Of Sounding Brasses and Tingling Cymbals

An old soldier had a weird dream.  He dreamed that he died and went to heaven.  It was a mistake because he believed that he should not be in heaven.  Yet he didn’t bother to immediately inform Saint Peter about it for fear that he would be transferred to where he thought he rightfully belonged which was either in purgatory or in hell.  He wanted to behold the beauty of heaven first.

Happy over Saint Peter’s mistake, this old soldier went on to relish the blessings – at least just before Saint Peter finds out.  He observed that heaven was not exactly what many on earth said it was, but it was beautiful just the same.  After some time when he thought he had finally seen enough he was ready to confront Saint Peter.  “Saint Peter”, he said, “There must be some mistake in me landing in heaven.  I was a soldier and killed a few people.  Although I am a Catholic, I seldom even go to church. Besides, there are so many people whom I know more deserved to be here.  Some of those who strongly preach God’s word are nowhere to be seen”.  “Ah, Mr General’, Saint Peter replied, “you almost didn’t make it but you see, we need to have a few soldiers in heaven, too, in the same manner that we bring in one or two lawyers as well.  As to the many people who preach the word of God, we can’t bring them all to heaven, otherwise we will become overcrowded.  But we do gather their tongues and store them in a special room in the celestial abode while their bodies remain in purgatory.  You see, most of them do not go beyond preaching the word of God.  They say that they were Christians but were not Christians enough in their actions.  Hence, it is only their tongues that deserve to be in heaven!”

In making up that story, I recall an article of the “Friendly Observer” published shortly after the February 2012 earthquake.  In that article, the “Friendly Observer” lauded the many “Christian” deeds of a lot of people who went out of their way and rushed to the aid of the many distressed victims of that disaster bringing with them food, potable water and clothes for people they hardly even know.  Many of them were just young students and ordinary citizens who seldom even go to church much more read the bible.  (My atheist friend, the “Friendly Observer”, even donated some amount for the Christian endeavors of a group of young boys involved in the aid operations).  Indeed those were Christian actions more golden that the verbatim perambulation of certain passages of the scriptures.  Christianity begins within one’s heart translated into good deeds symbolic of God’s love for his creations.  We may speak with the tongues of men and of angels but if we don’t have charity we are just like a sounding brass or a tingling cymbal (borrowed from 1^st Corinthian, Chapter 13), so the bible says. 

The homily of one Father P one Sunday mass reveals his observation as to how some of us can be very unchristian even in the house of God.  He observed that during communion, many rush ahead and sometimes even overtake the slow footed elderly and handicapped so that they can get the “body of Christ” ahead of the other as if wanting to get to heaven ahead of everyone else.  I get to observe this phenomenon many times in the case of an elderly woman who always sits in the same area of the church as me during Sunday masses.  During communion time, she painfully hobbles towards the communion line.  While already in the cue, the more healthy Christians insert themselves in front of her each time a gap is created between her and the next person, instead of helping her move up the line.  That observation was a clear but simple illustration of how unchristian we can be while supposedly engaged in the most Christian of all the sacraments.

As of late, there was massive noise from different sectors that aired their strong opposition to the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill now pending in Congress.  In the halls of Congress, debates echoed with emotion and sometimes even nasty words were spoken against each other.  Elsewhere, hordes of people were mustered to dramatize the opposition to the RH Bill.  Those were words of men and of angels.

Two weeks later, floods inundated Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces.  Worst that were affected were the poor families that live in makeshift shelters they call homes and who had more children than they can sustain.  Of course the response of many people to help their brother Filipinos was abundant.  Christian deeds were noted even from the most unlikely sectors – people from the movie industry, a sector full of vice and worldly pleasures as many would say.  Yet, they performed the most Christian of acts at the time when they mattered most.  How about the people who objected to the passage of the RH Bill because accordingly it is against the word of God?  They were nowhere to be found and must have retreated to the comforts of their homes in those calamitous times.  Were they just sounding brasses or tingling cymbals then?  I bet that when they die their tongues would surely go to heaven!

(This article was written for the News Record and published in  March 3, 2013 issue)

Jessica and Grace

In 2012, Jessica Sanchez, a young Filipino-Mexican-American singing sensation became a runner-up of a US reality show, “America Got Talent.” Sanchez, the 16 year old teenager, was born in California of a Filipina mother and a Mexican-American father.  She and her two brothers were raised in the US where they lived like any regular American kids. 

