The Philippine Army (PA) has paid tribute to all of its 64 former Army Commanding Generals in a ceremony held at the PA Officers Clubhouse in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City as part of their month-long 125th anniversary celebration.
Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., incumbent PA commanding general, led the celebration last Friday, March 18, which sought to commemorate the heroism and contributions of the past Army chiefs to the organization.
“As we near the commemoration of the 125th Philippine Army founding anniversary, we in the active service would like to pay tribute to our former commanding generals who are not only part of our organization’s storied past but are also the leaders who have helped shaped the Army’s glorious history,” Brawner said.
“We pay homage to 64 former exemplary Filipinos who have stood as vanguard of the Army’s core values of honor, patriotism, duty. Your guidance has helped make the organization one of the most trusted government institutions in the country today,” he added.
Fourteen of the 64 former Army chiefs personally attended the ceremony. They were retired generals Manuel Cacanando, 31st CGPA; Clemente Mariano, 37th CGPA; Raul Urgello, 38th CGPA; Voltaire Gazmin, 40th CGPA; Jaime De Los Santos, 42nd CGPA; Dionisio Santiago, 43rd CGPA; Generoso Senga, 46th CGPA;
Hermogenes Esperon Jr., 47th CGPA; Alexander Yano, 49th CGPA; Victor Ibrado, 50th CGPA; Arturo Ortiz, 53rd CGPA; Emmanuel Bautista, 54th CGPA; Hernando DCA Iriberri, 56th CGPA; and Glorioso Miranda, 58th CGPA.
All former CGPAs received a Kapitan Heneral Artemio Ricarte statuette and a coffee table book entitled “Warriors and Heroes: 125 Years of Championing Peace” which contains stories and photographs depicting the sacrifices of Army soldiers in serving people and securing the land from all forms of threats.
The Philippine Army will celebrate its 125th founding anniversary on March 22.
The PA was established on March 22, 1897 after the signing of the Tejeros Convention with Captain General Artemio Ricarte as its first Commanding General.
Since then, the PA has been crucial in defending the country from various internal and external threats, and in helping preserve peace in its allied countries.