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Research and Special Studies Unit
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| A sample publication, published SY 1998-1999. |
by CPvt Oliver Diamante, 4Cl
"A cadet investigates and knows what is going on around him," this probabaly is the purpose of the Cadence unit
in the UP Manila ROTC, a unit of 20 cadets who have journalistic skills and is ready to investigate and inquire everything
about the ROTC, and impart this information to their fellow cadets. The unit is headed by Technical Adviser CLtCol Ricky Bulalakaw,
1Cl, and editor in chief, CSSgt Philbert Malaluan, 3Cl.
Cadence Unit is the unit of UP Manila ROTC that releases a 12-page newsletter,
Cadence, every month to report events and issues, feature personalities and units, give opinions on ROTC and national
military and social concerns, or just write anything that would provide additional knowledge to the cadets. Thus, Cadence
is a newsletter a cadet should read from cover to cover to have awareness in the UP Manila ROTC and even on national events.
Many people think that Cadence Unit of the UP Manila ROTC is easy, that
the cadets of his unit are just having a good time lying around in the couch and watching TV during Sundays when everyone
else are under the extreme heat of the sun, and cadets apply for this unit to avoid Sunday training days. All of these are
myths…
Cadence cadets attend a 30-minute to 1-hour meeting twice a week to talk
about their newsletter; they brainstorm on possible articles, assign these articles among themselves, talk about how to improve
the next months issue, and of course, pay their monthly dues. These meetings are not just any meetings, cadets have to write
something from nothing. Sometimes, when there is practically no event and nothing “interesting” is going on in
ROTC for a month, the cadets have to think of something to fill the 12-page newsletter, thus, they have to look for anything
that could be of interest to the cadets and write this in the most interesting yet straightforward manner.
Cadence cadets investigate, interview personalities, and cover events on
ROTC. When a Cadence cadet joins in the formation with the Rayadillo and Kampilan, he doesn’t just stand and hope for
the dismissal, but rather takes notes on the details of events, put these into writing, and gives the most accurate detail
as much as possible, thus, he has to interview important people, and always be observant. Furthermore, the Cadence cadets
have to catch deadlines. It is their task to give honest news to the people. Cadence cadets think, investigate, interview,
and give honest opinions. Most importantly, he puts these things into writing.
Entering this small unit of the UPM ROTC is probably the hardest of all,
you have to submit sample articles, credentials on journalistic experience, and your previous articles published on your high
school paper. Furthermore, you have to pass a rigorous interview out of many aspiring cadets. Thus, being able to join the
Cadence Unit takes a lot of effort and determination.
The Cadence Unit is not just writing stuffs, it is all about responsibility,
credibility, honesty and sincerity. The Cadence Unit has to uphold these values to produce a good paper. After all, we write
for the betterment of our institution, the UP Manila ROTC.
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