During the initial elimination rounds, however, Sanchez garnered the lowest number of votes from the audience which could have had her being eliminated from the contest.  Yet she remained in the show.  She so impressed the judges of her performance that they applied the “Judges Save” provision of the contest thus vetoing the votes of the audience.  Learning from that experience, she started to package herself as a Filipina-Mexican-American in order to woe the votes of the Filipino and the Mexican audiences.

Was Jessica Sanchez a Filipino?  This was a question that I posed to the students of my class in Rizal in a local college in the city.  (At that time, my students and I thought that Sanchez was born in the Philippines with both Filipino parents; that she went to the US as a young girl; and that her mother remarried to a Mexican-American).  Most of my students then said that she was definitely a Filipino and even a natural born Filipino.  Instead of proceeding with the discussion that I started, I let the issue hang without commenting.  That question was just an introduction for the lesson of the day.

The lesson for the day was about the genealogy of Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero.  Rizal’s maternal great great grandfather was a certain Eugenio Ursua who was of Japanese ancestry.  His paternal great great grandfather was a certain Domingo Lamco, a full bloodied Chinese who became a Christian and adopted Mercado as his family name.  Tracing down his ancestry further, we learned that Rizal (and his siblings) only had 42.5% Filipino blood.  It is no wonder then that in his travels in many parts of the world, Rizal was oftentimes mistaken for Japanese or a Chinese.  Despite his looks, though, most Filipinos would assert that he was the first Filipino and the greatest that ever lived.  So where did his being a Filipino come from? His being a Filipino came from his heart!

The young Jessica Sanchez looked every inch a Filipino but did she ever felt like she was one?  It was obviously that she did not.  She only identified herself as Filipino when she needed it in her quest for stardom.  But we cannot blame her.  She was a young woman of sixteen summers.  Would America be offended when she said that she was of Filipino or Mexican?  Of course not, she remained American all the while!

Today, we remember Jessica Sanchez who portrayed herself as a Filipino in her quest for personal glory.  We associate her with Grace Poe who also wanted to portray herself as a natural born Filipino citizen also in pursuit of her quest for personal glory – to fulfill her dream of becoming the President of the Philippines in continuance of her adoptive father’s failed dream of becoming President himself.  One upon a time, Grace Poe was a Filipino renegade who abandoned his native land and took allegiance in another country.  She was not like the many Filipinos who left to escape poverty.  She was rich and had all the material things that she can wish for.  She was mature enough when she made the choice.  She did not love the Philippines enough so she abandoned her Filipino citizenship.   

I wonder why in the many arguments against the citizenship of Grace Poe, nobody ever invoked the provisions of the highest law of the land, the Philippine Constitution.  As I mentioned in my previous article, Sec 2, Article 4 (Citizenship) of the 1987 constitution defines what a natural born Filipino citizen is.  It says that: “Natural born citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship.”  Of her own free will and accord, Grace Poe renounced her Filipino citizenship to embrace the citizenship of her husband.  When she reacquired her Filipino citizenship, she performed a legal act.  Therefore by definition and the circumstances surrounding her case, she is now a naturalized Filipino citizen even if she can prove that she was a natural born citizen from the beginning.

So why is it so important that the President of the Philippines, the Vice President, the Senators and the Representatives should be natural born Filipino citizens? Let me quote former Justice Isagani Cruz of the Supreme Court.  He said: “The citizen of the Philippines must take pride in his status and cherish this priceless gift.  For sure he has the right to renounce the Philippines as he sees fit and transfer allegiance to a state with more allurements for him.  But having done so, he cannot expect to be welcomed back with open arms once his taste for his adopted country turns sour….  Citizenship is not a cheap commodity that can easily be recovered after its renunciation…..Hence, even if one’s naturalization (in another country) was later annulled, the subsequent development will not and cannot erase the fact that of his own free will and by his mature and deliberate choice, he expressly and forever renounced his allegiance to the Republic.  Renunciation is not a pro forma act.  It is a flat and absolute rejection of one’s former country, made in all sincerity and under oath, with the solemn resolve to cut off all political ties with and to withdraw one’s loyalty from it in favor of the new sovereign.  The petitioner who took such a step, cannot now say that he really did not mean it when he rejected the Philippines and renounced all his allegiance to this republic”

Jessica Sanchez was an American citizen by fate who wanted to appear Filipino to support her quest for stardom.  Yet, she never renounced her citizenship.  On the other hand, Grace Poe was a Filipino citizen at birth but renounced her country for the Land of Milk and Honey by her own intelligent and mature choice.  Now she wants to lead the country that she once turned her back on!  Can she convince the Filipinos that she was always a Filipino by heart?  Or should we rather say that she is a Filipino at this point in time because it is the most convenient thing to say?  In this context, the young Jessica Sanchez may appear nobler than Grace Poe!

