My 2nd visit at Marine Base

I visited again the Marine Base last February 23 and I spent over night in the camp. I have to go back there because I need to finish my photo shoot which was started last February 21. After that experience all I can say is: Time is so fast when you're there.

Sobrang nakakabitin, nakakamiss and nakakainspire yung pagbisita ko dun. I get to know more about our marines' life during and after training. The discipline that is imposed to them, the presence of mind, bravery and most especially the love for our country. I don't even know how to start this story kasi when I look back, there are countless ideas and story of experiences I had that I want to share. The gentlemen I met and talk with, their treatment to us, the journey, the food and the place.

I want to express my utmost gratitude to the following gentlemen who became instruments for me to appreciate more our treasured men in Marines:

Capt. Rommel Boñgalbal
Lt. Mike Mortel
Sgt. Alex Arugay
Sgt. Asufardo
Sgt. Cilajes
Sgt. Dayag
and other gentlemen who wholeheartedly accepted us. I don't have list of your names but I deeply appreciate your time and conversations we had.

With Sgt. Alex Arugay and Lt. Mike Mortel

With Sgt. Asufardo



With Sgt. Cilajes

Well, after I had my oral defense for my thesis last Saturday, me and my boyfriend Ken rode on Saulog bus and went straight to Ternate, Cavite. We arrived there at 5pm and sinundo kami ng white shuttle sa terminal ng Saulog. Capt. Boñgalbal welcomed us with his athletic uniform. Actually me and my cousin have a crush on him. He's quiet but sweet! haha... I spent the whole day taking pictures of the soldier candidates, new trainees and the Marine Orientation Trainees.

Sinusundan ko lang sila, nagoobserve lang pero parang pati ako napapagod din sobra. Habang tumatakbo sila ako din nakikitakbo, punta sila sa dagat punta din ako, kain sila manonood din ako. Nakakapagod pero ang sarap sa pakiramdam, worth the time and effort talaga. Naalala ko yung pumunta kami sa dagat, kasi kukuha ako ng shots habang naliligo yung trainees sa dagat nagulat ako kasi yung paglusong nila sa dagat, 2 or 3 minutes lang umahon na. Sabi namin "Yun na yun sir?" ang bilis, ligong itik nga daw sila. Sabi ni Lt. Mortel lahat ng ginagawa nila dun may bilang.

Lagi naming kasama si Sgt. Arugay, kasi siya yung in charge na magbantay sa amin, ang bait niya and laging nakangiti. Nagkwentuhan nga kami nung gabi about sa buhay niya as a marine. Sobra pala yung napagdaanan niya lalo na yung nadeploy siya sa Mindanao. During their encounter with the enemies, he witnessed deaths of his comrades. The anger and grief he felt, he shared that he treats his comrades more than his own brother.

Nung gabi na, nakipagbonding naman kami kay Sgt. Cilajes and his class 361 during their time to shine their combat boots. Ang kengkoy niya kausap, nakakatuwa. I remember when we asked him what's his sir name sabi niya, "Ako lang ang nagiisang silahis sa Marines" ahahaha.. grabe ang tawa namin nun wondering why, totoo ba yun? tinanong namin siya, yung pala ang apilyido niya Cilajes pronounced as silahis hahaha... grabe ang tawa ko dun. Imagine sundalong malaking katawan, matangkad tapos seryoso habang nagttraining, kengkoy din pala.

Exactly 10:00 pm ang lights off nila, akala ko wala lang, yun pala literal na walang ilaw sa buong camp pati sa kwarto namin. Tanging ilaw lang ng buwan yung pumapasok sa kwarto namin, ang lamig pagdating ng hating gabi. Ang lights on naman ay 4:00 am, yun din ang oras ng gising nila. Exercise, jogging and drillings ang nadatnan kong ginagawa nila sa grounds. Kailangan ko din kasing gumising ng ganung oras para kumuha ng pictures and also to get the feel sa labas ng ganung oras.

Pagdating naman ng umaga sinubukan ko yung obstacles nila, grabe ang hirap! sumakit yung braso ko.. pero ayos lang at least nagawa ko. Di ko lang nagawa yung iba, nakakatakot kasi e. Naririnig ko din yung chants na kinakanta ng mga senior trainees habang nagmamarcha. Pag narinig mo yun, kikilabutan ka.. ang galing talaga.

May nakausap din kaming isang kano dun, balikatan kasi kaya nanun din sila, nagtatanong siya kung para saan yung ginagwa namin, kung bakit daw yun yung pinili kong topic and marami pang iba ... hayun, nose bleed.. naubusan ako ng english! haha...

Bago kami umalis, nanood muna kami ng basketball, naglaro kasi yung kasali sa balikatan e, pinoy vs. kano, ang galing haha.. todo cheer pa nga ako pag nakakashoot yung mga marines natin. Ang liliksi kasi nila, ang bilis kumilos napagiiwanan nga nila yung mga kano e, yung mga kano naman bumabawi sa block.. ang tatangkad kasi. Nakakatuwa talaga.

Ngayon nasa bahay na ko, gusto ko pa din bumalik dun, nakakamiss. Unforgettable experience that I'll treasure forever. Sabi ko nga kanila Sir, babalik po ako dun promise.

they just say : Hihintayin ka namin Mam!

