Sarangani's Peacemakers Visited the Peacekeepers

Peace advocates and community educators of Kalinaw Unit dropped by the Home of the Neutralizers at Sitio Tampuan, Brgy Kamanga, Maasim Sarangani on their way back to the Provincial Capitol on June 20, 2010. The team, led by its Program Manager Mrs. Jocelyn Lambac-Kanda, earlier in the day joined 73IB troopers in hosting the Fathers' Day Program in Brgy Seven Hills, Maasim, Sarangani. Regarded as the mentors of 73IB, having trained the Neutralizers on "Culture of Peace" advocacy, the Kalinaw Unit "peacemakers" were toured by 73IB "peacekeepers" around the army camp. Aside from photo ops with armored tanks and artillery guns, the guests were briefly oriented on gun handling and safety and given the chance to "test fire" a M4 Carbine rifle.

73IB Hosts Fathers' Day Boodlefight in Sarangani Province

 Brgy Seven Hills, Maasim

As part of our program of assisting LGU in the delivery of social services, the 73rd Infantry Battalion, in partnership with Kalinaw Unit of Sarangani Province and the Municipal LGUs, simultaneously held feeding program in five remote barangays in Sarangani, namely: Brgy Seven Hills, Maasim; Brgy Datu Dani, Kiamba; Brgy Tuanadatu, Maitum; Brgy Paraiso, Alabel; and Brgy Kalpidong, Glan. The simultaneous event held lunch time last June 20 is 73rd IB's way of celebrating Fathers' Day.

Brgy Datu Dani, Kiamba 

Around 200 persons per barangay or an estimated total of 1000 kids and adults from the five barangays benefited from the feeding which was in the form of military's "boodlefight". "Aside from nutritional gains, the outreach was aimed at restoring unity amongst the people in the communities who were polarized by the recently concluded local elections", said 73IB Commander LtCol Edgardo Yao De Leon.

 Children and adults alike joined the fun games hosted by peace workers of Kalinaw Unit from the Office of the Provincial Governor.

Brigada Eskwela: 73IB Builds 2 Makeshift Classrooms

Skilled personnel of 73rd Infantry Battalion designed and spearheaded the construction of two (2) makeshift classrooms for incoming 2nd year high school students of Mangelen Integrated School at Sitio Mangelen, Brgy Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani Province. Assisting the troopers are the members of Kamanga Brgy Defense Force (BDF), parents, teachers, and students.

Personnel of the battalion contributed for the purchase of 700 pcs lebe roofing material. While the parents contributed 3 pcs of hollow blocks each and gemelina round logs  from their backyards that were hauled using military trucks of the battalion. The classrooms were being rushed to beat the June 15 opening of classes.

Independence Day Motorcade in Maasim, Sarangani Province

In commemoration of the 112th Philippine Independence Day, a motorcade was held in Maasim, Sarangani Province on June 12, 2010 that was participated in by volunteers, mostly tricycle drivers, BDF members, Maasim PNP and troopers of 73rd Infantry Battalion led by the Battalion Commander, LTC Edgardo Yao De Leon. 

A PNP patrol car from Maasim PNP, two Army troop carrier trucks from 73rd IB, and two SIMBA Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles from the 2nd Light Armor Battalion joined a number of tricycles during the motorcade along the streets of Poblacion, Maasim towards barangays Kabatiol and Kablacan on the west and Barangay Malbang on the east. This year's theme is "Kalayaan: Tagumpay ng Bayan". The motorcade raised the level of awareness of the people on the importance of June 12. It reminded them on the sacrifices and heroism of our forefathers in their quest for our freedom and national identity.

73IB Joins Independence Day Flag Ceremony at Sarangani Provincial Capitol

On June 11, 2010, 73rd Infantry Neutralizer Battalion troopers led by the Battalion Commander joined officials and employees of Sarangani Province during the Flag Ceremony commemorating the 112th Philippine Independence Anniversary. In his message. LTC De Leon assured the people of Sarangani that the Philippine Army shall continue to be of service for peace and development, living up with the aspirations of its forefather - the Ejercito en la Republica de las Islas Filipinas, which was founded by the Katipuneros. (Photos by Cocoy Sexcion: http://www.sarangani.gov.ph/2872-112th_Independence_day.html)

Message of LTC Edgardo Yao De Leon

during the

Independence Day Flag Ceremony at Sarangani Province

Provincial Capitol, Alabel, Sarangani Province

11 June 2010

Honorable Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez, represented by the Provincial Administrator Camacho; DILG Provincial Director Jun Limpin; mga kasama sa lingkod bayan, Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.

