“YOU cannot serve two masters”.
These were the deafening words that Short Cuts heard from his boss when he was still a junior student striving for his first college degree.
He was then a working student in an office of the educational institution where he studied.
So that, when his boss knew that Short Cuts was already enrolled in that particular semester in the Advance Course in the Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Course, she bluntly called Short Cuts’ attention that it was not only inappropriate for him to be enrolled in the course being a working student.
It was most improper because, accordingly, as a working student, Short Cuts’ time must all be devoted for office works in the school.
But Short Cuts strong desire for military training did not deter his long-dreamed ambition to be a graduate in the Advance Course in ROTC.
Instead of dropping the course, he pleaded for a go-signal from his boss and requested that he will render extra hours in the evening or even on Saturdays or Sundays if there are unaccomplished tasks to be done in the office.
That was the concession offered by Short Cuts to his boss.
With a grumbling heart and unspoken answer, Short Cuts’ boss yielded to the request.
And true enough, Short Cuts made true to his promise in such a compromise as offered.
Why?
Because there were Saturday and Sunday evenings that Short Cuts had to render extra hours just for the sake of the compromise.
But, the most vital issue here is the fact that two years later Short Cuts graduated the Advance ROTC course.
\As a consequence, all the virtues that Short Cuts learned while journeying into the course were truly applied in actual life, most especially in his political life.
Take the case of discipline.
It is Short Cuts’ honest belief that no course offering in the field of education other than the Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Course that could surpass in the degree of inculcating DISCIPLINE into the minds of the students.
The execution of a hand salute itself is indicative of discipline to the highest degree. For in the military, no one can leave a man in uniform without giving him a hand salute.
And, to acknowledge such a type of discipline by way of a salute, it is also being responded with another salute from the other party.
With a disciplined person, RESPECT easily comes in.
This piece is usually seen among men in uniform. For even if the person is not in uniform for as long as he is known to be from the military, respect is usually accorded. This degree of respect is unwavering and steadfast.
They know by themselves also that respect cannot be enforced. It must be earned. As a consequence, they respect one another.
Men in uniform are generally RESPECTFUL.
Back to the issue when Short Cuts was persistent in his ROTC dream over and above the objection of his boss….
Short Cuts never entertained regrets in insisting in his desires for the Advance ROTC course.
His training and experience in the Advance ROTC course was made as his launching pad in the execution of his duties and the corresponding responsibilities as the town executive of the town.
More particularly when Martial Law was declared in September of 1972.
When curfew regulations were imposed, Short Cuts led his Municipal Police Force in the execution of the Order from Malacanang. He was always with the Police Force in its nightly operations in the implementation of the curfew hours. With some members of the police force of the town, he wields his power in going with them in going after intelligence reports.
Short Cuts could have not participated in those activities had it not of his military training as an Advance ROTC cadet.
And, what could be the reasons why Short Cuts was reminded of his ROTC days?
This is so because last Friday, March 5, Short Cuts was invited to speak before over a one hundred graduates in the Closing Ceremony of Advance ROTC Academic Phase Training at Camp Bernido, Dao District, this city.
In that affair, he was introduced by Major Arvin L. Dugho, the Director of the Community Defense Center.
