Dear Fellow Vanguards and all who care,

Please allow us to seize this moment and sound off the call for help from our Alma Mater.

LCol Roland Rodil, Class ’81 and UPROTC commandant and the UP Vanguard University Chapter called on all Vanguards for help in making the Cadet Officer’s living quarters (barracks) more livable.

Note that the barracks (now named as Granadillo Hall) was constructed during the time of Gen Ver, more than 30 years ago. Considering that the University and the national government do not provide appropriations for periodic repairs and maintenance, the barracks is seriously in bad condition.

Needs Survey

University Chapter members and representatives from the UPVI Board of Governors inspected the barracks a month ago and prioritized repairs urgently needed. Among the priorities are badly leaking roof, tattered ceiling, hazardous electrical connections, bad toilet and water connections, pealed and faded paint and mosquito-infested living quarters etc.

A Project to Build Upon

Windows of the sleeping quarters were supposed to be fitted with screens, but none was installed or due to disrepair they might have been taken down years ago. Without the window screens, Cadet Officers are very much at risk for dengue, not to mention the difficulty in getting good sleep.

The Cadet Officers female quarters are separated by a wall partition. However, the male quarters only have curtains serving as the partition.  If there are no wall partitions that will seal off mosquitoes, it is useless to put up window screens.

As our contribution to the barracks renovation project, Class 66 has started the construction of the wall partition and installation of window screens for both the male and female quarters. The estimated cost of Php 80,000 will be shared among us, all senior citizens.

Reminiscence of the past

Remember living in the barracks as cadet officers in the 60s (widely known as “DMST” Building)?  We regularly had reveille formations along that wide corridor every morning for PT. Thereafter, we attended to our daily cleaning assignments including latrine detail. COD inspection was conducted everyday.

Remember “Lady Diliman” walking late at night at the DMST corridor dragging a heavy chain? And of our classmates donning boxing gloves to settle individual arguments among ourselves and occasionally with upper classmen?

Remember the large rooms we used for Cadet Officers’ classroom training and critique room in preparation for Saturday drill days? They double as the University’s Euthenics classrooms, a good source for spotting potential sponsors.

We secretly called our sponsors “Sponggays”, our own special term of endearment. It was a well guarded secret, or so we thought. The sponsors knew but played along.

During the day, and at the expense of missing our classes, we would wait for our favorite sponsors as they take their tour of duty in the Sponsors Room. At night, we would sneak in to read their private individual entries in the Sponsors logbook.

Yes, the “barracks” was special to us, to our “Sponggays”, and many other cadet officers before and after us.  We can’t let go of the barracks, we must all help in the barracks restoration.

Our Challenge

This is a gigantic task. We encourage other classes to build upon what Class 66 started. The barracks have many other urgent needs, such as the replacement of the roofing and the renovation of the comfort rooms. Let’s all get involved.

When all is said and done, we shall have quarters for Cadet Officers that we, Vanguards, can be proud of, that Cadet Officers can be proud of, and comfort for the parents that their beloved sons and daughters do not have to live in squalor while pursuing their dreams.

The Cadet Officers and Corps of Sponsors of

the Invincible Class of 1966

Quintin was born in Manila on 12th April 1919. He became a Bachelor of Arts in the University of the Philippines in 1939 when he was only just 20. He then entered the College of Medicine from which he graduated in 1944 during World War II. He managed to get to Chicago where, from 1956 -1948, he studied anesthesiology under Max Sadove. His interest in anesthesiology began after a meeting with Joseph Artusio while both were working at the 155th Station Hospital in Mandaluyong in the Philippines in 1946 just after the end of the war. In 1949, he joined the Faculty of the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines.

In due course, he was appointed Professor of Anesthesiology and pioneered the development of anesthesiology as an independent specialty in the Philippines. His reputation quickly grew and he became a highly respected figure in the specialty in the countries of the Pacific Rim. He represented the Philippines at the 4th World Congress in London in 1968 where he was elected Treasurer of WFSA, the first person from the Far East to hold high office in the organization. He was re-elected for a second term at the World Congress in Kyoto in 1972. In 1966, WFSA had established a Training Centre in Caracas. Quintin had swiftly seen the advantages that such a centre could bring to the development of the specialty in Asia. He led a committee which included Roger Bennett (Australia), Peter Lee (Taiwan) and Hideo Yamamura (Japan). The matter was referred to the next meeting of the Asian/Australasian Regional Section in Canberra in 1970. It took a little time but, in due course, a WFSA Training Centre was established in Manila and Quintin was appointed Director.Quintin’s dedication to the work of WFSA was acknowledged by the WFSA General Assembly.When he was elected President at the 6th World Congress in Mexico City in 1976. In his Presidential Address to the 7th World Congress in Hamburg in 1980, Quintin stressed the importance of WFSA continuing to develop its educational program and he was delighted at the subsequent growth in activities. It gave him great pleasure when the General Assembly agreed to Manila being the venue of the 8th World Congress and he proved to be a gracious host and, despite a number of local difficulties, these were overcome and the congress, his last before he became ill, was highly successful. He has left his mark on the organisation.

Please watch out for more announcements (and the photos) regarding future monthly fellowship in this website. For suggestions you may e-mail Vgd. Florimon “Bojo” Bernardo ’92 (bojobernardo@yahoo.com).

This decade old, annual golf event is certainly going to be a fun-filled day of camaraderie and true sportsmanship. Aside from the awards for the best golfers in four different classes, we also recognize with trophies the  lowest gross, most accurate drive, longest drive, nearest to the pin and most exercised player.

For the golfers raring to tee off, tickets are priced at P2,500.00 inclusive of green fee and lunch. Trophies and prizes are at stake, where a raffle of appliances and golf items will also be held during the event. Registration will be between 6:30-7:30 a.m. The Shotgun  tee off will be at 8:00 AM. The tournament format will follow the Modified Antipolo Scramble.

For more information and ticket purchase, kindly get in touch with Vgd Ray Apostol ’85 (0917-8562769), Vgd Bobby Jordan ‘85 (0917-8888725), Vgd PJ Bondoc ‘85 (0917-8224128).

For flight reservations, please call Rose Ann at Tel No. 633-9439 or at 0915-512-4090 on or before Feb 26, 2010.

The Chapter decided to take advantage of this opportunity to accomplish several objectives. First, taking off from a similar activity done in the Corps in 1992 by the Mandirigma Sunday Battalion, the fun run will now be a venue to raise funds for the Corps of Cadets specifically for the purchase of additional Rayadillo uniforms.

The concept calls for each runner, Cadet Officers or Brods, to look for sponsors for every kilometer he or she will be running. Sponsors are encouraged to pledge a minimum amount of Php200 per kilometer. The accumulated amount will fund additional Rayadillo uniforms the Corps direly needs. Additional pledges will go to the University Chapter Leadership Grant.

The second objective is to show the UP Community that the Corps and the UPVI support advocacies beneficial to the environment and the Filipino people. This is in addition to promoting fitness among Brods and having an opportunity to once again relive, with Brods, friends and family, the days of early morning PT and road runs.

It is also our hope that there will be more activities of the same nature to benefit the Corps. As a side event, LTC Roland Rodil will be organizing an airsoft game after the run.

If you wish to join the activities or just wish to show your support to the UP Corps of Cadets, please email gabo94@upvanguardinc.org.