by Denise Fajardo
5 second year students from the College of Criminal Justice were sent to the 45-day Summer Cadre Training (SCT) 2019 of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in Clark Airbase, Pampanga.
The first batch of cadets and cadettes were Vhina Bautista, Angella Lapidario, Reginalyn Magundayao, Merylle Alvizo, and Jerome Manlangit.
Corps Commander Manlangit told Lumiere the Alpha batch were trained not just physically, but also emotionally and mentally.
The training was hosted by the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), PAF’s Major Support Commands created for the sole purpose of Reserve Force management, procurement, and organization.
The SCT is conducted to develop and showcase the military abilities, skills and attitude of the Reserve Officer Training Course (ROTC) students. The said training was composed of qualified cadet officers coming from the different colleges and universities from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Moreover, the training aims to equip aspiring officers with discipline and patriotism.
Manlangit also told Lumiere that the Alpha batch participated in the PAF competition wherein the best cadets and cadettes will be sent to Guam.
“Ang candidate natin [sic] sina Magundayao at Alvizo. Sila ‘yung nag stand out o ‘yung nag-excel sa competition na sinalihan nila,” Manlangit said.
He also noted that their batch experienced the PAF’s in-house training for free.
“Katulad po ng training ng isang sundalo… kung ano ‘yung mga pinagdadaanan po talaga [nila]. Kaya masasabi namin na, ‘yung araw na ‘yun [sic], hindi lang ‘yun basta araw sa ‘min kun’di parang buwan na siya, taon na siya kasi napaka-hirap ng mga pinagdaanan dun,” he said.
However, Manlangit said that despite their hardships, they learned valuable skills and good leadership which they can share with their fellow cadets and cadettes in FCPC.
The Corps Commander also told Lumiere that aside from the SCT, the Bachelor of Science in Criminology also managed to conduct several activities that helped enhance the skills and build camaraderie in their program.
He also stated that their department is also investing not only in physical trainings, but also in the academic area. “…kasi nga po diba board course po kami. So, hindi lang po dapat mag-focus sa duty namin sa FCPC. Hindi lang po kami dapat focus sa katawan namin. Nagfo-focus din kami
academically. Kung tutuusin nga po, ang nag top 1 po last 1st semester sa Dean’s Lister ay galing po sa BS Criminology. Patunay po na hindi lang [kami] puro physical,” Core Commander Jerome Manlangit said. The Criminology department won the Best Booth Award in the Outcome-Based Education Expo (OBEX) last year.
They also won the same award in the Anti-Bullying Campaign.
Additionally, the students also managed to run their department’s official organization —The Bachelor of Science in Criminology Society.