The CAPITOL

The Official Newsletter of the Capitol Chapter, UP Vanguard Inc.

The
The
CAPITOL
CAPITOL
CONTENTS
Capitol Chapter Revival
Current Members/Page 1
UP Vanguards push for
Advance ROTC graduation,
certifcates /Page 2
Capitol Chapter Co-
Sponsors Fun Run
of the UP ROTC/Page 2
Corps Commander 2013,
answering the Call/Page 3

Revitalized ROTC program
lobbied in Congress /Page 4
UP ROTC/UP VANGUARD
Continuing the Grand Ideals
of the Fraternity (Old and
New Photos)/Page 5
By Vgd Ronald Gian Carlo L. Cardema 09
THIS YEAR marks a symbolic
event not only for the UP
Vanguard Jubilarian Classes
but also for the entire UP
Vanguard brethren.
Under the leadership of long-
time DILG Undersecretary
Eduardo Ed Soliman of UP
Vanguard Golden Jubilarian
Class of 1964, the oldest and
finest chapter of the Chosen
Few, The Capitol Chapter,
where most of the former
political, military, academe,
and business leaders of the
Philippine Republic belonged,
is now resurrected to pursue
its grand ideals once again.
The UP Vanguard Capitol
Chapter will now take the lead
in the Fraternity, the University
and the Country.
The revival of the Chapter
attracted distinguished
leaders to join, including five
former UP Vanguard National
Commanders, namely: former
Education Deputy Minister
and Undersecretary for North
Luzon Quadrangle Growth
Hermie Dumlao, former Globe
Telecom President Mark
Javier, Agricultural Economist
Pablito Villegas, Colonel
Sonny Ventura, and former
Congressman Romy Lumauig.
Joining Chapter Commander
Ed Soliman and the former
UP Vanguard National
Commanders are: incumbent
UP President Fred Pascual,
incumbent UP Alumni
Association Director Dodie
Lagman, Brigadier General
Silvino Jun Alcabasa
(Commanding General, Corps
of Engineers) retired Brigadier
General Robert Gervacio
(former Commanding General,
Army Reserve Command and
BCDA-SCTEx spokesperson),
retired Major General Romy
Tarrayo (former Commanding
General, 8th Infantry Division),
retired Lieutenant General
Mel Rosales (former PMA
Superintendent and DILG
Undersecretary).
New Chapter Members are
leaders in the Army Reserves
and in the Professions namely:
Colonel Rey Antonio (Chief
Security Officer, Filinvest
Corp), Colonel Gil Aganon
(Commander, NCR-Standby
Reserve Division), Dr. Santiago
Obien (former Director,
Philippine Rice Research
Institute), Professor Ferdie
Manegdeg (UP College of
Engineering), Professor
Carmi Liwag (UP System
NSTP Director), Dr. Zoilo
Lapus (Director, Asian Pig
Veterinary Society), Atty. Santi
Dumlao (Former President,
Management Association of the
Philippines & of the Financial
Executives Institute of the
Philippines), Atty. Filomeno
Balbin, Atty. Narciso Tadeo,
Businessmen Art Pascua, Jun
Mocas and Jass Mercado.
UP Vanguar d welcomes
Capitol Chapter s r evival
Capitol Chapter members in the sacred grounds of the UP Vanguard Hall of Fame
Revival/ Page 6
Homecoming 2014 Issue
The CAPITOL
LET US recognize again their
academic achievements in the
field of Military Science .
That is the sentiment of the
UP Vanguard Inc., the alumni
association of Advance ROTC
graduates of the University of
the Philippines, on its on-going
effort to restore the graduation
ceremonies and issuance of
certificates of completion for
the graduating first class cadet
officers of the State University.
In a letter sent to UP
President Alfredo E. Pascual,
UP Vanguard National
Commander Melito Salazar Jr.
raised his concern regarding
the alleged non-recognition
of the University Registrar
of the ROTC as a Certificate
Program. The letter also
noted that since 2012, the
UP Alumni Association has
not been sending any notices
to jubilarians of the ROTC
program, based on information
from the Office of Alumni
Relations. The UP Vanguard
Program by the University.
On March 5, 1925 during
their 273rd meeting, the UP
Board of Regents approved
the granting of University
Certificates to cadets who
have completed the prescribed
advanced courses in Military
Science and Tactics, making
them alumni of the University
even when they have not yet
finished their academic course.
UP Vanguard urges UP Campuses to return the recognition
ceremonies and certifcates for UPs Advance ROTC graduates

then requested
the University to
update the records
of Advance ROTC
graduates from all
UP units, resume
the issuance of
Certificates to
Advance ROTC
graduates, and
restore the
recognition
of Advanced
ROTC graduates
during University
Commencement
Exercises.
