Feeling old, feeling great

Last week, I attended the retirement ceremony of my former senior aide, Maj. Gen. Edgardo Rene Samonte. He was closing a distinguished military career as commander of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) in Fernando Air Base, Lipa City. A group of ladies whose husbands belong to PMA Class 1981 provided the touch of elegance in an audience that included the “star for all seasons”—Gov.Vilma Santos-Recto of Batangas province.

I could not help but recall that General Samonte was only a lieutenant when I headed the Air Force. He was now joining the ranks of the retired officers, all in a span of more than a quarter of a century. Perhaps what made me feel old—and, incidentally, what also brought down the house—was when General Samonte delivered his retirement speech. A voice from the audience called out, “Lolo, lolo!” causing the proud grandfather to acknowledge the presence of his grandson.

One of the highlights of the afternoon program was an acrobatic show and formation flights spelling out P-A-F- and

A-F-P. These involved T-41 and SF-260 aircraft of the command. Nothing warms the heart of an airman more than the sight of planes in the air, considering that only a few years back, all we had to offer was a static display of aircraft on the ground.

Hopefully before the end of P-Noy’s term, we shall also see fighter jets, with the diamond insignia, once again patrolling Philippine skies. While it is not yet clear when final delivery will be made, the commitment for the purchase of these planes on a government-to-government basis provides renewed optimism that the PAF is about to reenter the jet age. The last jet fighter we had was the F-5 Freedom Fighter that was phased out more than 10 years ago.

The Department of National Defense must step up its procurement of more of the big-ticket items such as the 21 helicopters that were supposed to have been made available early this year. Time is running out, and we may lose another opportunity unless a sense of urgency is injected today into the acquisition efforts. If the Navy was able to secure two Coast Guard cutters in a relatively short period of time (regardless of the funding sources), there is no reason why the Air Force should not be able to approximate comparative upgrades. By the way, the undersecretary in charge of the program is retired Air Force general Fernando Manalo.

Aside from the retirement and change-of-command ceremonies, the day also marked the 14th founding anniversary of the AETC, one of the key commands of the PAF. The first commander of the AETC was Brig. Gen. Benjamin Defensor Jr. He served from 1998 to 2000.

Fernando Air Base itself is roughly 65 years old. Originally a sugar cane plantation, the area was developed during the Japanese occupation into an airfield complex with a concrete runway constructed by Filipino and American prisoners of war brought in from Cabanatuan. After Liberation, the facility was simply known as “Lipa Airfield” until it was designated Fernando Air Base during the term of Maj. Pedro Q. Molina, the base commander.

A coffee-table book on Fernando Air Base pays tribute to two men who were pioneers of Philippine aviation.

Capt. Roberto “Bobby” Lim was the first commander of the base. He organized the First Troop Carrier Squadron and focused on building up its transport fleet. He started with only two C-47s; by the time he left the service, the squadron boasted of 22 “Gooney Birds” (C-47 transport planes).

Captain Lim is the second son of Gen. Vicente Lim, the first Filipino West Pointer, Class of 1914. Initially a cadet at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City, Bobby topped the competitive exams for both West Point and the US Naval Academy at Annapolis. He declined to follow in his father’s footsteps at West Point and chose instead to enter Annapolis.

Maj. Basilio Fernando was one of 33 student-officers selected to undergo pilot training with the Curtiss School of Aviation at Camp Claudio, Parañaque. He would later join the Philippine Constabulary Air Unit that became the Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC). In 1939, Fernando was appointed director of the Bureau of Aeronautics. When World War II broke out, he joined the underground movement providing vital information to the Allies under the cover of “buying and selling firewood.” With Liberation, he was sent to the United States for refresher flying training. He took a course at Enid Field, Oklahoma to qualify himself as a transport pilot. Just as he was about to complete the course and preparing to return home, he perished in an air accident.

Fernando Air Base is named in his honor. The base serves as the training center of the Philippine Air Force and produces the pilots and the officers and men of the command.

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As I mentioned in an earlier column, a number of retired alumni of the Philippine Military Academy have come together as the PMA Alumni Advocacy Group (PMAAAG) to take a public stand on behalf of members who share similar sentiments on issues of national interest.

The PMA Alumni Association Inc. would have been the most appropriate forum, but the association is dominated by active duty members and it was deemed best to keep them out of the line of fire in view of the political nature of many sensitive subjects that are to be tackled.

Initially, the subject under consideration is the pork barrel system. The PMAAAG believes that:

• Public officials at all levels, from the national government down to local government units, should totally renounce and move for the abolition of the “pork barrel” in all forms.

• Public officials who have been implicated in the misuse of their “pork” should consider taking a leave of absence or resign from their positions, thus sparing the nation the agony of a protracted trial.

• President Aquino should consider surrendering and submitting all unprogrammed funds, like the Malampaya Fund and the President’s Social Fund from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, to the budgetary process and oversight power of Congress.

• Congress, in turn, should provide the President with enough funds and elbow room to deal with contingencies subject to its oversight power.

• The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court, should spare the nation from lengthy proceedings, initiating reforms within its ranks, and ensuring that speedy trials are done and proper punishments are meted out on the guilty.

• All public officials should perform their duties as servants of the people.