Make the ultimate sacrifice for  the country and the Filipino people

Major General Ariel Caculitan, Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps.

My fellow Medal of Valor awardees led by my classmate, LtGen. Art Ortiz, LtGen. Bob Bacarro and fellow Marine, BGen. Jun Parcon. I greeted them first before the senior officers who are here because it is a military tradition. I learned this when I attended the assumption of office of Secretary Roy Cimatu. A lot of AFP/PNP senior officers were present but he acknowledged me first. Thank you Sir.

May I acknowledge Senator Cynthia Villar, who has been like family. Sir Manny and Ma’am Cynthia are the most down to earth and simple people I have had the privilege to know, in spite of their wealth. The best couple to emulate where sipag and tiyaga is really practiced.

Senator Grace Poe, my president in 2016; Senator Sonny Angara, my worthy brother; Senator Sherwin Gatchalian; Senator JV Ejercito; Senator Sonny Trillanes, my kakosa.

My fairy godmother, Deputy Speaker Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas, whose Padre Pio Foundation which she chaired in 1989 donated expensive medicines when I had a multiple organ injury when I was hit by a rocket.

Secretary Roy Cimatu, he was our division commander during the all-out war in 2000 where I earned my Medal of Valor and he was the Southcom Commander during the rescue of the Burnhams in 2002 and eventual neutralization of Abu Sabaya, the dreaded spokesperson of the Abu Sayyaf.

Cong. Manuel Cabochan of the Magdalo Party List and his companions.

Let me also greet the following government officials who took time out from their very busy schedule to be here today.

USec. Reynaldo Mapagu of the Department of National Defense, USec. Raul del Rosario of the Office for Transport Security,  USec. Camilo Cascolan of the Office of the President, ASec. Jo Gaverza of the Department of National Defense, Administrator Ricardo Visaya of National Irrigation Administration, Administrator Benjamin Madrigal of the Philippine Coconut Authority, PBGen. Rodel Jocson, the Sgt at Arms of the House of Representatives.

Let me also acknowledge my mentor, Gen. Dionisio Santiago who served as AFP chief of staff, director of PDEA, BuCor and Dangerous Drugs Board.

Senior AFP and PNP officers led by Gen. Romeo Brawner, commanding general of the Philippine Army.

Esteemed retired AFP/PNP senior officers. Please forgive me if I will not mention all your names, because it will take the whole morning to do so.

My fellow officers with San Miguel Corp. Kindly please stand.

My close friends and godfathers of my children who were with me through thick and thin, Iñigo Zobel, Frannie Laurel, Sen. JV Ejercito and Bembol Roco.

The illustrious Matapat PMA Class of ‘79 with their ladies.

Members of the Philippine Australian Alumni Association.

Friends from the media like Ellen Tordesillas, Ces Drilon, and Ed Lingao and from the Merienda Group.

Monsignor Tirso Dolina, Father Carlito Buslon, Father Simon Arano and the members of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals, my prayer warriors.

And of course my family, may I also request them to please stand up, my wife, Pong; my children – Martin, John Michael, Alfred, Faye, JAQ, AJ and VAL. My sister, Sonya. My cousin, Manong Noel Canivel and his wife, Marie and Manong Allen. My brothers in law, Dr. Arnulfo and Henry Azcarraga, and my sister in law, Jeng Dumlao.

Brethrens, fellow Marines, relatives and dear friends.

Ladies and gentlemen…

Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.

To be honest, hindi ko na inisip na darating pa ang araw na ito, na magkakasama-sama tayo dito ngayon para sa okasyong ito.

Kaya hindi ko maipaliwanag ang labis na pagpapasalamat at ang tuwa na aking naramdaman nang ipinaalam sa akin ni General Caculitan na ako raw ay pararangalan ng isang retirement ceremony ng Philipine Marines. Twelve years after my actual retirement from the service. As they say, better late than never.

General Caculitan at sa buong Marines, maraming, maraming salamat dahil hindi ninyo pala ako nakalimutan.

If there is one thing that defines me, it is this: I am a full-blooded Marine.