The Tale of Graciano

Graciano grew up in a small village.  His parents though were rich so he didn’t have to struggle, work hard or even cheat or steal for whatever he desired while growing up.  He was educated in a respectable university in the big city; and later moved to the metropolis for greener pastures.  He landed a good job, married a city girl and had children.  The big city became Graciano's home.  From time to time, though, he visited his ageing parents with his wife and young city-grown kids.  Later on however, his wife and children no longer joined him in his provincial sorties except on a few important occasions and only for very short duration.  Graciano's wife and children never got to love the homey, simple and slow moving life in the barrio where their father grew up

During those times that he was away, Graciano’s old village went through a number of hard times and trials.  It was ravaged by storms, floods, drought and pestilence.  It was rocked by terrorism, banditry and lawlessness.  As a good Christian, he sent material aid to the villagers whenever calamity struck.  He had plenty of material things to share with others.  After all he and his family was spared from those hardships.  They were lucky to have lived elsewhere and never experienced all these trepidation. 

One day, there came a new village chief who was a friend of his family who offered him an important job in the community.  Graciano was already contented in his new home in the city but the temptation of assuming an important role and be amongst the “principalia” of his former village proved very difficult to resist. The grass now appears greener for him this time at the other side of the fence.  The pay was better than what he gets in his city job, the work was not so demanding and his position was more prestigious.  Yet, it would mean less time for his family who wouldn’t want to join him.  His wife wouldn’t give up her job and his children are still in school.   Upon the prodding of his parents and old friends, Graciano accepted it, albeit, reluctantly. 

Time came when the village chief had to retire.  Graciano wanted to become the next chief.  He remembered that it was his father’s dream that a member of their family would someday be the leader of their community.  By now, Graciano is near enough for its realization and the opportunity is at hand.  Graciano' wife and young children strongly objected to this new twist in their family life.  So he had to promise them that he would only serve for six years and would return home to the city after that.  After all, his intent was only for the purpose of fulfilling his father’s dream.

Graciano is a fictitious character who may be likened to one of our presidential contenders who left our country and renounced Filipino citizenship for greener pastures.  A former American citizen with an American husband and American children (that were raised and breed in an American environment), Grace Poe wants to become the next President of the Philippines.  Her would-be opponents question her qualifications.  Among others they say that she lacks experience in governance; that she did not pass the minimum residency requirement; and that she is not a natural born citizen of the Philippines.

I would not attempt to discuss the issue of Grace Poe’s lack of experience.  It is suffice to point out that once upon a time there was a housewife who became the first woman President of our country despite her almost nil experience in governance.  Whether Cory Aquino performed well as President is up for the Filipino people to judge; and whether Grace Poe could do better than her is subject for speculation. 

I would not also venture an opinion of Poe’s lack of the mandatory residency requirement as this can be easily ascertained through documentary evidences.  I would rather concentrate on the citizenship issue.

During one of her sorties to the Bicol Region, Grace Poe in one of her speeches said that the citizenship issue against her was very similar to that of the late Secretary Jessie Robredo.  She thought that by comparing herself with the well-loved former mayor of Naga City, she could win the votes of the Bicolanos.  However, that unstudied statement instead backfired on her.  Representative Leni  Robredo, the widow of the late Secretary, contradicted her statement.  Leni said that they were entirely different because her husband unlike Poe never abandoned nor renounced his Filipino citizenship. 

The discussions on the citizenship issue against Poe were centered on her being a foundling, a contentious one since there is no provision in the present constitution on that matter.  What is clear is that one of the requirements for President (also for Vice President, Senators and Representatives, etc.) is that he/she must be a natural born citizen.  Section 2, Article IV of the Cory Constitution defines a natural born citizen as follows: “Natural born citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Philippine citizenship.”  Renouncing Filipino citizenship was a legal act and reacquiring it was another legal act.  By constitutional definition, therefore, Grace Poe is now a naturalized Filipino citizen even if it can be argued that despite her being a foundling she was a natural born Filipino citizen from the beginning. 

Let us assume that despite this constitutional barrier, Grace Poe will still be allowed to run and is eventually elected as President.  So, then we will have our third Lady President who is relatively have a little experience than the first and presumably more honest than the second.  We will also have an American First Gentleman and an American First Family for the first time.  Wouldn’t that be great?

