More than “keyboard warriors,” a prepared citizenry with skills and discipline sharpened through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is needed to defend our country especially against foreign invaders, according to Sen. Robinhood Padilla.
Padilla feared that the Philippines could be affected by the tensions in Asia and other parts of the world, and will need its citizenry, especially the youth, to be prepared and organized for national defense.
“I hope for the day that youths will not think it is enough to defend the country by just being keyboard warriors,” he said.
“I hope they will be like you, with your discipline and love for your country and family,” he added.
He insisted there was nothing wrong with being prepared.
He said the sloppiest people are those who are unprepared.
Padilla also stressed that there are now many developments worldwide that could affect the Philippines, including the war in Ukraine and the tension in Taiwan.
He noted that while Asian neighbors such as South Korea and Singapore were prepared due to their mandatory military service requirement for citizens, there is none in the Philippines. Macon Ramos-Araneta “We Filipinos are too relaxed,” he lamented.
The senator also said he could not understand the arguments of some sectors that the ROTC may hold back personal freedom as military training should help the citizenry protect freedom.
Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Tolentino lauded the successful hosting of the first regional leg of the 2023 Philippine ROTC Games (PRG) which featured cadet athletes from various provinces in the Visayas region.
The Visayas leg of the tournament featured cadet athletes from various Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) units from different colleges and universities in Regions 6, 7, and 8 and showcased their skills in different sports such as track and field, basketball, kickboxing, boxing, arnis, and volleyball.
Tolentino, who spearheaded the event, hailed the leadership of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as well as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for making the sports tournament possible.
Tolentino, together with Padilla, graced the PRG’s closing rites.
Padilla, who is also an advocate of the mandatory implementation of the ROTC program, promised to raise public awareness of the importance of having a strong military reserve force.
Meanwhile, Tolentino stressed that the lessons learned in the tournament held in Iloilo City will serve as a guide and benchmark for the organizers in the upcoming Mindanao and Luzon regional games slated in the next couple of weeks.
The Visayas leg of the tournament will be followed by the PRG’s Mindanao Regional Games, which will be held in Zamboanga City from August 27 to September 2, while the Luzon Regional Games will kick off in Tagaytay City from September 17 until 23.
The cities of Manila and Pasig will host the NCR leg from October 8 to 14 as well as the National Championships from October 22 to 27.
The Philippine ROTC Games will involve the ROTC units of the main service branches of armed forces of the Philippines (AFP)—the Army, the Air Force and the Navy. The ultimate goal is to get people who are not yet involved with the military service to enlist and eventually join the games, according to the senator. Macon Ramos-Araneta