August 1, 2002, The Philippine Star, Good soldiers never die, they get awarded, From the Stands by Domini M Torrevillas,



The deeds of good soldiers are heralded only when the soldiers die in combat and are given medals by the President of the Philippines. Or when they receive their stars and are made generals. Hardly is a soldier rewarded for being simply outstanding in his field; there is no bugle corps to declare he's a notch over his peers.

It's a good thing the Rotary Club of Makati Metro organized on Sept 12, 1994, a search for The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers or TOPS in recognition of the fact that the soldiers' essential contributions to nation-building has been overlooked by the civilian community. In 1994, Metrobank Foundation set up a P10 million endowment fund, the earnings of which form part of the annual budget of the TOPS project.

The TOPS awards are given yearly to eight active officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who have distinguished themselves by actions that demonstrate courage, integrity, responsibility and community service. Since 1994, through the proposal of Metrobank Foundation, a career achievement award or the "Excellence in Career and Exemplary Leadership (EXCEL) award was added, for those in the military service with a minimum service record of seven years.

Here are brief profiles of the awardees:

Under the combat category are awardees

Sgt Benedicto S. Enriquez (enlisted personnel) and Capt Catalino Masa Jr. In the technical service category, the awards went to two from the Philippine Air Force -SSgt John Christopher C. Lemoncito (enlisted personnel) and Lt Col Eligio DV Ramos (officer), MSgt Jose S. Uyeg of the Philippine Army and Lt Col Cesario V Atienza of the Philippine Navy (Marines) won the awards for enlisted personnel and officer, respectively.

There were seven finalists for the EXCEL award, but the two chosen were TSgt Elijurry L Larupay (enlisted personnel) of the Philippine Navy and Lt Col Francisco N Cruz of the Philippine Air Force.

The awards are substantial considering the poor pay (just above P10,000 a month for risky and grueling work for the soldiers and officers). The six awardees received P50,000 and the EXCEL awardees, P100,000.00

Lt Gen Benjamin Defensor, commanding officer of the Philippine Air Force had special words for the Filipino soldier, saying they have the ability to stand fatigue and deprivation," and they demonstrate "valor and courage."

Like General Defensor, Sgt Uyeg said that Filipino soldiers would have successfully saved Gracia Burnham and retrieved the bodies of slain Martin Burnham and nurse Ediborah Yap without the high-tech capability of the American soldiers engaged in the Balikatan exercises. Strong, sincere words, but this columnist thinks the Filipino soldiers would have taken decades to save the hostages. By that time the Abu Sayyaf would have tripled their numerical and weaponry skills.

Be that as it may, the Americans learned something too-that Filipino soldiers are a brave and hardy lot.