Towcen: Love Expressed

There are different ways one expresses his affection for another. And most often when we talk about this feeling, we attribute it to romantic relationships, which is eros. Another familiar expression of love is that we share with people who think the way we do, love among brothers, or love among friends, otherwise known as philia.

Highest above all is the love of God or agape. Common these days is philautia or love of self. There are other forms of love that are described but one love that is hard to find these days is love for country.

Oh we have seen this in the sincerity of some of our statesmen, but I need not go to the highest office to see this love expressed.

In my recent encounter with the men and women of the Tactical Operations Wing Central (TOWCEN) during their celebration of their 8th Founding Anniversary, I was privileged to witness members of our Philippine Air Force  Visayas Region, awarded for their acts of valor. 

Awarded medals of merit were LTC Myroade R. de Leon, LTC Jose Tadeo M. Javier II, Maj Angelito G. Russel, MSg Alejandro D. Prado, and TSg Antonio T. Valencia Jr. for various acts of unselfish service for the country, whether it be for relief, rehab and disaster response, or participation in civic activities, ensuring the safety of citizens and tours of duty.

It was pleasant to hear how the military offered their lives to be able to reach far away places to provide wing support and respond to needs for Filipinos who were in the midst of war and other calamities.

Hailed Officer of the Year was Major Vivien L. Valerio  with TSg Marte A. Teruel as Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, and Sgt. Jake Joyner D. Taluban as Airman of the Year.  The group of the Year was given to Tactical Operations Group 6.

There were other special awards given as well to supporters of the command.  Special awardees were the Air Mobility Command, 220th Airlift Wing, 205th Tactical Helicopter Wind, 5th Air Reserve Center, 560th Air Base Group,722nd Special Operations Squadron.  Also awarded were non-military supporters like Felix Yusay Foundation Inc., San Miguel Corporation and ACDI Multi-purpose Cooperative.

In the sharing of Brig. Gen. Simeon Z. Felix Jr., the wing commander, he proudly narrated his team’s accomplishments.  Each slide depicted the dedication of our PAF servicemen who braved wars, storms, and other disasters to fight with the objective to protect and free the oppressed, rescue and relieve the depressed citizens who thought they no longer had hope.  By taking civilians out of the battlefield and patiently digging people out of the rubble in disaster sites our soldiers have sacrificed their own lives for the safety of others.

The different outreaches aside from the pursuit of their duty demonstrated the commitment of our Philippine Air Force to be true to their love for country.  In this celebration of 8 years in operation, TOWCEN’s theme declares “TOWCEN @ 8: Continuously performing, reforming and transforming for a stronger Air Force in the Visayas region.”  MajGen Pelagio R. Valenzuela of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who was the guest of honor stood equally proud of the air command.

As our soldiers, fight to keep our freedom at the expense of their own lives we continue to pray for them, and wish our Lord will shield them with His own wing of angels, agape.