Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City
27 June 2016

A few days before the end of his term, President Benigno S. Aquino III graced a Testimonial Parade and Review in his honor as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), held at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

“Talagang malayo na nga ang narating natin sa ating pagtahak sa Daang Matuwid,” said the President in his keynote address, as he mentioned the modernization of the AFP that was allocated a total of PhP 65.89 billion budget for the past six years.

Among his administration’s major accomplishments for the AFP modernization were the acquisition of new military air and water vehicles, like the four C-130s and the BRP Tarlac, which is the AFP’s biggest ship that can serve as a hospital and command center in times of great distress.

During the ceremony, President Aquino also gave recognition to outstanding military officials for their service to the presidency and to the nation. Among the awards given were the Presidential Unit Streamer with Ribbon, the Presidential Medal of Merit, and the Philippine Legion of Honor — of which, the recipients were Acting AFP Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda (Degree of Commander) and RAdm. Raul Ubando (Degree of Officer).

“Gaano man kahirap ang tungkulin, anumang kagamitan ang hawak ninyo, ni minsan, hindi ako nakarinig sa inyo ng palusot o pagdadahilan. Bagkus, lagi ninyo itong taas-noong hinaharap, at sinasagad ang inyong kakayahan para magampanan ang trabaho. Kaya naman, sa ngalan ng bawat kababayan nating naisalba, natulungan, o napanatag ninyo ang loob: Maraming, maraming salamat,” he ended.

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