Philippine Marine Corps Drum & Bugle Team

ecause of the mounting demands for the participation of the

Philippine Marines on various significant national events, then
COMMANDER GREGORIO LIM Commanding Officer of the Philippine
Marines, who was inspired by the performance and visit of the US
Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, initiated the organization of the
Philippine Marines' own Drum and Bugle Corps.

So forth, sometime in 1963, a few supporting weapons personnel who

are musically experienced volunteered to establish the core of the
first Philippine Marine Drum and Bugle Team. "Team" rather than "Corps"
was adopted by the group since the band was composed only of 17
Enlisted Personnel and the Philippine Marines then was only a
battalion.

The task of molding this group to be true musicians and performers

was left to the able conductorship of its first Conductor / Arranger,
the Late CPO AVELINO MEJICO PN. Since then the team began providing
music on military ceremonies and other official functions. Their unique
demonstration and style gave them the opportunity to perform in
different parts of the archipelago as well as abroad as part of various
Naval Goodwill Missions.

The only Drum and Bugle Team in the entire AFP, the MDBT regularly
performs hand in hand with the Silent Drill Team of the Marine Security
Escort Group. Their routine involves a series of martial musical
display known all over the Philippines and in some parts of the world,
and their unique styles and well orchestrated precision marching earned
for them numerous awards and recognition. Categorically noted as first
class performers, they were commonly hailed as "AFP's Ambassadors of
Goodwill ".
DBT FILES . . .
by Msgt Justus L Soriano PM, The Baton Master, PMC Drums and Bugle Team

As i scan the pages of CITE MAR 6 2001 2rd Qtr Issue, I chanced upon
the topics on "Corps' Notes" by CAPT ROMULO D QUEMADO II PN(M) with
regard to the original Marine Song written by LTJG CESAR Y ALZONA PN.
To add to the Corps' history, I found it fitting to include another
original composition of LTJG ALZONA PN. I discovered this score
entitled "FIRST TO FIGHT" sometime in 1992 from a compilation of some
old musical scores.

FIRST TO FIGHT

BORN WITHIN THE WALLS OF CAVITE NAVAL BASE

ORGANIZED TO FIGHT TO BE ON THE CHASE
WE'RE THE STRONGEST FIGHTER AND ALWAYS ON OUR TOES
PHILIPPINE MARINES ARE THE TERROR OF THE FOES

FATHER ARMY WATCHES AS MOTHER NAVY SAILS

WE'RE ABOARD AND READY TO FIGHT WITHOUT DELAYS
LANDING ON THE BEACHES WTH PRAYERS IN OUR HEARTS
CREEPING THRU THICK JUNGLES NOT FOUND IN NAVY CHARTS

ALL THE SWAMPY ISLES OF SULU ARCHIPELAGO

ROCKY MOUNTS AND HILLS AND THE PIRATES OF JOLO
COULD NOT STOP OUR LANDINGS, WE'RE ALWAYS ON THE GO
PHILIPPINE MARINES ARE THE SYMBOL OF THE LAW

PHILIPPINE MARINES ARE THE FINEST OF THE LAND

SEND THE AIR FORCE HOME WHEN WE BEACH TO FIGHT IN LAND
WE SHALL GUARD THE NAVY ASHORE AND ON THE SEAS
WE SHALL GUARD OUR COUNTRY AND FIGHT HER ENEMIES

COPYRIGHT 1995 MANILA, PHILIPPINES WORDS AND MELODY BY: LT(JR) CESAR Y ALZONA PN

*The music played by Philippine Marine Drum and Bugle Team was
arranged by Msgt Justus L Soriano PM first played on 07 Nov 93 when
they serenaded the guests of honor GEN LISANDRO ABADIA, CSAFP together
with CHR Commissioner Haydee Yorac at ther Philippine Navy Officers
Club during the Corps' 43rd Anniversary Celebration.