The UP Vanguard
said this is an issue
since the ROTC
is recognized as a
Certificate
The ROTC, now one of three
optional components of the
National Service Training
Program, aims to provide
military education and training
for students to mobilize
them for national defense
preparedness and for disaster
relief and rescue operations.
Currently, advance ROTC
cadets have to take two years
of Military Science and tactics
courses, administered by the
Universitys Department of
Military Science and Tactics
and the Philippine Army
Reserve Command.
This initiative of the UP
Vanguard is part of its aim
to restore the prestige of the
military science education
in the State University and
to reinvigorate the ROTC
program through the full
implementation of the NSTP
Law and execution of the UP
ROTC 5-Year Strategic Plan.
UPROTC Dash 2014 a success
By Vgd Daniel Manuel O. Macrohon Jr. 13

CHALLENGED to outplay,
outdo and outlast each other,
a total of 938 runners joined
this years UPROTC DASH
2014 fun run.
Held last March 2, the DASH
2014 again opens the streets
of University of the Philippines
Diliman to running enthusiasts
from the public and private
sectors, of all size and ages.
It featured a 2-mile Army
standard run, a 5-kilometer
solo and buddy run, and a
10-km run. After the run, the
runners were then treated to
activities such as rappelling,
marksmanship, field-stripping
and a static display of weapons
used by the Philippine Military.
The UP Vanguard Inc.
Capitol Chapter, along with
the Quezon City Government,
co-presented the event with
the law firm of Vgd. Atty.
Sigfrid Fortun and with the
UP Vanguard Class of 1979,
said its participation will be
part of the Chapters thrust in
promoting disaster prevention,
response and relief operations.
The DASH 2014, which was a
spin-off of the Centennial Run
in March 2012, was organized
by the UP Corps of Cadets
Diliman and UP Vanguard
University Chapter. The fun
run aims to promote the UP
Department of Military Science
andTactics Complex, ideally
situated at the heart of Quezon
City, as a center for disaster
management and operations.
The running community
can expect for more fun,
adventure, and military-based
athletic activities next Dash.
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The CAPITOL
Where are the Youth who will consecrate their golden hours.. -Rizal,1891
excellent marks in subjects.
Most students were not aware
of the ROTC. Some simply see
the military program as an
inconvenience.
However, I only began to
realize the truth when I
enrolled in the ROTC. This
was also the time when I was
able to escape the status quo. I
entered the Cadet Corps when
I was a sophomore. Out of 120
Biology students in my batch, I
am the only one who finished
the one-year Basic and two-
year Advance ROTC course.
Good thing those who came
before me paved the way. The
summer before my training
began, the Department of
Military Science and Tactics,
under new leadership, pushed
strongly to recruit more cadets.
This resulted to a healthy
increase in the number of
enrolees and improvement in
training and facilities, a trend
which remains today.
There were a lot of lessons
that the ROTC introduced
and developed in
each and every
cadet. Most of them
sprung from the
numerous trainings,
while the others
are discovered by
the cadets on their
own. For instance, I
paid close attention
to my physical
wellness and
committed several
hours for running
and exercises. I took
lessons in military
leadership by taking
charge of group
work during classes.
And I became aware
ANSWERING the call can
easily be done when you
hear and know the source of
the ring. When your other
senses are down, you can still
feel it and thus you pick up
the receiver. For the young
generation, who has yet to
prove themselves, a response
to that call is needed for a
better Philippines.
After a decade of the ROTC
not being mandatory for
college students, the UP Corps
of Cadets is still struggling in
its mission to train the student
body of the University into
citizen-soldiers, ready to serve
the country in any situation, in
peacetime or even in disorder.
For the past five years, cadets
and cadet officers barely
reached a total of 1,000.
Nowadays, many people fell
into a system of complacency
and comfort. Majority of the
iskolars ng bayan preferred
the subjects that require
minimal effort but give good
grades, or classes that are
more convenient. Students
prefer to join organizations
that are related to their course
or something that suited their
interest. Ive been there during
my freshman year - indulging
in a purely civilian life that
only focuses on achieving
of the crises the community
and our country face. I sought
to help in any way that I can
and I believe that graduates
of both the Basic and Advance
ROTC share this sentiment.
Training coincides with
regular classes in the
University. Cadets and cadet
officers are not sheltered;
they interact with their
peers. I find this important
as it allows free exchange of
ideas between other students
and us cadets, a unique
and holistic condition that
distinguishes us from military
academies. Furthermore, the
ROTC imbues to us cadets
Vgd Daniel Manuel
O. Macrohon, Jr. 13
UP Diliman Corps Commander 2013
Last years UP Corps Commander speaks on the spirit of volunteerism and its relevance to the times
the spirit of volunteerism, the
embodiment of the youths
patriotism, which pushes us to
seek the knowledge to meet
the demands of the present
and the future.
