Saturday, June 02, 2007 Winning the heart of enemy By Joy Romares-Sevilla
GIVING the public the right information about the thrusts and objectives of the Civil Relations Service (CRS) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is what this man is doing, saying that CRS's thrust is not how to win the war by eliminating the enemies, but how to win back the enemies.
Born and raised in Bicol, Major Medel Aguilar, 37, group commander of the 5th Civil Relations Group (CRG) of the AFP's CRS, is married to a Dabawenya and blessed with five children.
He was already an engineering freshman at the Bicol University when he was enticed to enter in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1988 after he passed the examination.
Seventh and the youngest among the siblings, Aguilar, who once wished to become a lawyer, was a scholar during his high school and college years.
He said he did not intend to take the PMA examination if not for one very hot ROTC day.
"I was actually a walk-in applicant. We had our ROTC that time, nakatayo kami at nakabilad kami sa araw, for the sake na hindi ako mabilad sa araw (we were standing under the heat of the sun, and so that I will not suffer from the sun), I joined the others who are taking the examination sa may lilim (in the shade); later I was informed that I passed the exam. I was 17 then and it was the first time I went to Manila to comply with the necessary requirements," Aguilar said.
He claimed he was supported by his father in his decision and added that it was the only time when he knew that his father's childhood dream was to become a soldier.
Aguilar served the AFP for more than 15 years now, 19 years if his cadet life will be counted.
"My father is a farmer, my mother, a housewife. In 1982, lima kaming nag-aaral kaya kinakailangan magtipid talaga (five of us were going to school so the family need to save)," he said, adding that his guiding principle in life is simply to "try and try until you succeed."
He said his father, who is his idol and inspiration, influenced him to stick with that guiding principle, saying that a person has to be independent and should be dependable partner of the person's parents all the time.
He remembers most the activities they have done as soldiers that directly extended help to the people.
"When I joined the Balikatan Exercise from 2004 to 2006, I also directly handled the initiation of projects, we were able to build water systems, five classrooms, and we reconstructed the City Health Office in Palawan," he said.
Some may not be in favor with the Balikatan Exercise, but Aguilar insists it is not all about war and being battle trained, rather it is making a difference in the community and ensuring that the people are best protected against terrorism.
"We have to defend ourselves from attacks and we cannot operate alone, terrorism is a global threat, huwag natin hintayin na saka pa tayo kikilos at tatawag ng tulong kung and'yan na (let us not wait until the problem is there and then ask for help)," he said, adding that the exercise is a way of creating a harmonized operation with the US military when the threat of terrorism strikes.
"Dapat maintindihan din ng mga tao na (people must understand that) it's not just a military exercise, but, we also work together to accomplish some projects for the community. When we initiated our projects in Palawan, our engineers also worked in partnership with the US engineers," he explained.
As the new commander of the 5th CRG, next to Major Jose Maria Cuerpo III, he said he performs a very delicate job. He is designated to bring just the right information to the public of what the thrusts of the CRS-AFP is all about.
"It's not about how to fight, how to kill, but it is how to win back the enemies. You cannot just win the war by eliminating the enemies kasi lalong dadami ang kalaban mo (because the more they multiply); you can win the war by winning back the enemies," he said.
Winning back the enemies is a challenge he considers as a soldier. He also said that making the scarce resources be fit with a great necessity and making decisions and recommendations for the dismissal of his own man, are also some of the challenges he encountered.
"Sometimes, you decide for the recommendation of the dismissal of your people who commit mistakes, mahirap pero kailangan gawin (hard but needs to be done) to discipline them, kung hindi mo rin kasi gagawin, lalabas na disorganized ang (if you will not do it, the result is a disorganized) organization," Aguilar said.
But aside from letting go of people because of policies that have to be implemented, soldiering is also about losing comrades in battle, and this is more painful.
"In 1996, we had an operation at namatayan ako ng tao, mahirap mawalan ng tao (I lost men, and it’s hard to lose men) because it is the morale of your troop that is affected, it's also hard lalo na pag may personal attachment ka sa tao," he shared.
While other careers somehow bring people together with their family during Christmas, New Year's Day and other special occasions, Aguilar sadly said that soldiers often celebrate these special days in camps without their family.
"Ito lang ang nakita kong pinaka-disadvantage pag sundalo ka (this is the only disadvantage I see when you’re a soldier), my wife gave birth to our three children na wala ako (I was not there). There were times na uuwi ako, hindi na ako kilala ng mga anak ko; ayaw lumapit sa akin, pero kung aalis na ako, saka na sila iiyak at dun pa nila mari-realize na papa pala nila ang aalis (when I go home, my kids don’t recognize me; they won’t come near me, but once I leave, then they cry and realize that it is their father who is going away)," he said.
When asked what are the things he wants his group to remember when time comes for him to leave as the 5th commander of the CRG and be assigned to other places, Aguilar straightly said: "I just want my group to remember that I have accomplished my mission here very well, yun lang kuntento na ako (that makes me contented)."
Aguilar said people who aspire to become a soldier should deeply understand the work of the military. He said it is a noble job which sometimes would make one's life at risk.
Commitment, loyalty, and perseverance should always go together to know and feel the real spirit of the work and the objectives of a mission, he said.
