2LT Matteo Guidicelli, a proud reservist, shared his exhilarating experience of leaping from a military plane. This daring act transformed his fears into triumph during his demanding training with the Philippine Army Reserve Force. 

As Matteo soared through the sky, adrenaline surged through his veins, pushing him to confront and overcome his anxieties. Each free fall became a powerful lesson in courage, reshaping his perspective and strengthening his resolve.

In an interview for the documentary "Philippine Defenders," which airs on GMA-7 on May 17, Matteo discussed his intense fear of heights. He feels very anxious around tall skyscrapers and buildings because they are so big. This fear makes him avoid them whenever possible.

"For the civilian training, I have made five jumps already. Sa military airborne naman, six times. Everytime na bumubukas yung door ng aircraft, kinakabahan talaga ako d'yan. This adds blood to my veins, and it keeps me alive. (For the civilian training, I have done five jumps already. In the military airborne, six times. Every time the aircraft's door opens, I get nervous)," Matteo said.

Matteo felt proud as he talked about his skydiving training. This experience helped him face and overcome his fear of heights.

"So when you jump, masasabi mo talaga na God is with you. It's a fantastic feeling that you cannot take for granted. Afraid ako sa heights noon. Hindi mo ako madadala sa matataas na building. However, I faced my fears when I completed the airborne training. (So when you jump, you can say that God is with you. It's a fantastic feeling that you cannot take for granted. I was afraid of heights before. You couldn't take me to tall buildings.)

"Yung airborne training mahirap talaga siya. Yung ranger training ko masasabi mo na wasak ako roon. Lahat kami pantay-pantay. We suffered all together. (The airborne training was tough. We suffered all together)," Matteo said.

Matteo, the devoted husband of popular singer Sarah Geronimo, fondly reminisced about his decision to enlist in the Army Reserves back in 2019.

The actor-television host shared how the experience not only deepened his sense of duty and commitment to his country but also provided him with invaluable skills and discipline.

"I have a friend who is a retired general who took me to a place where I could go skydiving. After I finished the Highway Patrol Group seminar, some of my classmates there were members of the elite forces of the Philippine Army. So, they invited me to try civilian skydiving.

"So I was very intrigued. When I was younger, we all dreamed of becoming soldiers after watching 'Rambo.' I went to Bulacan and saw the soldiers training at the Rangers.

"Then I asked one of the generals there, 'How do I join?' When he said 4 to 5 days, I said it was okay. I jokingly said I wanted to enlist. He also said, 'Okay!' After two weeks, I returned and enlisted. So I went to Cavite. They were surprised, he said, for a moment. They said there was no artist like him working in the specialized unit," Matteo said.

Matteo mentioned that he even asked Boss Vic Del Rosario (of Viva Entertainment) for permission to join the Army Reserve Force.

"So I went to Boss Vic Del Rosario sabi ko mag sundalo ako. Sabi nya, 'Gumawa na lang tayo ng action movie.' But this is priceless. You cannot take it away from me.

"So I told them that I want to join the Philippine Army Rangers. Then I went home and told my fiancé and my parents.

"Then I joined, and my classmates are the Batch 2021 PMAers. An officer there said, 'Let's see Matteo after four days.' But I told myself I'm an athlete and I can run. For three days, I was crying from the pain. During the two weeks of training, I often felt like going home. They saw me crying because I was ripped apart," he said.

Matteo remembered asking some of his classmates during training why they never cried, despite the challenges they faced.

"I asked my classmates, especially the females, 'Why aren't you crying? Why is it just me?' They said, 'We've been there.' I truly respect all the PMAers and soldiers; they are not physically strong, but mentally strong. Extremely mentally strong. So I pushed for it and graduated No. 1 there," he said.

"When I joined the Army Reserves in 2019, it has been my dream to tell their story. Ang sinasabi ko lagi sa sarili ko at sa mga sundalo pati na rin sa pamilya ko, I will never be like one of them but I promised to tell their story. (What I always tell myself and the soldiers, as well as my family, is that I will never be like one of them, but I promised to tell their story)," Matteo said.

The "Philippine Defenders" premieres on GMA-7 on Saturday, May 17, at 3:15 p.m.