Sen. Padilla speaks at Philippine Army’s Stratcom summit as MSAB former chair

By Ana-Liza S.Macatangay

NAGA CITY --- Various Multi-Sectoral Advisory Board (MSAB) Committee members, advocates, and Philippine Army personnel representing different divisions, brigades and battalions all over the country attended the Strategic Communication Committee Forum held recently at Somerset Central in Makati, Metro Manila.

The confab aims to engage all strategic leaders and partners in communication to assist the Philippine Army in creating strategic critical key themes towards the attainment of its 2040 vision; “Army 2040: World-Class, Multi-Mission Ready, Cross-Domain Capable.”

Maj Eric Estidola, 9ID PA participated in the summit along with this writer, who is the provincial head of the Philippine Information Agency, as MSAB STRATCOM chairperson of the 9th Infantry “Spear” Division.

Senator Robinhood Padilla, MSAB former chairperson said during his keynote address, that the summit, which is his brainchild, endeavours to integrate pivotal and vital ideas for the furtherance of the Philippine Army mission and integrate and establish the foundation of a “winning communication” to sustain public support.

He stressed that communication serves as the vital key to attain peace.

THE MSAB Committee members, advocates and the Philippine Army Officers and men.

“Ang panlaban po natin sa mga blind leaders ay kayo, kayo na namamahala sa Strategic Communication. Alam po ninyo na napakasarap ng ating posisyon, sapagkat tayo ang tinatawag na nag pe prevent ng gulo. Kasi kung may tamang komunikasyon, walang gulo,” Padilla added.

He also raised his hats to all the civilians, officers and members of the Philippine Army for their hard work and perseverance in attaining peace and for journeying through the Army’s Transformation Roadmap for “transforming the Philippine Army into a credible, reliable, responsive, more capable and more professional Army committed to its mandate of serving the people and securing the land.”

“Wala na ako sa Strategic Communication, pero nakita nyo po ang suot ko, panahon ng kampanya, hanggang sa mga session po sa Senado, suot ko po ito, proud po ako na ako po, pasensya na po sa aking salita, ipinagyayabang ko po ang uniporme nito, lalo na pagiging reservist ko at pagiging Phil Army hindi ko po ito inililihim sapagkat isa po iyan sa naging misyon ko sa Strategic Communication na ipaalam sa kabataan ang kasaysayan ng Philipine Army,” the former MSAB Committee Chair said.

Padilla also said that the true blood of Katipuneros flows through the veins of every soldier who offered their lives to serve the country.

Hindi po tayo dapat pumayag na agawin ng mga rebelde na sinasabi nilang sila a ang Katipunan. Kalokohan na malaki. Ang Katipunan ay ang Philippine Army, tayo yan. Kailangang ipaglaban natin na tayo, sa ating dugo nananalaytay si Andres Bonifacio at ng Katipunan, wag po tayong papayag na agawin sa atin yan,” the senator added.

The forum intends to establish a “brand impression”, adopt best practices of its neighboring Armed Forces in Asia with the creation of a new ATR Strategic Plan. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)