Three weeks ago, I was given honors by the Corps of Cadets of the Philippine Military Academy as a visiting Medal of Valor awardee. That moment gave me an opportunity to look back where I started and to say thank you as well, to the institution that inculcated in me the right foundation and the values of courage, integrity and loyalty.

Now, as I think about these two important events, I am very grateful that in just three weeks, I went back to where I started and now here, where I concluded my 34 years and nine months of service in the Armed Forces.

For all of us in the service who vowed to make the ultimate sacrifice for the country and the Filipino people, you would know how meaningful these two moments are: the beginning and the end of our military career.

My career as a Marine ended here in this camp, right here, on Feb. 26, 2006 because I stepped into a different battlefield out of principle.

I fought for what I believed was right.

But I must admit I mustered a lot of courage to do what I have done in 2006 and sacrificed my promising military career; for I know pretty well, that soldiering was the only thing, I know I can do best. 

I had to fight for something bigger than my selfish ambitions and dreams.

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I did not have an easy life.  My life story has been replete with vivid encounters with injustice, poverty, neglect, corruption, and war.

But I never succumbed to the lure of material wealth.  The physical, mental, and emotional hardships had been painful, but I never sold my soul.

God had to take away my freedom to make me realize that career is not everything in life and that I have a family to take care. I am sure a lot of you have the same experience, sacrificing family time, for the love of country.

I left the service with no hatred in my heart.

I am glad that I finally found peace with myself, my family and with God.

I am so blessed to have been able to start a career in the private sector.

I want to sincerely thank my Boss, Ramon Ang for giving me my second career. My life drastically changed for the better after I joined San Miguel Corp..

But I tell you, there’s not a single day that I do not think of the Marines. I miss this family – The Few, The Proud Marines.

I have been longing to put up a foundation to help the men in uniform and their dependents but my dream became true with San Miguel Foundation which gave us the opportunity to help them especially during a crisis like the Marawi Siege and even during this pandemic, and now the Typhoon Victims of Odette.

In everything I do, I always take with me the lessons and discipline of being a Marine. The most important is getting the job done, regardless of the challenges.

At this point, allow me to share with you an excerpt from the foreword of Former President Fidel Valdez Ramos, who was an adversary during the dark chapters of my life. In my soon to be launched book, “A Question of Valor”, he said and I quote:

“This book is a significant and meaningful contribution to the development of the Philippine Military Tradition in our country. During his career in the military service, Colonel Querubin played a significant role in several legendary exploits, as well as political movements, which have helped shape the history of the military and its role in an emerging global society such as ours. Not only was he an excellent warrior in the jungles fighting terrorism and insurgency, he, too, represents a class of thinking Filipino soldiers imbued with a sense of idealism to take the necessary measures, if necessary, to assert their belief of how and what this country should be.”

Many of you, played an important role to help me get through the roller coaster of my life – a long journey of life’s ups and downs but I never wavered in my faith.

Due to the very sad state of our “kababayans” in Visayas and Northern Mindanao, I would like to take this opportunity to make this affair a more meaningful event by starting a fundraising drive for the many victims of ‘Typhoon Odette’ through the efforts of my son, Martin.

Thank you to San Miguel Foundation for donating millions worth of canned goods, to Orca Logistics and to all those who have donated cash, clothes, alcohol, etc..

May the good Lord bless you more…

Thanks too to my colleagues in San Miguel Corp. who have given their best to make the conglomerate one of the most active partners of government in nation building.

Please allow me to thank my family – especially to my wife, Pong, and my children, my siblings, Manong Beny, Manang Sonya, Manang Yoly and my two older brothers, Manong Bebot and Manong Omar and Mamang, who have joined our creator – for the unconditional love, prayers and support and for giving me the strength, encouragement, and inspiration I needed to face all the struggles in my life.

Before I end, let me share with you what I always remind my children, that the only legacy I can leave them is my good name, as I continue to live by my favorite quote which I used in the PMA yearbook when I graduated in 1979. 

From Proverbs 22:1 and I quote:

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.”  

And to the young officers, I tell them that there is life after the service as long as they keep their good name and reputation.

And finally, today, I come home to the Marines with full of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Thank you for remembering your old Marines.

Thank you once again for this great honor.

Maraming salamat po at mabuhay tayong lahat…