lawmakers, students and parents that marginalizes the ROTC program. ROTC is the vast and fertile recruitment ground for PMA candidates; I know I was there. The training, knowledge, skills and experience in military training is applicable NOT ONLY in the military but civilian and government professions as well. I know, I am one. Let us bring back 2-year mandaory ROTC, a very important part of country and citizenry schooling, development and defense. Let’s support Secretary Teodoro’s plans.
Franz B. Boncodin
Corps Comander Class ‘67
UST GOlden Corps of Cadets
I am an alumnus of the UST Golden Corps of Cadets (Batch 67 Bravo). I am so saddened by the absence of a mandatory ROTC training program or its equivalent in Philippine colleges and universities. The program has produced well-disciplined youth conscious of their being Filipinos.
Let us all work together for the return of the mandatory ROTC program. It has produced strong, law abidng citizens. The present polict producies “wimps”, “sissies”, all unconcerned with the motherland.
there is nothing in our constitution requiring ROTC. In fact it says involuntary servitude is prohibited.
very few free counties require military training. USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, South Africa, Italy, Japan, France, India, Holland, all have no such thing.
forced military training is something of the past.
yes leah there is nothing in our constitition that mandates ROTC(the implementation of NSTP said so) and yes many counties doesnt have mandatory ROTC(leah thank for the enumeration).
I think the comments above show how ROTC training affects the minds of persons, on how franz called people who doesnt like ROTC as “MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY INFERIOR, COWARDS, SELFISH AND LESS PATRIOTIC”, on how Atty. Riano describe the present system(nonmandatory ROTC- produces wimps and sissies). Seing their comments reminds me of my rotc days, the name calling instead of arguments and facts(goddemmit, bulshit cadet, asshole are the common terms during sunday trainings)
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anyways ito ang mga rason sa pag abolish ng rotc:
1. The system produces/encourages a system of repression/harassment. (mercenary tradition)
2. being manipulated, dictated, and walking like robots in the field doesnt inculcate nationalism.
3. history itself prove that ROTC is not an effective way to mobilize the country during times of war.(during the jap invasion, peasants formed HUKBALAHAP not the military)
4. rampant corruption
5. additional fees
6. Sunday is family day and sabbath
7. just remember seth lopez of la salle and mark chua of UST..
I’d like to correct Ms. Cheryl Austin.
Pardon me miss, but there were a lot of ROTC Alumni all over the Philippines who formed a significant part of the Japanese resistance. It may be true that the peasants formed the majority of the HUK but it was Peregrino Taruc, brother of Luis Taruc, who is an ROTC Alumnus who was in charge of their training. And this should not be part of the reasons since during that time, there were less students who went through college and even less those who went through ROTC, but those who did proved to be mighty useful during the war. If you consider the mobilization unsucessful it is definitely not the fault of the ROTC nor the Philippine Military at that time. How does one qualify a successful mobilization, anyway? Thousands of ROTC men defended this country. Google Hunters ROTC.
Another point, Mark Chua did not want to abolish ROTC, like the way it was blown out of proportion. His father would even say in an interview that Mark loved ROTC and that abolishing it was the least he wanted to happen. He was even preparing to take the advance course of ROTC as a Cadet officer candidate in UST. I believe that those who sought to abolish ROTC, wronged Mark Chua’s sacrifice. It was to make the program better.
1. The system produces/encourages a system of repression/harassment. (mercenary tradition)
—- This is absurd!
2. being manipulated, dictated, and walking like robots in the field doesnt inculcate nationalism.
— A little roughness is needed in military training. The essence of it is discipline. If you are less disciplined than your enemy, It is almost sure that he will kill you in the battlefield. “Discipline” like the word “War” can be taken outside the military context and that I think is the relevance of ROTC, if we take what we learn there beyond the drill grounds. We can compare it to Sports. Being dictated and made to walk like robots is very negative. First of all you are not dictated but commanded. Dictation does not need to be followed by obedience. And walking like a robot is a NO, NO. One must walk with ease and grace during parades. Snappy.
Besides, I agree completely that ROTC is a poor method to inculcate nationalism. If you don’t learn to love your country before you enter college, then something is definitely wrong with you. A good ROTC program however is a good method for leadership and channeling that nationalist fervor to activities suited for the youth. And that is not confined to parades. I apologize for your unfortunate experience with your brand of ROTC. Nur Misuari is a UP ROTC Alumnus.
We can always conduct ROTC on saturdays or weekdays, like in UP. Sundays are for family days, I agree. They are also for going to church.
For rampant corruption and additional fees, I can not say anything to that. That is one problem that we must continously deal with to better ROTC. I don’t believe it irrelevant or a thing of the past. Look around and you will see different threats to our country and our enemies are greater fiercer and more vicious than before. Calamaties and Disaster Management is now taught in ROTC and being that cadets are college educated they can infect a great change to far-off communities like what they do in UP ROTC.
But I agree it is not a perfect program for our youth. It will never be, But there are some good things we can do for it and it is a sureshot that we can reap good things from it. Besides, ROTC has almost a 100 years of tradition in this country, it is part of our nation building like it is a part of every college student’s experience in past (bad or good). There are other cures to Cancer other than mutilation.
Thanks to Mr Cristobal, your message gave others a better view of what ROTC is percieved. ROTC produces reservists who are willing to serve the country unconditionally.Our reservists played big roles whenever disaster and calamities happened in our country. They are the ones who can be easily tapped. They are just around the corner willing to help and expecting nothing in return. The true spirit of patriotism is in thier heart. And we should be proud to have them and may they grow in number.They are playing great roles in Nation building. BRAVO ROTC, BRAVO the RESERVISTS!!!!
I think the mandatory ROTC should be reinstated by the government.Yes it’s true that the training is somewhat harsh or should I say challenging, but this builds the character of one person. Paano mo haharapin ang isang pagsubok sa tunay na buhay kung sa training palang bagsak ka na? The training builds the character of an individual.. Self discipline and love of country are develop.Self discipline ito ang unting unting nawawala sa mga kabataan.Muy Leal!
ang rotc ay kailangan na ngayon dahil sa kakulangan ng pwersang militar ng pilipinas. kung dadami ang reserbang pwersa ng militar ito ay magiging malaking tulong upang katakutan tayo mg ibamg bansa pagdating sa bilang ng mga sundalo at saka kailangan na rin ng bansa ngayon ang mga reserbang sundalo dahil papaunti na ng paunti ang mga nagsusundalo kaya napakalaking tulong sa bansa ang pagbalik ng ROTC.