Church Recognizes Military Efforts

From the Negros Daily Bulletin (Oct 31): Church Recognizes Military Efforts

Advance Command Post, 303rd Infantry Brigade, Bacolod City – In one of the rare events, a Church recognizes the hard work of the military in the Province of Negros Occidental.

The Emmanuel Bible Baptist Church based in La Carlota City invited Col. Jon N. Aying, Brigade Commander of the 303rd Infantry (Brown Eagle) Brigade as Guest Speaker last October 27, Sunday with an event dubbed "Military Recognition Sunday" to recognize the effort, dedication and service of the military in the Province.

In his speech, Aying explained the role of the military in a democratic community saying, "The military is called apolitical, non-political, non-partisan because we follow orders not only from a single person or politician but from a set of people representing the government." Aying said the military continues to strengthen their force with the recruitment in the reserve force organization and hopes for the firmer implementation of the ROTC to the schools in order to strengthen the military capacity in serving the country which is a form of nationalism and patriotism. He added, "To serve the country is nationalism but to serve and die for the country is patriotism."

Aying said, with all the ruckus all these years, the military’s approach has changed dramatically into a more participative organization and engaged all possible stakeholders which was dubbed "whole of nation approach".

It then focused on programs, projects and activities directed to the betterment and or improving lives of the people and it was called the "people-centered approach".

Nowadays, the military is focused in protecting the people and the state. Aying claimed "We have changed ourselves; we have changed paradigm approach which is the Bayanihan approach." In Negros Occidental, he added, there are goals when it comes to security sector; the church is part of the security sector because it serves as the spiritual and moral compass of the soldiers, that is why there is the so called Church, Military and Police Advisory Group-Negros (CMPAG-N) because according to him, they want that in everything they do, it shall always be within their moral and spiritual values. He gained approval and respect from the crowd with a round of applause.

Aying explained the three (3) goals of the Brigade; 1) Render the armed struggle irrelevant, 2) Secure affected communities from lawlessness and disaster and 3) Mainstream affected communities towards nation-building.

Out of the goals mentioned, Aying said "you now see our role in the military; a Soldier is a Peace builder, a Protector and a Social Worker to help uplift the quality of living of the depressed communities in the Province."

"How do we achieve the 3 goals?" There are seven (7) programs, Aying stated, the Peace process/Peace building to establish the culture of peace, Security Sector Reform (SSR) Program, Focused military operations, Integrated Community Defense Public Safety (ICDPS) with the PNP and the local residents, Legal cooperation, Grassroots community development and Disaster Risk Reduction Management.

He further urged the people to gain strength together towards the good of everyone. Aying thanked the Emmanuel Bible Baptist Church for the morale it imparted in a one of a kind recognition for the soldiers. "Whatever happens, we always keep first priority to our service that is what we have sworn."

This event aimed at strengthening the relationship and collaboration of the people with the men-in-uniform.

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