But the ROTC must continue
to address the concerns of
students, so as to let them
make informed decisions
when it comes to the National
Service Training Program.
In this, the UP Vanguard
now plays an active role. The
UP Vanguard has answered
the call to serve the country,
and Vanguards will now
take the lead in inspiring the
community to answer that call.
3
Capitol Chapter Member Dan Macrohon13 leading the
UP Students as UP ROTC Corps Commander and as
UP Vanguard Fraternity Supreme Commander (President)
during the UP ROTC Centennial Year (2012)
Capitol Chapter Member Ronald Cardema09 leading
the UP Students as UP ROTC Corps Commander and as
UP Vanguard Fraternity Supreme Commander (President)
during the UP Centennial Year (2008)
The CAPITOL
ROTC: We need it now mor e than ever
forces will adopt the Russian
Crimean-Annexation Strategy
to conquer our territory.
Some people say that this
will never happen because we
now live in a modern world
empowered by social media,
within a closely-knit global
community strengthened by
diplomatic ties. But how about
the annexation of Crimea a
few days ago?
For several weeks, billions
of people around the world
were updated in social media,
by the minute, on whats
happening in Ukraine, in
Russia and in the Autonomous
Republic of Crimea. CNN,
BBC, Al Jazeera, and even
Russian Television (RT) were
giving us updates every hour.
Crimeans were posting photos
and videos everyday to show
how they are silently being
annexed by a country with
a stronger military force.
Millions of people around the
globe sharply commented, but
nobody sharply responded
physically.
In 1912, UP began ROTC
in the Philippines. In 1914,
companies of UPROTC-trained
military personnel were being
prepared by the US Colonial
A FEW days ago, the Russian
Federation successfully
annexed the Autonomous
Republic of Crimea. Even
with the strong uproar from
Ukraine (where Crimea is part
of) and the joint condemnation
of many countries, the
international community was
still unsure if it will send its
armies to stop the Russian
Forces.
If Russia can easily annex
a foreign territory that has
a population of two million,
even under the condemnation
of the free world, it will be
easier for the Peoples Republic
of China to annex a vast area
of the Philippine territory
which has a zero population.
If Europe cant dispatch its
forces to Ukraine even if the
country is physically between
the European Union countries
and the Russian Federation,
how can the international
community defend the
Philippine Archipelago against
Chinese annexation when the
country is situated in a vast
ocean and the only nearest
population are schools of
fishes.
The answer here is we
must teach ourselves and
our countrymen with the
basic knowledge in Military
Science. We must organize
all our able-bodied citizens,
especially the Youth, into
reservist groups that can be
mobilized during Disaster/
Calamity Relief Operations
and can be mobilized to our
coastal territories if Chinese
Government
in Manila to
support the
Allied Forces
in Europe
during World
War One.
UP Faculty
Members and
UP Students
volunteered
and that day
is now being
commemorated
in the two
Vgd Ronald L. Cardema 09
Political Affairs Officer III,
House of Representatives
oldest UP Campuses, UP
Manila and UP Los Banos, as
the UP Loyalty Day.
During the Second
World War, ROTC cadets
from different Colleges
and Universities in Manila
were able to defend their
communities and survive
because they have the basic
knowledge on using weapons
like machine guns, on
organizing themselves into
small tactical units, and on
using maps and compasses to
either attack the enemies or
to guide their own families
in rural, urban, and forested
areas.
Nowadays, what are we
doing to prevent foreign
intrusion in Philippine
territory? Yes we have
the PMA and the Officer
Candidate Schools, which
produce a combined military
force of less than a thousand
every year. During times
of war and calamities, the
combined strength of a very
few thousand military officers
will not be able to function
well because the millions of
Filipino Citizens that theyll
be commanding and helping
would not know how to act
in unison, to handle military
weapons and to shoot them
accurately, and to use maps
and compasses to locate their
families and loved-ones.
If a huge storm that lasted
one day, with no human intent
Chinas so-called Nine-dash line area which encompasses
sovereign Philippine territory that we must defend now.
4
Manila ROTC Cadets being trained how to move and operate weapons.
The CAPITOL
UP ROTC and UP Vanguar d Fr ater nity:
102 Year s of Fine Leader ship in the Univer sity and in the Countr y
The UP Vanguard Fraternity led by Vanguard Senator
Ferdinand Marcos (Senate President) at the General Antonio
Luna Parade Grounds (now known as the UP Sunken Garden)
Vanguard Senator Heherson Alvarez, Vanguard Congressman
Romulo Lumauig, Vanguard Congressman Roquito Ablan,
Vanguard Melito Salazar, Vanguard Astro Del Castillo,
Vanguard Ted Javier and Friends of the UP Vanguards; Cong.