After her six year term, would Grace Poe remain in the Philippines and “help” our country some more or would she go home to the Land of Promise where her family is comfortably settled?  Or would she do a Fujimori, a former president of Peru who committed some crimes there and in order to avoid prosecution ran to Japan where he was also a citizen?

The army surrendered

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Is Our Country a Toy?

“Do you play computer games?” was the President’s reply to a question of the widow of a SAF (Special Action Force) officer who perished in the Mama Sapano clash.  The young widow asked why there was no air strike when the beleaguered PNP (Philippine National Police) troops were surrounded, outnumbered and mercilessly massacred by combined forces of the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Fighters) that fateful day of January 25, 2015.  Instead of making a categorical answer, the President instead retorted by saying things associated with his favorite pastime – computer games.  (“Air Strike” must have been one of his favorites.)  It is rumored that he frequently plays computer games with his favorite nephew, son of his movie actress - sister, which was sometimes the reason why he arrives late in some important commitments.  Among others, the President also loves to indulge in target practice, sing-along and fast cars.  He loves to play.

Many years ago, a Filipino Chinese businessman bought an old fledgling sugar mill in Central Philippines.  The residents of that sleepy city that relied most of its revenue in terms of taxes that the company pays and the spending from its better paid employees were ecstatic of this new development.  Soon after, the restaurants, entertainment areas and other business establishments became alive again.  However, the bliss did not stay long enough.  The sugar mill went bankrupt and stopped its operations.  The banks took over the real property over which the mill stood and whatever scrap that remained of its machineries.  Many became jobless again and the economy of the city suffered.

There was a running joke that circulated around after that Filipino Chinese businessman and his family left the city and returned to Luzon where they came from.  The joke was that he was a “very rich man” indeed – that he could afford to buy a sugar mill so that his children would have something to play with.  Other rich people would normally buy mechanized toy cars, sometimes even real cars, just for the pleasure of their young and even their spoiled adult children.  But this guy was richer than most because he bought a whole sugar mill that his children could have something to experiment on and fiddle with including the lives of the employees and their families who depended on their livelihood on the facility. 

Perhaps, the word “play” was too, harsh as a friend of mine suggested.  The term could just have been “mismanage” he said.  I beg to disagree with him and opt to still use the word “play”.  Why?  They knew that they did not have the aptitude, were inexperienced and did not have the technical and academic preparations to effectively and efficiently operate such a very complicated business venture.  Yet they went on.  After all, if they fail and the endeavor flops, they would still have enough money to buy another “toy” – probably a shipping company or a resort hotel that they could experiment on again.   

The Philippines may be likened to a toy in the hands of a spoiled brat.  Our leader toyed around with our constitution by his creation of the DAP, the impeachment of a Chief Justice on non-impeachable grounds and the proposed carving out a sub-state in Southern Philippines, among others.  He played soldier acting like a tactical commander by giving direct orders to the real commander on the ground as in the Mama Sapano case.  He played with the lives of our soldiers and policemen and he never cared.  Like toys, the death of four officers and 15 army soldiers in Al Barka, Basilan in 2011 and that of the 44 SAF policemen in Mama Sapano, Maguindanao on January 25, 2015 are “just part of the job” he says.

Unlike other spoiled brats however, he played with something that was not his.  He does not own the Philippines – it was entrusted to him by the Filipino people thinking that he would lead this country to greatness.

In 2010 we chose to have a leader who is “honest”.  Hence we elected somebody who was perceived to be an honorable man.  We chose him over the more experienced, the more academically and technically prepared, and those with good track records in various administrative fields in the government and other sectors.  Honesty was the foremost qualification that the Filipino used as the parameter in choosing our leader. However, the Filipino then adopted a very simplistic definition of an honest man as someone who does not steal. 

Today we reckon back and rethink what honesty really means.  Borrowing the definition of the Philippine Military Academy of its Honor Code it says, “The cadet does not cheat, lie or steal nor does he tolerate anyone who does”.  The President didn’t steal alright and he runs after the thieves in government.  However, he prosecuted only the thieves in the opposite political fence while coddling his friends and allies, closing his eyes on their misdoings.

Is he an honorable man who is worth the adulation and esteem of the Filipino people?  He didn’t steal but he allowed his friends and allies to do it.  By his non-presidential demeanor, he cheated his country with its self-respect.  He robbed Juan dela Cruz of his dream to improve himself and his future.  He lied to his people. He acted in his supposedly honorable position like it was just his usual play.  He must have thought that running the reins of government is another computer game that when the game is over you can play it again without the slightest damage to anyone.

