Traditions of the Corps of Sponsors

Military Training, the precursor of the present Citizen Military Training Program, was incepted in the University of the Philippines in 1912. With Captain Silvino Gallardo of the Philippine Constabulary as the first Commandant of Cadets, the UP Corps of Sponsors was organized at the old Padre Faura Campus.

In the same year, the Muses of the Corps were recruited and selected from female students of the University, and these young coeds served as the Muses of the Regiments, Battalions and Companies of the UP Corps of Cadets.

In the coming years, the UP established the College of Agriculture (UPCA) at the Los Banos campus, a UP unit in Cebu (Visayas) and a UP unit in Vigan (Ilocos Sur). Military training was likewise incepted in these UP units outside of manila, and side by side with the Philippine National Guard. Captain Juan Villasanta of the Philippine National Guard became the commandant of the Cadets, a post he held until 1920. The Muses of the Corps, by then became a social adjunct of the Corps of Cadets in the various areas.

Unlike today, the Muses had no distinctive uniforms, and neither did they hold ranks. For ceremonies, they were attired in Filipiniana or Maria Clara dresses just as their cadet counterparts wore military blouses and sam-browne belts, with helmets, boots or putees.

In 1916, the Philippine Legislation passes a law which redesignated Military Training as the Philippine ROTC Program (PROTC). By that time, it was only in the University of the Philippines that had the ROTC Program. The Philippine Department of the US Army supervised the program, although the Philippine National Guard was the action command.

In 1921, the Philippine Legislature passed a law which made the Philippine ROTC Program applicable to other established colleges and universities. By then, the ROTC became a direct concern of the Philippine Department, US Army. US Army Officers headed by Capt. Chester W Davies, US Army, a West Point Graduate were detailed to the University of the Philippines to take over the management of military training. The officers were given faculty rank, and the Department of Military Science and Tactics was established as a University Department.

Assistant Commandants were detailed in at Los Banos, Cebu and Vigan and ROTC was an integrated concern of the UP. Artillery units were organized in the Corps, and a full four-year program was incepted for Reserve Officer development, with graduates thereof qualified for commission in the US Army Reserve.

With the inception of the ROTC Program, the ladies organized as Muses of the Corps, were redesignated as the UP ROTC Corps of Sponsors. Nevertheless, the ladies did not wear uniforms, neither did they have ranks.

In 1934, Capt. Fidel V Segundo, US Army, a Filipino graduate of West Point became the Commandant of Cadets of the UP. He was the first Filipino Commandant. He directed that the Corps of Sponsors wear uniforms, and the sponsors wear the commensurate with the position and rank of the Cadet Commanders of units of which they were the sponsors. Thus, the Corps of Sponsors held the rank of Colonel, the Regimental Sponsors were Lt Colonels, the Bn Sponsors were Majors and the Company Sponsors were Captains. The quasi-military outlook of the Sponsors gave ideas to military planners for the role of women in the military organization.

With the establishment if the Philippine Commonwealth on 15 November 1935, the National Defense Act was passed by the National Assembly on21 December 1935. It directed the creation of the Philippine Army as based on a Citizen Army. These developments brought severe attention to the Trainees Program for 21-year olds, and the ROTC Program in colleges and universities, from which officers of the Philippines Army would be drawn.

New arms and services were introduced in ROTC-among these being the Medical Corps, Engineer Corps, Cavalry, Machine-gun units and mounted artillery. Many UP ROTC graduates were called to duty as officers of the Philippine Army, as a continuing build up of defense forces was feverishly conducted. Summer Camp Training was held at Fort Stotsenburg in Pampanga.

The UP Corps of Sponsors underwent auxiliary military training as part of the Women’s Auxiliary Service (WAS). They trained in First Aid, Medical Service, and even Rifle Training. Rifle teams of the UP Corps of Sponsors featured prominently in a number of national and international shooting competitions.

