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Volume VIII Number 6, February-March 2001
Excalibur was King Arthur’s magical sword. The king, through the intercession of his druidic advisor,
Merlin, acquired it. Worried that Arthur would fall in battle, Merlin took the king to a magical lake where a mysterious hand
thrust itself up from the water, holding aloft a magnificent sword. It was the Lady of the Lake offering Arthur a magical
blade that was fashioned by an Avalonian elf smith. This unbreakable sword, along with a scabbard, would protect the valiant
king for as long as he has it in his possession
The UP Manila ROTC has its own version of Exclibur, the Manila Sword. Every year there is only one individual
who can hold the sword. He has the lone honor of taking care of the rapier where his name would be engraved alongside those
who took hold of it in the past. However, gaining possession of the Manila Sword – or continuing to hold it –
is not an easy task for one should first become the next corps commander of the UP Manila Corps of Cadets. In his hands would
lay the fate not only of the Manila Sword, but of the UP Manila Corps of Cadets as well.
The First Bold Step
For an officer to be a corps commander, the first and foremost prerequisite is for the applicant to be a
member of the incoming ruling class. It does not matter if that person is just a second or third classman, just as long as
he is a member of the required class. There was a time in when a fourth class man became the corps commander of the UP Baguio
ROTC. In UP Manila, an incoming second classman became the Corps Commander in AY 1996-1997. having complied with the first
requirement, that person must now submit a military correspondence addressed to the incumbent Corps Commander. It would be
his formal statement of intention to become the next Corps Commander.
Testing One’s Mettle
After submitting the necessary document, the person, along with other candidates, would undergo an on-the-job
training (OJT). The schedule of the said OJT would be at the discretion of the first classmen. During the training, each candidate
would be given a week to spearhead the various activities of the UPM ROTC. These activities or “babies” as what
some officers call it would serve as their pet projects. During the span of their OJT, these gentlemen are to submit a list
of the organization of the cadet officers of their own choice. Taking charge of the various facets of the ROTC is an important
step in one’s bid to take hold of the Manila Sword.
The OJT usually takes place during the latter part of the second semester when a lot of important ROTC activities
occur. However, the cadets are not informed that these gentlemen are having their OJT, much more about their application.
The performance of the candidates during that week would be assessed and evaluated by the first classmen, which includes the
incumbent Corps Commander, and a representative from the Department of Military Science and Tactics.
Having been given a particular training day to command, an applicant often becomes excited. Implementing
one’s plans for the Corps even for a week is enough reason for such a behavior. Because the assigning of a training
week to command is done randomly, an applicant’s task might differ greatly from the others. He might be assigned to
a week that has an important event. To shine or to be humiliated would depend upon his performance on such events. Nervousness
in these times is but normal, for one is completely aware that his actions are being observed. The feeling might turn to despair
for an applicant does not perform his duties well. Nonetheless, what matters most is the determination to prove one’s
worthiness for the position that he or she is vying for.
Only a Person with a Pure Soul Can Hold the Sword
After the OJT, the candidates would be asked to submit their plans for the Corps if they were to become
the corps commander. It is a formal letter that they would be addressing to the incumbent Corps Commander. Past letters often
contain statements such as “continuing the good projects started by the upper classmen” and “improving the
projects of the Corps.” Their vision and mission may be stated in different but it only voices a single intention, which
is the betterment of the UP Manila ROTC.
Testing the Purity of One's Soul
As what CLtCol El Carlo Rotairo, the incumbent Corps Commander, points out, all of the applicants have the
qualities that are needed for the position of the Corps Commander. However, there can be only one Corps Commander, and the
selection would boil down to the final stage, which is the interview. The two sets of interview would determine who among
the applicants best fits the highest position of the Corps.
The fist set of interview is between the incumbent Corps Commander and the candidate. They are to discuss
things included in the vision and mission of the nominee. The Corps Commander would interrogate him regarding the kind of
leadership that he plans to implement. A better insight on one’s leadership would be determined through this. As to
how long the interview would be is under the discretion of the Corps Commander. Some last as short as 15 minutes, while others
go for as long as one hour. It would depend upon the issues the Corps Commander wants to discuss with the nominee and how
long the latter expounds on it.
A DMST personnel and a representative from the administration of the University would join the Corps Commander
in interviewing the candidates on the second phase of the interview. The number of DMST personnel would depend on their availability.
Almost always the Commandant of Cadets (or the DMST chairperson) is present. Aside from leadership, the maturity of the aspirants
would also be assessed in this part. The family background of the candidate would also be considered because of its influence
on the personality of the candidate. It is in this set of interview where the candidates face a panel of judges and a voice
out of their o0pinions on the Corps.
The Chosen One is Made Known
The Turnover of Command Ceremony (TOC) is one of the most awaited parts on the annual activities of the ROTC not only because it marks the cadets’ completion
of the military science course, but also due to the announcement of the new Corps Commander.
Before the turnover ceremony, speculations arise as to whom would be the next Corps Commander. The ceremony
would put an end to these speculations. The result is made known to the applicants before the ceremony but there is no particular
period of the announcement. There was a time when the chosen candidate was informed that he was to become the next Corps Commander
the night before the ceremony. Anytime after the announcement, the outgoing and the incoming Corps Commander would have another
conversation. It is an informal lecture wherein they discuss matters regarding the responsibilities of being the Commander
of the Corps.
The results may sometimes be unexpected because the choice of the outgoing Corps Commander might be different
from that of the DMST personnel and the UP Administration’s representative. But in the end, though they may have different
opinions as to who shall become the next Corps Commander, they would have to choose one who best suits the position. The Corps
of Sponsors and the UP Vanguard organization also has a say or influence on the outcome of the process. And still, any
of the candidates can freely file a protest regarding the decision. On the other hand, who would question the integrity of
the members of the selection committee? Maybe that is the reason why no one raised a protest on the entire history of the
Corps Commander selection process. And as the incumbent Corps Commander would describe it, the process is only but fair.
Trekking the Path
During the selection process itself, no heated rivalries emerge between the candidates, only friendly competition.
They may not share what transpired during their respective interviews but it does not mean that they do not hope the best
for their fellow candidates. These gentlemen also discussed on the positions they want to take if they will not be selected
as the Corps Commander. This makes the incoming organization somehow predictable.
The atmosphere during the selection process does not foster rivalry because the candidates know that it
would not make them a lesser person if they were not the one chosen. Whatever the qualities imbued by the one who was chosen
are also within the other candidates. This is simply because they were trained equally and have passed through the common
path. Maybe it is the manner how they passed through the path that mattered, or how they put into practice the things that
were taught to them. The incumbent Corps Commander even believes that all of them have the capabilities to handle the Manila
Sword; it just happens that there can only be one, and he would lead the Corps towards a new frontier.
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