Reservations

Belated Happy Halloween.

For the first time in 48,000 years I picked up and read the first section of our daily broadsheet, PDI.

Wala lang. Na bore lang ako kanina sa sasakyan while waiting for something and someone.

I came accross this column 'Reveille' on the Opinion section of the said broadsheet. The columnist is Ramon J. Farolan, who according to my boss, is a former general.

The article was entitled 'Men of the ROTC'. In this article, he stressed out the importance of ROTC in the academe and how it produced leaders and personalities, especially in politics and the military, on a global setting pa. Those that contributed a lot in the past and present society.

At the end of his column, Gen. Farolan called for a review in the ROTC program. In short, gusto niyang ibalik sa pagiging compulsory ang naturang course sa tertiary level students particularly the male population, like before.

So, ano bang masasabi ko dun?

Hell NO!

As far as my micro mini memory can remember, the one event that triggered the 'editing' of the ROTC program ay dahil sa isang matapang na estudyante na nagbulgar ng katiwalian sa kanilang ROTC kabilang ang mga leaders nito na naging sanhi ng kanyang untimely death.

Pinatay ng mga sangkot sa corruption.

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When I was in college, ROTC then was a compulsory course. Gustuhin ko man na 'wag ito kunin ay wala akong choice. Unfortunately, the male population of our school then was depleting, relevant to the decreasing demand of nurses before. So dahil konti lang kaming kumuha ng ROTC, our school decided to 'link' us as a separate platoon but in a different school.

To make the story short, sa ibang school ako kumuha ng ROTC. I had my uniform made to order, bumili ng combat boots, feeling ko ako si Cammy ng Street Fighter.

I was already in my third or fourth Sunday attendance when the commandant paid a visit in our school and gathered us, freshies.

He told us how lucky we were to be a part of his excellent 'squad'. As much as he wanted us to be under his wing, naaawa daw siya sa amin because we're giving so much effort just to attend the whole day course every Sunday. And he's much willing to help us in lessening our burden.

And then he made an offer.

We need not report na raw every Sunday for our ROTC, siya na ang bahala sa amin at the end of the semester. Our final grade will be 1.5, and the best thing is that hindi na kami magpapagod.

But, for a price. Since we were studying in a much expensive school compared to the one we're taking our ROTC course, the price tag is

P3,500.00/sem.

Nakakaloka noh?

To think this course should teach us something about respect, dignity, courage and love of country pero how could I do such thing when in the first place eh questionable na ang pagkatao ng tao na siya sanang tuturo sa amin nito.

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Ewan ko lang talaga. I know there are more noble people in the military but people like my former commandant are thesame reasons why I am so not in favor in reviving the old course.

I was tempted to avail of the 'promo'.

I didn't have much choice then.

I'm a freshman. Fresh from high school. Underage. Walang kakilala. Mahinhin pa. Payatot. As in Kate Moss payatot. =p


My class schedule's from Monday to Saturday. And Sunday ang ROTC namin. It was stressful and fearful and emotionally and physically draining.

The ROTC is not for me. It's not for everybody. Just like wearing 6inches high heels, the ROTC is for those 'specially equipped' individuals only.

I just think that hindi naman siguro kailangan icompulsory ang ROTC to answer Gen. Farolan's questions. If excellent leaders are what he's worrying na 'might've been lost' due to absence of the said course, maybe it's also time for him to look beyond his field of expertise and idea of sourcing out leaders.