And He Played with a Scalpel

In a previous article we likened the Mama Sapano operation to that of a “surgical operation”, a medical term involving an incision using special instruments performed by a well-trained doctor in order to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body. We also likened the SAF (Special Action Force) to the scalpel, a sharp instrument that can make precise and neat cuts where they are needed in order to remove or cure the sick part of the patient without unnecessarily tearing his healthy and unaffected flesh. This instrument made of the best metal and created for a special purpose has to be wielded in the hands of an experienced surgeon. Further we said that in the hands of a monkey, the scalpel can do more damage and can kill the patient instead.

Accordingly, there were several “errors” that were committed as gleaned from the various investigations, inquiries and discussions on the infamous “Operation Exodus” that claimed the lives of 44 members of an elite unit of the PNP. 

Normally, an operation involving a high level target such as that of international terrorist, Zulkifli Bin Hir alyas “Marwan” involves three levels of plans, decisions and actions – strategic, operational and tactical. The strategic level is reserved only for the Chief Executive with the help of his cabinet and advisers. Strategic activities are those that have socio-cultural, economic, political, diplomatic and military dimensions. These different dimensions always affect one another. Hence, they are wider in scope and have long range effects or impacts on the wellbeing and stability of the nation. These activities directly or indirectly support our national aims and objectives. 

The decision to neutralize Marwan at that point in time indeed was a strategic one. While the direct action was basically military or police in nature, it had some socio-cultural, political, diplomatic, and economic dynamics. It affects some national and international concerns and answer some important questions such as: “Will it bolster our claim that the Philippines strongly supports the war against international terrorism and will it satisfy the expectations of our allies (such as the US)?”; “Will it contribute to the peace and order condition in Mindanao and hasten foreign and local investments in the area?”; and “How will it affect our fragile peace initiatives with the MILF and future ones with other groups or organizations that threaten the security of our country?”, among others. 

The issue of coordinating with the MILF is definitely a strategic one (and could not be blamed on P/Dir Getulio Napeñas who is only on the tactical level). Aside from the other local non-military concerns as an effect of the operations, it may also have some diplomatic repercussions. Other countries, such as Malaysia that brokered the peace efforts, may feel that such surreptitious action in MILF “territory” would create distrust between the government and the MILF and therefore runs counter to the confidence building measures that Malaysia was so interested about. On the other hand, coordinating (asking permission is perhaps the proper term) with the MILF will project an image that the Philippines does not have sovereignty in these areas and may be used as a basis for the MILF to seek for a “belligerency” status from an international body.

The Secretaries of the DILG and DND are part of the strategic group being the alter egos and chief advisers of the President on peace and order matters. They also serve as the bridge between the strategic and operational levels and hence are also part of the operational side of the undertaking. Yet they were not consulted nor asked to contribute in the planning of the operation. The suspended PNP Chief is obviously not a part of the strategic group. However, if he was not suspended, he may be called upon to give operational inputs needed for strategic planning.

The operational level supports the strategic initiative and is meant to “operationalize” the strategic decision. The operational plans, decisions and actions conform to that of the strategic. Although these may be in general terms, they give more substance and provide additional guidelines. The Secretaries of DILG and the DND; the Chief, PNP his major units; and the Chief of Staff, AFP and his major units are part of the operational group. The plans, decisions and actions in this level determine how the operation may be conducted; which units of the AFP and the PNP or civilian agencies may be involved; and the support systems that may be necessary to perform them. They also make the necessary coordination with other national agencies of government such as the DSWD and the DOH. 

The lowest level in the hierarchy is the tactical side. This is where P/Director Getulio Napeñas comes in. His unit, the SAF, was tasked to accomplish the job and to perform the actual operations in accordance with the plan dictated from the top. However, situations vary and are sometimes even totally different on the ground than what was in the plan. As such, the tactical commander may implement situation dictated actions; or improvise those that were earlier planned and anticipated; or even abort the mission. In extreme situations, the ground commander even violates operational guidelines if in his wisdom this is necessary to accomplish the mission or ensure the safety of his men. A good tactical commander therefore is one who knows how to balance his two primary duties – to accomplish the mission and to look after the welfare of his men. Being the man on the ground, he is the best person to know the most effective course of action to take if it is not specifically mentioned in the plan. However, he may be forced to comply with a strategic directive even it defies all operational and tactical sanity. 

