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...