When the Greater East Asia War engulfed the Philippines on 8 December 1941, many cadets and ROTC graduates reported for mobilization and war duty. The UP ROTC Ffield Artillery Battalion was mustered into the service to form part of the 2D Regular Division (PA) Artillery. Their tactical officer, 3rd Lt Jose G Syjuco (now a retired Brigadier General) became their Commanding Officer, and he brought the unit to Bataan. Other cadets and graduates were absorbed by various PA units, and the younger ones were sent home.

The Corps of Sponsors had a good number of volunteers fro war duty. They served in the Civil Emergency Administration (CEA) for Civil Defense. During the short period from 8 December to 25 December 1941 (when Manila was declared an Open City), the girls served well in civil defense.

On 25 December 1941, the UP DMST was closed, and all personnel went to Bataan. The volunteer girls were sent home, as the advancing Japanese hordes were converging on Manila.

The Japanese occupied Manila on 2 January 1942, and with it came the long three years of occupation. Many of the sponsors are recorded in military history for having served in the Resistance Warfare against Japan.

Manila was liberated with the entrance of US Army Forces on 3 February 1945. The Battle of Manila lasted until 15 March 1945, with the UP Padre Faura campus literally destroyed. By June of 1945, the UP DMST was reestablished with Colonel Ancheta as Commandant. Likewise, the Corps of Sponsors was revived as a post-war Corps of Cadets emerged.

In 1949, the UP transferred to the Diliman Campus. In the meantime, the UP regional units ROTC Program were transferred in jurisdiction to the Military Areas. This ended the integrated concept of the UP ROTC Program. Corps of Sponsors were organized at Diliman, Los Banos, Iloilo and Cebu. The Vigan unit disappeared.

Great impetus was given for Sponsors’ development. In 1955-56, the UP DMST organized the 1st Battalion of the Women’s Auxiliary Service with Miss Mabilog of the College of Education (a former sponsor) as the Cadette Battalion Commander. A new dimension of women’s role in defense emerged which became the precursor of the rpesent WATC and WAC Program of the AFP. With women now engaged in military traiing, the ranks of sponsors were removed. They were thus recognized by title. The military-type uniforms remined.

War preparations found an impetus with the Korean War in 1950-1954. Likewise, the Anti-Dissident Campaign in Luzon and the Visayas and the Kamlon Campaign in Jolo brought many UP ROTC graduates to military service as officers. The UP Corps of Sponsors participated in many Military Welfare Services (MWS) in cooperation with the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

A UP Sponsor, who was a College of Nursing graduate perished in the Huk raid on the 2d Army Station Hospital, Camp Makabulos, Tarlac on 26 August 1950. She heroically died in line of duty.

The revolution of rising expectations and the impatience for progress caught up with the youth generation of the 1960’s and 1970’s. There was the Vietnam war which again drew UP ROTC graduates to military duty, and influenced the special warfare dimension in ROTC.

As then Captain Benjamin R Vallejo (Assistant Commandant) incepted Special Warfare Training in the Corps in 1968, seven UP Sponsors headed by Miss Barroga underwent Ranger, Unconventional and Home Defense Training. This was followed up by later sponsors, including Lorna Verano and Tina Escueta, who were responsible for the inception of a formal special warfare training for women volunteers in the UP which eventually was know as the “RAINBOW Rangerettes”.

In 1971, the sponsor alumni organized the Lady Vanguards, and the first president, Lorna Verano and her officers were inducted into office by former Senator Eva Estrada Kalaw, a pre-war Corps Sponsor.

The tradition of the UP Corps of Sponsors is a long one – (sixty seven years) since the Muses of the Corps of Cadets were organized in 1912. Meanwhile, the sponsors went into civic and social action, coming out with various cultural activities, fund-raising campaigns and other activities, the proceed of which were dedicated to the benefit of the young, aged, infirm and other unfortunates. The dimensions of Civic Service have thus been included in the growing traditions of the UP Corps of Sponsors.

It is great, vibrant and militant tradition. We are confident that as the years go on, and more challenges come, the brave women of the UP Corps of Sponsors will not be found wanting.