Failures or successes are always determined at the end of a mission. If it succeeds, everybody claims that it was his or was a part of it. If it fails, nobody acknowledges his fault. Sadly, it is always the tactical commander that is blamed for blunders on the ground even if he just followed the “beautiful” plan laid out on a piece of paper by swivel chair commanders who have never had any experience in the field. Seasoned and wise leaders spend more time in the planning of important undertakings. He makes sure that the right persons are consulted; the necessary data are gathered and meticulously evaluated and the preliminary and supporting activities are performed before the main and more important operation is undertaken. Most often, a good plan ensures the success of a mission. 

Napeñas may have committed some tactical errors which are unexplainable being a seasoned combat officer. He did not abort the mission when his blocking force failed to occupy its designated position on time. His troops tarried on in the area, amongst a corn field (a tactically unsafe position) when they could have hastily withdrawn after killing Marwan. He did not (or failed to) employ as reinforcement his more than 300 elite forces located at the nearby highway. It is hard to understand why these basic “errors” were committed knowing him to be an experienced SAF operator. One may only speculate that he was made to do these tactically unsound decisions for more “strategic” intentions.

A monkey played with a scalpel and he would not admit it even if blood showed in his hands.

Casting our own shadows

My sons were but young boys when, as a captain, I started to enjoy the amenities  of a "senior" officer having just been designated as the Secretary to the Area Command Staff of the Visayas Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines.  One of these amenities, not normally accorded to other officers of the same rank or even higher, was a “staff car”.  Actually, it was just a Kennedy type jeep but in those days, it was already a big thing.  We had very few vehicles then and only the top three people in the organization and the principal staff had them

With my new assignment, my children now get the privilege of riding on a motor vehicle.  They love to ride that jeep each time they are in camp for their regular visits.  It made them feel great because back home, riding with their grandfather on his old bicycle was the most that they could get. Each time that my sons join me in my “staff car”, they would insist to sit with me in the front.  It is not only more comfortable there but the boys had other reasons why they prefer that seat.  They were fascinated with what they can see from that vantage position.  They wanted to observe closely the routine type of military courtesy that I get – the military salute. 

It is customary that when a soldier salutes a senior officer, the latter has to acknowledge it by also rendering a similar courtesy.  (Although in some cases when it is impractical or inconvenient to return the salute, a simple nod may do.)  My sons would then imagine that they were the ones being saluted at.  Hence, whoever amongst them was the first one to get my cap and wear it; he would have the privilege of acknowledging the soldier with the snappiest salute that he could muster with his infirm hand.  Being saluted and saluting the soldiers back never fail to make my boys beam with pride.

Children always get to enjoy the extension of the privileges, the amenities and the esteem that were meant for their parents by virtue of their positions in their respective organizations or spheres of influence.   While roaming inside camp, my kids were always treated nicely or given preferential attention by the soldiers even if sometimes they become mischievous or even discourteous.  Often, they receive small gifts or get invited to partake of meals or snacks by “strangers” whom they learn later on were my friends. 

As my children grew older, I gradually explained to them the phenomenon of reflected friendship, respect and esteem that they get from my friends.  I told them that these things are not forever.  A time will come that they will have to stand by themselves and cast their own shadows.  Later, people will treat and interact with them based on their own merits and not on the status or the accomplishments of their parents.

I have two (2) sons that followed my footsteps as a soldier.  When they were young, they were simply known as the sons of Captain Cabales (later on as the sons of Major then Colonel Cabales, as I rose up the promotional ladder).  Now they are their own persons no longer dependent on whatever influences I may still have as a retired soldier.  People know them as Major Alex Nikolai Cabales and 1Lt Alex Andre Cabales, both PMA graduates and maybe future generals.  Now, they only need their personal credentials when they introduce themselves.  The level of respect and esteem that they get (from their seniors, peers and subordinates) is based on their own capabilities and potentials.  They may also receive amenities and special privileges, sometimes even better than the one’s I got when I was their age and rank, but surely these are direct rewards of their commendable performances as officers.  Sometimes though, they are asked of our relationship by some people who once worked with me.  Perhaps then that would only be the time that it may be necessary for them to say that I am their father.  This additional information, however, can no longer alter a bit the strength of their reputations as professional military officers.   

Today, we have some people who run for public position who do not have their own credentials and haven’t had the opportunity of casting their own shadows.  The funny thing is that they believe that they deserve to win because their father or mother; or even a relative or a namesake was once a great achiever!   Funnier still is that the electorate will still vote for them with nothing else to show but this “talent” of being a son, a daughter or a relative of a great man.