Constabulary reminiscencies

Title

Language

English

Source

Khaki and Red : Official Organ of the Philippine Constabulary Volume XV (No. 7) July 1933

Year

1933

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

July, 1933 KHAKI and RED PAGE 47 Constabulary Rem in iscencies By COL. FRANCISCO O~ATE Former Chief Su l'geon and Lie~d. Col., P. C. On the occasion of the anniversary of the Philippine Constabulary, I send my greetings to all former eomrades and to the young officers as well. It is very gratify· ing for all the members of the Constabulary in and out of the service, that this organization after thirty-two years has survived and rendered valuable service to the country. If I am not mistaken, Colonel Eustaquio Bactat, who enlisted . . th ld Col. FRAI'iCISCO OAATE, Retired as a pnvate, 1s e o • est officer and member, in point of service, of this grOO.t institution. One day while I was at the Headquarter~, P. C., I happened to see an official who is in some wav connected with the publication of the Khak~ and Red. Being one of the stockholders of the corporation, I inquired of the progress of the business. The official referred to above, in his P,nswer, made me understand that as a business, Khaki and Red was a losing proposition. He said that the majority of the officers, stockholders and non-stockholders, are indifferent to the Khaki and Red. He invited them to send articles for their publication in the monthly issues specially for the Anniversary Nuumber, and that, with the exception of two or three officers, all of them have not answered the call. Then, the official asked me why I did not write some articles for the magazine. I wa.s glad to accept the invitation. I have, however, a certain doubt, that this publication might again have the trag·ic end that it had during my incumbency ias president of the board of directors of the magazine. Without apparent good reasons the publication was immediately suspended by verbal order of the then Chief of Sthlf. Until now I am at a loss regarding that unexpected and peremptory ukase. Let us tlllrn back to some historical facts. The pronoun "I'' shall often {tnd nece:-,c:;arily be used in t' cs2 writings. Not knowing that some day I was to be the president of the bdard of directors of the Khaki an,d Red Co., I accepted with reluctance the position of vice-president, when this post became vacant due to the changes of stations of the ranking officers of the organization, at that time. 1 he president had to resign for he was assigned outside of Manila, the vice-president succeeded him and all members of the board present elected me to take the latter's place. I served as a director, vicepresident and president of the corporation for a period of of not less tHan four years. I am only writing from memory for I have not the official data right now. So, I am speaking, rather writing with certain authority of my experience with the Khaki and Red Co. It was a very thankle1>s and unprofitable task. There was no salary nor pecuniary compensation whatever for the position of president or vice-president. The work was full of responsisibilities of different kinds. 'I'he usual philosophy of: "Let the others cook the food, as soon as it is prepared and cooked, you 'and I and all of us will eat it" was the prevailing mental attitude, and it seems that it is still now. I may have been mistaken in attributing the cause of the indifference of the majority of officers to the welfare and success of the Khaki and Red Co., to that common mental attitude already mentioned in the preceding paragraph. So I soon suLstituted it for this. Other causes may be found in the following thought: "A magazine that can not publish any constructive criticism against the Chief, or other higher-ups in the Government without endangering the future of the ,sender or writer, does not deserve the support of the entire organization." ·Their support will mean a conscious, intentional and Willful conset of the injustice or unfairness committed. I submit to the readers of the Khaki and Reel what I believe are the apparent causes of that indifference complained of and they themselves can appreciate and judge as to whether the first one, or the second, is, or both of them are, true statements of facts. The actual publiJc:;hers are in a criticttl and embarrassing position, they are fighting against . great odds, they do not receive any moral nor matel'ial support from the high ranking officers. The junior office~s, are somewhat resentful. But all of th<'m, seniors and juniors, receive the benefits PAGE 48 KHAKI and RED July, 1933 that Khaki arul Red magazine has been, and is still, fighting for in their behalf. The situation is pathetic, exactly the same as that of the "National Unity" preached and not practiced by our leaders. Each and all of the members of our Legislature and other high officials in our government receive a copy of the Khaki and Red, it is inmhterial as to whether or not they pay ther subscription. 'l'he pertinent point is that they read regularly and systematically editorials and articJes of the magazine containing petitions for the improvement of the organization, informing them of the efficient and constant services performed by this and that constabulary unit scattered all over the Islands. All this publicity serve as a propaganda for the whole· 'institution. That they have favorably acted on them, no body can deny. The Kh(.tki and Red Magazifle has done and is still doing a great deal of good for the organization in general. If some one else is doing this work, ''why should I worry in wasting time, money and energy." 'I'his idea was already expressed above and is the one maintained by many. A long article tires the reader. Let us be satisfied at present with this short story. We will continue in following articles to unriddle seve1'a.• enigma or tell anecdotes or !Stories of the pa!'\t. Telephone 2-20-42 P. 0. Box 1495 ROXASyCia. SUGAR MANUFACTURERS G E N E R A L MERCHANTS Sub-Agents For Fire & Marine Insurance Companies 719 Echague Manila, P. I. r~~'$<:.0:..,."'$~~~~~;t;:<o:,.~~;t;::,..~.~..<.-~~-~';,~~-~:-;t;:;.~.~~--~~--~-~~~-;t;:o;.o;.~-~-~~~~'X!;··~~---····';.';,';.·"C:-·-·- ._._ ..... -•••• ~ ~IT'S ffiORE. FUll To Know Camels are made from finer, MORE EXPENSIVE tobaccos than any other pcmular brand. Try Ca. rr.~.3 and give yom· ta~te a chance to app1eciate those costlier tobao:::os. PLAZA LUNCH FRED M. HARDEN ProJJ. SOLE AGENTS IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS A MATCHLESS BLEND NO TRICKS IN CAMELS-JUST COSTLIER TOBACCOS

Media