            “Kalayaan: Tagumpay ng Bayan”. Ito ang tema ng ika-isandaan at labindalawang taong pagdiriwang ng Araw ng Kalayaan. Kahit mahigit labing isang dekada na po ang lumipas, nasa kaalaman pa rin ng bawat Pilipino ngayon, bata man o matanda, ang kahalagahan tuwing sumasapit ang June 12. Ito ay dahil sa taon-taon nating paggunita sa Araw ng Kalayaan. Marahil may iba sa atin ang nagtatanong, bakit ba kailangan pa natin tumayo dito, mabilad sa araw, o maulanan, hindi naman araw ng lunes na syang schedule ng Flag Ceremony? Naitanong din kaya natin, na kung hindi natin binibigyang halaga ang araw na ito, sa paglipas ng ilang henerasyon, mananatili kaya sa isipan ng bawat Pilipino ang sakripisyo at kabayanihan ng mga ninuno natin para makamit ang kalayaan? 

            Ngunit ang tunay na katanungan sa araw na ito, ay kung ano ba talaga ang ating kaalaman tungkol sa ating Kalayaan? Ngayon ang tamang pagkakataon para ating gunitain ang mga mahahalagang kaganapan tungo sa paglaya ng ating bayan sa kamay ng mga dayuhan.

            Taong 1896 ng mag umpisa ang rebolusyon ng mga Pilipino laban sa halos apat na daang taong pananakop ng bansang Espanya. Dahil sa mga rebolusyonaryong panunulat ng ating pambansang bayani na si Dr Jose Rizal, binuo ni Andres Bonifacio ang Katipunan upang lumaban sa mga Kastila.

Naging matagumpay ang pag aalsa ng bayan laban sa mga Kastila. Nagkaroon ng armas ang mga Katipunero na syang naging simula ng hukbo ng Pilipino. Kaya noong Marso 22, 1897, itinatag ang rebolusyonaryong pamahalaan ng Pilipinas, kasabay ang pagtatatag ng Philippine Army na nakilala bilang “Ejercito en la Republica de las Islas Filipinas” (Army of the Republic of Philippine Islands).

Sa pangunguna ng walong probinsya sa Luzon, nagtuloy-tuloy at nagging matagumbay ang laban ng mga Pilipino laban sa mga Kastila sa Luzon, Visayas, at dito sa Mindanao. Kaya nung June 12, 1898, idineklara ni General Emilio Aguinaldo sa Kawit, Cavite ang ating Kalayaan sa kamay ng mga Kastila.

Doon unang itinaas ang ating bandila na ginawa sa Hong Kong ng tatlong Pilipina (Marcela Agoncillo; Lorenza Agoncillo; Delfina Herboza) at inawit ang “Lupang Hinirang” na isinulat ni Julian Felipe. Ating tanawin an gating bandila. Laman nito ang makulay na kasaysayan ng ating Kalayaan. Ang puting trayangulo ang simbulo ng Katipunan na syang nagging Philippine Army na lumaban sa mga Kastila. Ang tatlong bituin o star ay simbolo ng Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao na sama samang nag aklas, at ang walong sinag ng araw ay patungkol sa walong probinsyang nanguna sa pakikipaglaban.

Ang ating bandila ay tunay na simbolo ng Tagumpay ng Bayan. Kaya marapat lamang na sa ating paggunita ngayong taon an gating Tema, Kalayaan: Tagumpay ng Bayan. Ipagpatuloy natin ang adhikain ng ating mga pinuno sa kanilang pakikipaglaban para makamit ang kalayaan at tagumpay ng ating bayan. Tayo ay magtulong tulong tungo sa pagkakaisa at pag unlad. Ipagpapatuloy ng Philippine Army ang pagiging hukbo ng sampayanang Pilipino na nakikipaglaban para sa katahimikan at kaunlaran.

Upang tayo ay magtagumpay, kailangan natin ng pagkakaisa. Pagkakaisa na naging susi n gating mga ninuno para makamit ang ating paglaya. Pagkakaisa rin ang magiging daan sa katahimikan at kaunlaran ng ating bayan.

Mabuhay ang Kalayaan! Mabuhay tayong mga Pilipino!

 

73IB Supports the GRP-MILF Peacetalks

28 Wheelchairs for Differently-Abled Persons in Maitum

28 wheelchairs suddenly changed the lives of 28 persons and brought joy to 28 families in Maitum, Sarangani Province during this year's celebration of Binuyugan Festival. Through the initiatives of the local government of Maitum. Operations Blessings Foundation of the Philippines donated 27 wheelchairs. The 73rd Infantry Battalion, on the other hand, donated one wheelchair which was sourced from the United States Army.