Ides literally means middle. In the Roman calendar, ides of some months fall on the 13th or 15th of such month. Several days in the middle of March commemorate milestone events that have impacted me personally and professionally.
For instance, this year, on March 18, my godfather and 12th President of the Republic, Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) turned 90 years old. A distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy, FVR (USMA 1950) never ceases to amaze us with his physical stamina, his endearing sense of humor and, more important, his economic legacy still being felt in most parts of our country. A recent event of the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation (RPDEV) showcased how FVR still manages to serve the country in the form of numerous inspirational publications to touch the lives of past and future leaders of our country.
Last Saturday, March 17, members of the West Point Society of the Philippines (WPSP) celebrated our Founder’s Day, where Col. Sonny Busa (USMA 1976), a Filipino-American graduate of USMA delivered an insightful speech on leadership and change in the academy. That day also marked my first day as the president of WPSP, taking over from Dennis Acop (USMA 1983) who served as WPSP president for several years. Other past presidents of the WPSP include Fajardo (1934), Salientes (1937), Ileto (1943), Ramos, Magsino (1951), Vigilar (1953), Dado (1955), Sanchez Sr. (1954), Mirasol (1958), Cunanan (1961), Syjuco (1969), Sanchez Jr. (1980) and Acop.
As one of the longest serving aides of FVR, Dennis Acop once served the Philippine Constabulary, now Philippine National Police (PNP), as a Special Action Force (SAF) officer. He was part of the very first batch of SAF graduates. He was one of the pioneers who led and initiated various operations of SAF, the elite force in the police, envisioned by FVR and Gen. Renato de Villa.
Dennis eventually joined and retired from the Army a few years ago, earning several awards in the process, most notable of which is the Distinguished Conduct Star, the AFP’s second-highest decoration. Aside from being a seasoned intelligence officer, Dennis made a name in the field of security when he served in Wyeth Philippines as its director for Security and Business Continuity. He is an avid reader and runner. While most of his colleagues in the Army knew Dennis as an airborne, ranger, special forces, intel, and counterterrorist qualified, not everyone knows that he is a very prayerful person. He hears mass regularly, serves as a lay minister as often as he can, and participates in several church activities together with his wife, Joji. In all WPSP gatherings, I see calmness and composure in Dennis. In the words of fellow WPSP members, Dennis is a “faithful servant, dedicated soldier, conscientious worker and a devoted husband.”
But, March 16 is actually the day when my alma mater in New York turns 216 years old. There are 78 Filipino West Point graduates since the country sent representatives to that school in 1914. Of that number, only 39 are still living. Aside from FVR, notable Filipino graduates of USMA include former AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Narciso Abaya (1970) and Gen. Vicente Lim (1918), the first Filipino graduate of USMA whose image is memorialized in our P1,000 bill. The most senior graduate still in the active service is PNP Gen. Napoleon Taas (1984), whose PMA classmates include current Chief of Staff General Leonardo Guerrero and Vice Chief of Staff Salvador B. Mison Jr.
March 16 also marked my second-year anniversary of employment in PAL, which coincidentally turns 77 years old on March 15. From being Asia’s first airline, PAL is now headed toward becoming a five-star airline, hopefully by 2020.
Aside from being the anniversary of PAL, March 15 is an interesting date in ancient history as it was the day that became a turning point in Roman history—the assassination of Julius Caesar whose death led to the end of the Roman republic.
And, of course, March 14 is the birth anniversary of my favorite NBA player, Stephen Curry; of world-renowned scientist Albert Einstein; and of one person who I ought to pay attention to more often.
No one dictated that these anniversaries and milestone events should happen in the middle of March. Yet, I am thankful that they did. And though I am no longer in the government, I pray, especially for those in authority, to have the godliness and honesty in the same way Dennis had displayed throughout his entire career in public service. In the Bible, 1 Timothy 2:1-2 tells us, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
In the case of Dennis, our school motto of “Duty Honor Country” complemented his personal attributes of godliness and honesty. Correct praising to God and good conduct toward our fellowmen must go together. Someone famous once said: “We are not truly honest, if we are not godly…and we are not truly godly, if we are not honest.”
Happy birthday to FVR (18th), USMA (16th), PAL (15th) and SBM (14th). Truly thankful for a wonderful ides of March in 2018.