Thirty-seven regular and reserve senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who were recently promoted, finally donned their new ranks in a ceremony held at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Wednesday, March 10.

Vice Admiral Erick Kagaoan, AFP deputy chief of staff, presided over the donning of ranks ceremony for the promoted colonels and reserve colonels belonging to the Technical and Administrative Service (TAS).

"We honor the distinguished officers who have exemplified our fundamental virtues of patriotism, integrity and service, thereby creating a reputable name for themselves as dependable and competent leaders of our organization," Kagaoan said in his speech.

The promoted officers were composed of five officers from the AFP Medical Corps; five from the Veterinary Corps; three from the Medical Administrative Corps; nine from the Nurse Corps; five from the Judge Advocate General Service; two from the Corps of Professors; four from the Dental Service; and four from the Chaplain Service.

Among those promoted are Medical Corps personnel Col. Nealon Eugene Batalla and Reserve Cols. Jonna Dalaguit, William Uy, Alan Romero, and Santiago Rodriguez Jr., who are military doctors assigned in different medical facilities of the AFP. They are charged with the mission of conserving the fighting strength of the AFP through the promotion of military personnel and their dependents' health and well-being.

Meanwhile, Col. Paul Vincent Fajardo and Reserve Cols. William Averion, Peter Tom Alangui, Nelson Simpliciano, and Perpetuo Tan Jr. are from the Veterinary Corps, the unit that provides comprehensive veterinary service support to preserve the physical fitness of AFP-owned animals.

Col. Marvin De Jesus and Reserved Cols. Joseph Alain Ibuna, Jayson Aguila, from the Medical Administrative Corps, take care of all the administrative and allied health aspects of the AFP Medical Services.

From the Nurse Corps are Col. Darlene Flores and Reserve Cols. Lourdes Dacoscos, Barbara Lollini Conte, Erlyn Espera, Annaliza Yanto, Maria Teresa Rudio, Arlene Mandal, Jeanette Rivarez, and Assumption Dy. They are tasked to uphold the practice of professional nursing in support of the AFP's missions and objectives.

New Cols. Allan Tiu, Rolando Escalona Jr., Rosel Tan, and Reserve Cols. Primitivo Corpuz Jr. and Ma. Victoria Odulio are from the Judge Advocate General Service and mandated to render legal assistance required by the AFP, ensure the legitimacy of every military action, and supervise the efficient administration of the Military Justice System.

Further, promoted Cols. Jesus Francisco Torbela and Aristotle Maglasang are regular officers from the Corps of Professors. They belong to the core of professional military educators that provide academic and technical expertise required by the AFP.

The newly-promoted Reserve Officers from the Dental Service are Cols. Ruel Baldeo, Abner Viray, Rogelio Montero Jr., and Joel Arcilla. They are assigned to promote oral and dental health among soldiers, civilian human resources, and their immediate families.

From the Chaplain Service, promoted were Reserve Cols. Carlito Buslon, Daneck Dang-Awan, Rene Tambago, and Pablito Melchor, who are tasked to guide the AFP leadership on matters pertaining to religion, spirituality, ethics, and morality for the overall accomplishment of the AFP's mission.

Kagaoan said that the promotions of the senior officers signified not only the advancement of their military career but the bigger and more crucial responsibilities that they have to perform in support of the AFP’s mission to protect the people and the State.

"To our newly promoted Colonels, now that you have taken a notch higher in our organization, I would like to remind you that promotion is both a privilege and a duty - a privilege bestowed upon us by the organization and a duty we owe to our country and people. Let us be reminded that ours is a vocation of public service - we serve to protect our fellow Filipinos," Kagaoan said.