Lito Atienza, Cong Gwen Garcia, & Cong Jonathan Dela Cruz
Vgd. Gen. Fabian Ver (AFP Chief of Staff), Vgd. Gen. Romeo
Espino (Former AFP Chief of Staff), Vgd. Gen. Josephus Ramas
(Commanding General, Philippine Army), Vgd. Adm. Simeon
Alejandro (Flag-Officer-In-Command, Philippine Navy), Vgd.
Gen. Joe Magno, & Vgd. Ambassador Nick Jimenez.
VANGUARD CARLOS P. ROMULO
University of the Philippines President
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The UP Vanguard Fraternity led by Vanguard Senator Manuel
Villar (Senate President) at the General Antonio Luna Parade
Grounds (now known as the UP Sunken Garden)
VANGUARD ALFREDO E. PASCUAL
University of the Philippines President
The CAPITOL
The
CAPITOL
VGD. NOLI ERMITANIO10 - Editor
(Writer - Philippine Daily Inquirer)
VGD. RONALD CARDEMA09 - Contributor
(Political Affairs Offcer III - House of Representatives)
VGD. DANIEL MACROHON13 - Contributor
(UP Diliman Corps Commander 2013 & Incoming Medical Student)
VGD. EDUARDO SOLIMAN64 - Adviser
(Former Undersecretary, DILG)
From the Government Sector,
were also proud to have the
following as Capitol Chapter
Members: Mayor Ding Villena
(Quezon Province), former
Quezon City Congressman
Matias Defensor, long-time
Ilocos Norte Governor and
Congressman Roquito Ablan,
and Court of Appeals Senior
Associate Justice Pol Bruselas,
We also have two very active,
young brods like Philippine
Daily Inquirer writer Noli
Ermitanio and UP Diliman
Corps Commander 2013 Dan
UP Vanguar d welcomes
r evived Capitol Chapter
Editorial Board
Macrohon.
With this initial strength
from UP Vanguard Fraternity
Brods in the Government,
Military, Academe, and
Business Sectors, the UP
Vanguard Capitol Chapter
aims to inspire the entire
UP Vanguard Brethren, the
UP Community, the AFP
Community, as well as the
other distinguished ROTC
Alumni Associations in the
country, to unite in reforming,
promoting and strengthening
the ROTC Program of the
Philippine Republic.
From Page 1
Distinguished members of the old Capitol Chapter. The current Capitol Chapter
aims to restore the glorious days of the ROTC Program in our country.
to harm or kill people, brought
chaos to some parts of Eastern
Visayas for a few months, what
more can happen if China,
projected to become the most
powerful nation in the world
in 20-30 years, deliberately
invades us? Yes, we can upload
all the pictures and videos
to the Internet to show how
foreign military forces are
invading and maltreating our
grandparents, men, women,
and children but can the online
viewers do something about it?
The Capitol Chapter of
the UP Vanguard Inc. (The
Association of Advance ROTC
Graduates of the University of
the Philippines) is very grateful
to Philippine Statesmen who
have the insights of reforming,
strengthening, and promoting
the ROTC program for the
Philippine Republic to be able
to utilize its greatest resource
its almost a hundred million
citizens - in nation-building
and in protecting the sovereign
Philippine territory now and in
the future.
The UP Vanguard Capitol
Chapter would like to
commend former AFP Chief
of Staff, former Senator and
now Muntinlupa Congressman
Rodolfo Biazon for House
Bill 522, Cavite Congressman
ROTC: We n eed it n ow m or e th a n ever
From Page 3
Francis Gerald Abaya for
House Bill 144, Bohol
Congressman Erico Aumentado
for House Bill 1720, and
Valenzuela City Congressman
Sherwin Gatchalian for House
Bill 2338, all of which are
legislative measures supporting
the ROTC program.
Wed also like to express
our gratitude to House Higher
and Technical Education
Committee Chairman, UP
Regent, and UP ROTC
Graduate, Pasig Congressman
Roman Romulo, for guiding
the proposed ROTC
legislations in the Committee
level. The UP Vanguards and
the distinguished members
of different ROTC Alumni
Associations in the Philippines
will be forming a legislative
support group and closely
partner with Members of
Congress for their milestone
legislations on ROTC to be
passed in the 16th Congress.
More than a century ago, our
Great Filipino Leader said that
The Filipino Youth is the hope
of the Motherland. We would
like to amend that now to read
as follows: The well-trained
and well-organized Filipino
Youth is the best hope of the
Motherland in times of War
and Calamities. Lets Support
the Philippine ROTC Program!
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