President Rodrigo Duterte earlier in August met soldiers wounded in action and invited them to have dinner with him in Malacañang. On National Hereos Day, he fulfilled this promise.
Straight from Camp Siongco in Maguindanao and V. Luna's Heroes Ward, 64 soldiers wounded in action enjoyed a dinner of chicken sotanghon, ensaladang talong, ginataang isda with mustasa, grilled seafood, mais con yelo, cassava cake, and durian tart at the Heroes Hall on Monday night.
But more than a good meal, they received words of wisdom from the President, a string of promises, and surprise gifts.
Duterte will take care of soldiers
As he pointed out that soldiers only fear dying because of the family they will leave behind, the President assured them that his government will not be remiss in its duty to care for the soldiers.
"My presidency will take care of you," the President said as the soldiers clapped.
Duterte once again made promises about giving soldiers' kids free education from kindergarten to college. He also reiterated his promise that their salaries will be doubled by year end.
But for now, the soldiers he broke bread with each received a Glock 30 pistol. Duterte joked that the model was chosen because it has the number "30," just like his shortened last name, Du30.
Injured soldier 2nd Lt. Jerome Jacuba and his friend, on the other hand, received a laptop each as they requested.
"Pati siguro kotse na," Duterte joked as he told his assistants to hand the two their new gadgets.
Meanwhile, Army Corporal Ralph Divino was gifted a new electric wheelchair.
"Isauli mo iyan sa doctor mo, pangit iyan," Duterte said as Divino was being transferred from his old wheelchair to his new one.
"Baka makuryentehan pa ang puwet niyan. Mas magdoble ang problema natin dito," he then blurted out as the corporal tried out his new wheels.
Duterte then hinted that he will ask National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to work out how those wounded in action will be promoted.
"You know, we know how to take our debt of gratitude. Kayong lahat actually heroes na kayo," he said.
"Pwede Delfin, diretso general na silang lahat? Huwag na nating patagalin ito," he addressed Lorenzana as the soldiers laughed.
"Well in the sight of the Filipino people, you are all generals... Malaki ang respeto ko sa inyong lahat kaya ako nagsa-salute. Hindi ginagawa ng ibang presidente iyan," the President remarked.
Not the end
To uplift the morale of the wounded especially those who could no longer go back to battle, Duterte told them that there is life amid the hopelessness they may seem to feel.
He turned to Jacuba, the soldier he earlier met at the V. Luna General Hospital who was blinded by an IED blast during clearing operations in Maguindanao.
Earlier, Jacuba in his message said that he only greets people "good night" because he can only "see" darkness.
But Duterte encouraged Jacuba by telling him the life of blind tenor Andrea Boccelli who studied and became a lawyer. The President suggested Jacuba can also do the same and maybe he can ask his alma mater, San Beda College, to take him in.
"Matuto ka nang magkanta parang kay Boccelli," Duterte then joked.
"I want you to travel another mile sa buhay mo. Mag-aral ka nang mabuti... Do not be too sentimental about it because there is life after being wounded. Kanya-kanyang swerte iyan. Only God can answer you. But dito kami, hindi ka namin pababayaan," he then assured Jacuba.
After the President's speech and the soldiers and other guests had a good meal, Jacuba suddenly went on stage and sang Gary Valenciano's "Warrior is a Child."
But even before the President gave his message, it seemed that Jacuba's esteem for Duterte had already been amplified during their earlier meeting in V. Luna General Hospital.
"Sabi ko nga, Sir, until the last drop of our blood, Sir, talagang makikipaglaban kami under ng iyong pamumuno, Sir. Kami ay mamatay sa aming paglilingkod sa bayan dahil talagang nakita namin ang aming Presidente ay sinsero. Isang malaking karangalan na makapagserbisyo sa ilalim ng iyong pamumuno," Jacuba told Duterte.
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