|
TO others, they may seem like ogres. To others they are the most despicable beings ever to roam the grounds of UP Manila.
Sundays become tiring due to them, or as another writer put it, drenching in terms of sweat or sometimes, rainwater. They
might seem far more dreadful than an ordinary private can conceive.
In this initial publication of a View from the Top, none other than the head heardsman is presented to the ordinary private.
CLtCol El Carlo Rotairo, First Class, as others might have not known, has qualities a typical UP student exemplifies.
Born on 12 April 1980 to Wilfredo Rotairo and Juanito Mendoza, CLtCol Rotairo leads a life dictated by fate but directed
by will. When he was a student at the High School Department of the Mapua Institute of Technology, little did he know that
he would become a UP ROTC Corps Commander. Back then, he was not even an officer but only a member of the model company. But
it was also during that time that he was first able to savor military life because training starts at 0500H and ends at 1700H
with no provisions other than a packed lunch of boiled ampalaya and two cups of rice. When he entered UP, he did not know
that such kind of training would be indispensable. To become an office was not really on his mind then. It was just for fun
that he and a friend agreed to join the COCC. He went on to finish the course and now heads the whole Corps. His friend did
not.
As a fourth class cadet, he was designated as the Kampilan 2nd Platoon Leader but was redesignated as the 1st Platoon
Leader during the second semester. When he was a third class cadet, he was given the staff position of the Corps G5 (now Corps
G7). As a second class cadet, he was designated as the Corps G7, a position which is basically like that of the Corps G5,
being the liaison officer of the Corps and at the same time being the head of the Civil Military Operations (CMO). This year,
as a first class cadet, he was designated as the Corps Commander of the UP Manila ROTC for the school year 2000-2001
Asked on his views with regard to the present Corps, he replied that the present Corps is one group continually changing
to respond to the present needs. As regards the current MS 11, he believes that they are apt but quite strong-willed and hard-headed
so that the Cadet Officers have to continually change and try new tactics. He himself has a discerning eyes for cadet privates
for he himself would approach a cadet if that cadet is snappy and alert and would be the one to personally inquire with regard
to the private's personal information. He says he can relate to them and might even acquaint himself with them about
games, personal things and the likes during off-duty. However, there are also those who irritate him much like those who are
sluggish, assuming and absent-minded. To them, he says that all of us are just equal beings with responsibilities that each
one must perform to the maximum extent of his capabilities. Officers are not ogres as cadets think, they are just performing
their duties. Furthermore, officers and cadets alike should practice professionalism. Each one should perform according to
the ideals and the views they harbor. And this is what the Manila Collegian is just doing. to him, all of its views pertaining
to the ROTC is just business and should noit be taken personally. In fact, he was glad when he read the published article
of Castel, who was a private himself, about the second TD. He took it lightly and was glad that someone was honest enough
to share his views openly, which other students could relate to.
But then, officers are just doing their job. They themselves have sacrifices that most don't seem to realize which is
by far harder and more exacting. They have to learn to balance things: the cadet corps, academic life, and family life.
And this is what Vanguard Alfred Robinson Pascasio instilled in them. He was always present, ready to do things entrusted
to him. His contributions can be felt up to now in the presence of the third class officers which he led. CLtCol Rotairo says
that they plan to implement Vanguard Pascasio's planned activities as a gesture of appreciation.
However, there is a lighter side to CLtCol Rotairo’s personality. He is a contemplative person and as such, one
should not be surprised to see him alone at Robinson’s Food Court (if there were parks around UPM, he’d be frequenting
them). Another thing that most may not know is that CLtCol Rotairo is an Organizational Communication student. He is in fourth
year now and plans to take up law in Diliman upon graduation next year. Considering the schedule of an officer, one may be
amazed to know that officers excel in their academic life. CLtCol Rotairo says that it is all a problem of balancing time
and separating academic life with that of Corps responsibilities. Only few people may have known the fact that UPM ROTC officers
are consistent college scholars, and compared with other officers from UP units, our officers have the highest weighted average
in academics during evaluation, thus the biggest chunk in the financial assistance of the UP ROTC always goes to UPM ROTC.
It is a misconception to think that ROTC ruins academic life. In fact, there are people – despite taking only ROTC during
their first or second year in college – are still flunking their academics. No one can contend that such kind of delinquency
is justifiable.
CLtCol Rotairo, however, believes such a rule would be unnecessary if one would just be religious enough to keep his
duty. “Make your stay in the Cadet Corps fun-filled. ‘Wag alalahanin ang hirap na makukuha sa ROTC. Since
from those hardships, may mga magagandang bagay na matutuhan,” he pointed out.
|
