ROTC classfie
When I entered the UP College of Fine Arts of the University of the Philippines Dilimán (UP) in Quezón City, I thought that my collegiate life would be about art making, partying and chasing skirts. Little would I know that my life would be flipped on its head when I was randomly drafted into the COCC (Cadet Officers Train Course) of the UP ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Course), and here I am with my COCC batchmates celebrating our graduation into full-fledged Cadet Officers.
From them of our lives were dictated by a barrack schedule, PTs (Physical Training), and weekend TDs (training days) of studying military tactics and marching; while balancing our regular academic loads. Later on we would be initiated into the UP Vanguard, the fraternity of the members of the UP ROTC; while would lead to a lifetime of mayhem, mirth and madness.
So yes, I am a fratman, but the typical Greek letter type.
This photo was taken in 1988, when my UP ROTC COCC batchmates celebrated our graduation in my home in Barangay Socorro of the Cubáo District of Quezón City.
Postscript Trivia:
For more information on the UP Vanguard, I wrote the blog articles:
“University of the Philippines, Quezon City: Duty, Honor, Country – The U.P. Vanguard” (https://lakansining.wordpress.com/2016/11/22/university-of-the-philippines-quezon-city-honor-duty-country-the-u-p-vanguard/)
“The U.P. Vanguard: Roll Call” (https://lakansining.wordpress.com/2016/11/30/the-u-p-vanguard-roll-call/)
And I wrote a memoire on the influence of the UP ROTIC in my life: “Random Memories: Walk like a Man” (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159475056151404&set=a.10159242840496404)