THE Christmas days celebration had taken a toll on Short Cuts’ daily schedule since Monday last week.
The heaviest was yesterday – a Saturday.
He received five invitations all scheduled in the morning of the same day. Of course, he had to forego a speaking invitation from a barangay located some fifty kilometers away from the city.
Of the four remaining speaking engagements, two of them seem to touch Short Cuts’ inner self as part of his life some sixty years ago. To the extent that he felt the same had helped shaped Short Cuts’ future.
And the item?
That of Short Cuts’ ambition to graduate in the Advanced Course in the Reserved Officers’ Training Corps while taking his first degree course in Bachelor of Arts!
Because of Short Cuts’ strong desire to be a graduate in the Two-Year Advanced ROTC, he enrolled in the course without any go signal from her boss considering that he was a working student with MUCH duties to be accomplished. With a stern voice, she advised Short Cuts to drop the course.
But, Short Cuts was determined in his ambition.
He pleaded and promised to do some overtime work if ever required of his duties.
With that assurance, Short Cuts was able to graduate the Advanced ROTC course after two years. After which, he was taken in and served as a Tactical Officer of the same ROTC Unit for another two years.
For Short Cuts’ services as Tactical Officer for a couple of years, he was paid a measly amount of P100.00 a month.
And, this collected amount for two years, served as Short Cuts’ initial “pocket” for his Review in the Bar Examinations after graduating his Law Course in 1965.
This foregoing episode, however, is not the overall and total benefits and advantages that Short Cuts enjoyed in graduating his Two-Year Advanced ROTC Course.
So, what was it?
Short Cuts’ election to the highest local elective position in his town in the 1971 elections, showed him the advantages over and above town executives who have no military experience to speak of.
It must be remembered that after the 1971 elections, all locally elected officials had to serve a military-ruled Martial Law country that was declared in September of 1972. So, without the knowledge of the basics of military discipline, how can a town executive impose discipline to his constituents?
Consequently, therefore, Short Cuts had to lead his Municipal Police Force in its drive in maintaining a disciplined and orderly citizenry of the whole town.
It must be revealed further that UNLIKE these days, the Pre-Martial Law police force in the whole country – and this includes LGU Valencia – was then composed of aged men in uniform, mostly, more than fifty years old.
And, non-college degree holders PA RABA!
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At 83, Joma Sison, the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, was reported to have died.
Could this be the end of communism in our country?
