CEBU - Dressed in twinkling Santa hats, the personnel and trainees of the 3rd Army Training Group, Training and Doctrine Command, Philippine Army based in Camp Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City caroled, fed and shared with more than a thousand schoolchildren of Cebu City’s three remotest barangays last Thursday.
Led by the 3rd ATG commander Lt. Col. Roberto Capulong, soldiers in full battle dress uniform but armed with guitars instead of guns, pots and pans filled with arroz caldo instead of bandoliers filled with ammunition, spent a few hours with the schoolchildren of the Mabini, Agsungot and Binaliw Integrated Schools.
This is the latest Civil Military Operations project of 3rd ATG known as “Hatag Paskong Kalipay” —a Christmas Caravan program simultaneously performed in three Integrated Schools: Mabini Integrated School, barangay Mabini; Agsungot Integrated School, barangay Agsungot; and Binaliw Integrated School in barangay Binaliw.
The aim of the project is to develop CMO awareness among the soldiers and its significance in mission accomplishment, strengthen the good relationship of the military particularly the 3rd ATG to the civilians in the area, and spread the spirit of thanksgiving and peace especially this holiday season.
The program started at 9 a.m. and ended at noon, was a clear reflection of oneness in desire to share the holiday spirit and a manifestation of the existing teamwork and good relationship between the military and civilian in the area.
Food and candies may have filled the schoolchildren temporarily, but the 3rd ATG said what matters is they learned about protection, respect and reverence from the “Soldier Santas” of the AFP. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot with from a press release from Lt. Col. Robert Capulong/BRP (THE FREEMAN)