If Sen. Robin Padilla had his way, military training among Filipino men of legal age should be made compulsory like it is in South Korea. He said this would instill self-discipline and prepare everyone to defend the country in case of war.

The movie actor-turned-senator said institutionalizing compulsory military training was a cherished dream of his, and he hopes it will happen "within the last four years of (his) term."

"Sa ngayon po kasi nandun kami sa mandatory ROTC pa lang.Pero  kung ako ang tatanungin nyo, kung ano ang nasa puso ko, kelangan  talaga compulsory pagdating ng 18. Hindi lang naman po yan sa usapin ng pagiging military. Yung disiplina lang sana makuha ng ating mga kabataan," he pointed out.

Sen. Padilla was the guest of honor during the graduation rites of the Sandigang Alab Batch 10 reservists who completed their Basic Citizen Military Course (BCMC). The class underwent a rigorous 20-day training on self-defense. Most of the class members are employees of the Senate of the Philippines.

Welcoming Sen. Padilla at the Philippine Navy Headquarters in Manila were Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr., flag officer in command; MGen Joseph Ferrous Cuison, commander, Naval Reserve Command; and Capt. Junmar Sales, NCR commander.

One of the class graduates was actress Nadia Montenegro, who is employed in Sen. Padilla's office as a political affairs officer. She said that when her boss Robin told her about the Philippine Navy reservist course, she got curious and enrolled.

"Ang heart ni Senator Robin eh nakakahawa. Yung pagka-explain siya sa'min na sino nga naman ang unang magpo-protekta ng aming Senado kung hindi ang mga taga-Senado rin. So ginawa nila itong BCMC Reservist Course specially for us," she explained.

Nadia admitted that it was a very tough course, as she is now in her 50s, but added that she was very much motivated by the noble purpose of the training.

"We are hoping na magtuloy-tuloy na ito para sa mga normal civilians na gusto talagang mag-serve sa country o magkaroon ng purpose ang buhay. Balik-loob po tayo sa gobyerno, balik-loob po tayo sa Diyos, balik-loob po tayo sa sarili natin at balik-loob po tayo sa ating pamilya, sa lahat. Let's all give it all back.Give back the faith. Ibalik natin sa lahat ang pagtitiwala," she stressed.

Speaking in the vernacular, Sen. Padilla remarked in his speech before the graduate-reservists: "Naaaninag namin sa inyo kung ano ang transformation na naganap sa inyo. Kami na nakapaligid sa inyo, kitang-kita namin ang magandang naidulot sa inyo ng training na ito. Sa inyong pinagdaanan, napakasarap isipin na ang  suot niyo na uniporme ay kumakatawan sa lahat ng bagay na dati ninyong kinatatakutan subalit inyong nagawa. At iyan ang puwedeng mag-umpisa ng inyong pagtatanggol sa sarili, iyan ang basic citizen military training. Kitang-kita nyo na buong-buo kayo bilang isang Pilipino."

(We can see the transformation that has taken place within you. We who are around you, we can clearly see the good that this training has brought you. With everything that you have been through, it is very nice to think that the uniform you are wearing represents your courage to transcend something that you once feared and now has conquered. This is the start of being able to defend yourself, that's the basic citizen military training. You have come full circle as a Filipino.)

Sen. Padilla said he hopes that more Filipinos will become part of the reservist program. He encouraged those living in areas with low applicants - like Palawan and Western Mindanao - to come out and be a part of nation-building by training for the military.