A Visit to the Men of Valor

One of my dreams did come true today.

I just visited the Marine Ternate Base early this morning even we stayed their for just a while, it was a great experience! I can't even describe my feelings the minute I stepped inside the gate of the Marines saying something like "You are entering the military base camp, military rules are strictly implemented."

Grabe. Hanggang ngayon di pa din ako maka get over sa kilabot and with the burning patriotism inside me. Well, I'm doing a photostory for my photojournalism class and the Philippine Marines is my personal choice. So much hindrances ang napagdaanan ko just to get there and it really worth the effort and time.

I went to Marine Barracks at Fort Bonifacio Taguig yesterday to meet Lt. Col Jonas Lumawag the super bait and approachable Marine spokesman. I was referred to him by Sir. Frank Lopez of Southern California Chapter, I met him through one of the websites and we had communication through email. Anyway, I met Col Lumawag and MajGen Dolorfino, and I talked to them If I can go to Ternate Base to observe the training and take photos. I just handed them a letter, nakipagkwentuhan ng konti and they already permitted me to go there anytime and they'll just send a communication with men in Ternate. Sobrang dali nilang kausap, lalo tuloy napalapit ang loob ko sa kanila.

Yun na nga, umalis ako ng bahay with my cousin Ate Cai at past 6 in the morning and we went straight to SM Bacoor to meet Paula, my bestfriend. From their we waited for like 15 minutes for a Saulog Bus to Ternate. Kaso walang nagpakitang Bus na diretso dun sa what we did we rode on a mini bus papuntang Naic, ang akala ko saglit lang ang byahe yung pala ang tagal! plus ang nasakyan naming driver is former driver ata ng Karo ng patay. Ang bagal literal. siguro naka isang oras din kami. Pagbaba namin ng Naic, akala namin may sakayan na ng ternate dun wala pa rin pala, (so much wasted time sa paghihintay sa lintik na Saulog Bus na yan) Ginawa namin sumakay kami ng jeep papuntang Maragundon, we travel again for 30 mnutes. Pagdating dun ang sabi samin ng taga dun walang public vehicle na dumidiretso papuntang Marine base kundi trycle. Wow! tricycle.. paakyat ng bundok. pambihira. Much better kung naabutan daw namin yung truck ng marines na nagdadaan dun but unfortunately, hindi namin naabutan dahil sa Saulog bus na yan.

No choice. Nag tricycle kami papuntang marine base for P250, tinawaran pa namin dapat P300. Mabait naman si kuya hehe.. syempre tatlo kaming sakay so hirap umahon yung tricycle.. haha paakyat ng bundok, parang anytime bibigay na yung makina ng motor ni kuya. Pero nung nsa taas na kami, sulit! breathtaking view, over the puerto azul resort. I know its a sin to tell without showing the pic but sorry I wasn't able to take photos of the view nakakatakot kasi tska maalog sa tricycle! Well, nagkwentuhan naman kami nila kuya (nakalimutan ko kunin yung name engot!) Kitang kita mo talaga sa mukha niya na nahihirapan syang paakyat e, kung pwede lang magmura ng motor, minura na kami nun.

Sa awa ng Diyos, nakarating naman kami sa base ng ligtas at buo pa ang tricycle ni kuya. Pagdating dun natension si Paula ang Ate Cai kasi hinarang kami ng mga Marines sa gate, pati si kuya na walang kaalam alam na-hold din. Inexplain ko sa kanila yung pakay ko and that I am endorsed by Col. Lumawag. Pinaupo muna kami saglit then yung bantay na Marines may kinuha sa bulsa niyang papel. sabi niya "Ay, sino sa inyo si Janice Ianne Miguel?" Sabi ko ako yun, nakalimutan daw niya na nasabi na sa kanya na dadating ako, sus! si Manong... hehe.... Tapos may nag-radyo sa kanya narinig ko., "Sir, yung photojournalist na nasa gate, ok na yan paki hatid na lang dito." (photojournalist talaga?) E wala pala silang sasakyan kaya sinundo pa kami dun sa gate. Nakakahiya nga yung special treatment samin dun. Ang sumundo sa samin ay si Lt. Mike Mortel ang bait bait niya samin, todo kwento siya on the way sa base, inexplain din niya kung ano yung makikita namin dun. Fieldtrip??? hehe...

Pagdating namin dun pinakilala sa amin yung director nila si Capt. Rommel Boñgalbal (pronounced as bongalbal) Isa pa rin siyang mabait na nakausap namin, as in todo entertain siya, konting interview tungkol sa projects. And.... and.... ang pogi! haha... papa... hehe... ang bait nila sobra. Yun nga lang nakakailang sa loob kasi parang lahat ng makikita mo seryosong kalalakihan at bihira ang babae. Lahat nagmamadali, lahat sumisigaw, pero ok lang kampo yun e, ano pa bang expect ko? On going pala yung balikatan excercise ngayon so nakita ko din yung mga US Navy and US Marines na nakahiwala yung place nila sa mga Pilipino, dun sila sa tabing dagat. well..

Left is Capt. Rommel Boñgalbal, Right Lt. Mike Mortel with me and Paula




Ehem, Dugong Marines! Astig!

(to be continued.....) antok na and writer...