The Filipino has always been a talented race who manages to excel at just about anything.

Master Sergeant Ruben N. Lucero and Master Sergeant Hercules L. Regis of the Philippine Army (PA) are two of these topnotch Pinoys.

Among this year’s 10 awardees of The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) of the Metrobank Foundation, these two exemplary enlisted personnel have brought pride and honor not only to the Army, but to other unsung heroes of their rank.

Teacher-soldier

Like the classroom teacher who is responsible for the development of his students, MSgt Lucero is in charge of training the newly-installed 2nd lieutenants (graduates of the Philippine Military Academy and other officer schools) and newly-recruited candidate leaders for non-commissioned officers. All new Army, Navy and Air Force soldiers have to go through the AFP Training and Doctrine Command before they perform their respective duties.

“This is the next step after they graduate. They have to undergo a basic course for officers while training is given to newly-recruited candidate leaders for enlisted personnel. Officers will be given the chance to choose any specialization from infantry, cowelry, field artillery, general service, and finance service,” explains MSgt. Lucero, the chief clerk, Office of the Chief of Staff for Education and Training.

MSgt. Lucero teaches infantry subjects, dealing with infantry war fighting and training, customs and traditions, discipline, and military history. Character is also taught, composed of the AFP core values of honor, valor, duty, loyalty, solidarity, and love of country. Also part of the curriculum is ethics and etiquette, military protocol, do’s and don’ts while in military service, and all the other fundamentals.

Challenges

MSgt. Lucero finds his job challenging especially during practical exercises when accidents are inevitable and safety of his students are at stake.

Another is when he teaches officers, captains, majors or young lieutenants who are higher in rank than Lucero, an enlisted personnel.

“Sa una mahihiya ka, iisipin mo kaya mo ba ito, magturo sa mas mataas sa iyo? But once they hear you and see you teach, they will recognize and appreciate you. The bonding is there. But the gap is also there. Ako enlisted, sila officer. But I know my limitations as an enlisted personnel. I have a lot of respect for officers. It’s an honor na makapagturo sa kanila,” reveals Lucero who was feted as one of the best instructors in the Training and Doctrine Command, PA.

Fulfilled dream

For MSgt. Lucero, teaching is a dream come true, a second ambition that he thought he has given up when he entered the military.

“Teaching is more fulfilling than being a soldier and fighting in the field. I’m not doing this to impress people. I’m here because I love teaching. I get to fulfill my other ambition. There is a satisfaction when you are able to train soldiers who later on will be awarded a medal of valor or nag top sa schooling niya. Masayang masaya ako na nagexcel siya. Ako ang mayabang pag nalalaman ko ‘yun, parang pag may anak ka, proud ka sa kanila,” says Lucero.

Poet-soldier

When not engrossed in his duties as a dental technician at the Dental Dispensary of the General Headquarters and Headquarters Support Command of the PA, Master Sergeant Hercules L. Regis is writing acrostic poems.

Unlike the usual poem, an acrostic is a form of writing in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out a word or a message.

MSgt. Regis’ love for writing poems began when he was young. Whenever he had a girlfriend, he would court her by making a poem out of her name.

His poem writing was later revived when he was already in the service and came across an article in the newspaper that encouraged people to pay tribute to elementary teachers who molded children to become good adults.

“Naisip kong gumawa ng tula. Hindi ko alam na may talento pala ako sa paggawa ng acrostic poems. Naiiba siya. Free verse kasi ito. May rhymes pero kakaiba. Gumawa ako patungkol sa elementary teacher, pagkatapos sa barbero naman. Sa sundalo, sa reporter, at hanggang sa marami na akong nagawa patungkol sa iba’t ibang uri ng hanapbuhay,” he says.

More than a reference book

His acrostic poems on different professions expanded to various other topics, including popular animals. He was motivated to write more acrostic poems about this topic because he saw that his son’s textbook lacked in good, creative descriptions of animals.

Later on, Msgt. Regis was able to come up with his own book of acrostic poems titled “Titik Teknik: Isang Katipunan ng mga Tulang Akrostik’. The book is a compilation of easy-to-digest poems about ordinary yet dedicated workers, notable places in the country, everyday objects and people, historical, and national symbols.

Today, the book is being used by the Civil Military Operations (CMO) as part of the Army Literacy Patrol System Program. Regis also donated copies of his book to several school libraries in Quezon City and in his hometown in Leyte as well as to the Pinapangarap Foundation which provides social welfare and charitable mission to indigent youth beneficiaries.

“Sa ngayon, reference book lang siya. Pero ang gusto ko sana magamit siya as supplementary book sa elementary at may kasamang question and answer activity pagkatapos ng bawat tula. Sa ganitong paraan, mas maeenganyo ang mga bata na magsulat ng tula,” says Regis.

In the future, Regis would also like to write a book about the inspiring and admirable lives of his fellow enlisted personnel to recognize their efforts and accomplishments.

For Msgts. Lucero and Regis, the TOPS award of the Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of Makati Metro is a significant recognition of their hardwork, sacrifices and achievements in the service. Many soldiers aspire for this award, but only a few are lucky to get it, Lucero ends.