We beg to differ.
Standards of honor in Filipino civilian society are quite simply, bulok. The only opinion I have had – and will ever have – of Mr. Aldrin Cudia’s case with the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is this: the only thing known for sure is that the Honor Committee found him guilty of violating the Honor Code….
Read More “You can’t apply dishonorable Filipino civilian standards to military institutions” »
I don’t pretend to know much about the nitty-gritty of military life. In fact, the closest I ever came to experiencing it involved being an officer in the Citizen’s Army Training (CAT) program in high school, and being a normal cadet in the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program in college. If anyone cares to…
Read More “Why cadet Cudia’s case has played out on social media like an EDSA revolution” »
The definition of “honor” that Filipinos are more familiar with – and therefore live out more – is, in the vernacular, dangal. Dignity. They will use whatever means necessary, even illegal, to protect their dignity from hiya (shame, losing face). The other, just as important way to define honor – katapatan, propriety – is hardly…
Read More “Upholding honor: Filipino civilian and military societies need to work hand in hand” »
The case of dismissed Philippine Military Academy student Aldrin Cudia has lingered long enough among the chattering classes. When news of it first broke out, it seemed that Cudia was dismissed for being a few minutes late for a succeeding class. Eventually, it became known to the public that Cudia was found guilty of something…
Read More “What the case of PMA student Cudia says about Filipino society at large” »
Dad always said that PMA or the Philippine Military Academy really stands for Philippine Magnanakaw Academy. The academy has bred and continues to breed the military kleptocracy that pervades the Armed Forces of the Philippines (the “AFP”) in the guise of a perverted camaraderie known as “mista” — best exemplified by the blanket denial of…