From the pen of the Apostle James flowed these timeless words.

"Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above:" (James 1:17)

I stand before you today, deeply humbled by the mission and mandate reposed on my shoulders, yet filled with gratitude to the Almighty God for the many "good and perfect" gifts that he has given to this soldier from Mindanao to our Armed Forces, and to our Nation.

The Almighty has gifted the Filipino soldier with a clear sense of mission, with a heart imbued with courage and patriotism, and with a soul that trusts in His Creator for the strength and grace to fulfill his duties to Country and People.

In the mountains and marshlands of Mindanao; in the jungles and plains of Luzon; in the hilly and muddy terrain of the Visayas. I witnessed with my own eyes this spirit of courage and patriotism at work. In the many years spanning my service – from platform leader to commanding general of the Philippine Army – this spirit of courage and patriotism that characterizes the Filipino soldier has never failed nor faltered. Never drifted nor doubted. Never wavered nor warned.

That spirit is a hallmark of his heart a quality of his soul. And the country has every reason to be proud of the Filipino soldier, of that man in uniform who man the ramparts of our democracy.

"Therefore, as the 38th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, allow me to have it placed on record and in history, that my first official act has been this:

And as I do so, I say:

To us, you have always been a guide, an inspiration, a leader, a mentor. And many times you pointed out to us the need to see and fulfill our mission with a strong sense of urgency.

Sir, we heard you call. And as I receive the leadership torch that you pass on to me today, I give you this commitment, the guidance, the inspiration, the leadership and the mentorship you generously shared with us shall not be wasted. Not only shall the AFP respond with a sense of urgency towards its duty of protecting our democracy. We shall do so with a renewed sense of passion and dedication.

Sir, you pursued the AFP’s goal of ending the insurgency that has plagued our country for decades by the year 2010. We are daunted by the challenge of duplicating your feat. But we shall respond with courage and ensure that the timetable for dismantling communist guerilla fronts is preserved and followed. We shall build on the gains that the AFP marked under your leadership.

And this we say in your presence today; General Esperon, sir; your labor shall not be in vain. The enemies of democracy shall be decimated. As scheduled. As planned.

Sir, the Filipino soldier recognizes and is very grateful for the many reforms you are tirelessly pursuing in our country’s defense organization. Sir, we see in those efforts your own passion for the welfare and well-being of our troops and their families; and for the vision for a modern AFP where every soldier is well-equipped, well-trained and well-supported to pursue his mission.

Sir, the Filipino soldier can only reciprocate in the way he knows best: By focusing on his true core mandate and mission.

Therefore, sir, our soldiers renew our commitment.

First, to continue our abhorrence and renunciation of military adventurism of any sort.

Second, to continue shielding the AFP organization from any and all overtures of, and involvement in partisan politics.

Third, to pursue with even more vigor our nation’s determined campaign against terrorism and insurgency, and

Fourth, to uphold the Rule of Law and respect for human rights even in the face of the fiercest of battles in our determined bid to defeat the enemies of peace and democracy.

And fifth, to further the meaningful partnership between the Defense Department and the AFP, which will help push forward our quest for the Philippine Defense Reform.

The accomplishment of the AFP’s mission will be grounded on collective visioning. This will be given flesh through a collection vision as we think in terms of teamwork. With team spirit, we shall dismantle the barriers that divide our force. By doing so, we unify and strengthen our revered military institution.

This is the direction toward which I intend to steer the Armed Forces, in response to your call for genuine unity in the force. Through the emergence of Team-AFP, we will fully achieve diversity and equity among members of this institution.

Through this, we will also strengthen the meaningful partnership between the Defense Department and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This will help the quest for Philippine Defense Reform. Our two institutions can therefore look together into inputs for a stronger, more rational and strategy-based national defense policy.

A stronger Team-AFP will also spark more effective inter-agency partnerships with local and national governments in achieving genuine peace and development.

Secretary Teodoro, sir: We are in solidarity with your reform initiatives and programs for the AFP. Our soldiers have counted on your support and have not been disappointed. You can definitely count on theirs.

Madame President, the AFP command changes hands at a crucial time in our country’s history. Today, the country under your leadership wages one of its fiercest battles against the age-old enemy called "poverty."

Madame President, our soldiers stand brave and determined side by side with you, our commander-in-chief, in this battle. And we pledge our full support, confident that your leadership is in an excellent position to win this war.

The AFP is aware that winning the war against poverty is rightfully the domain of the government’s economic arms. But the AFP is also aware that we can help create, enhance and preserve the atmosphere and environment needed to make it easier for the forces of economic development to penetrate the areas in our country where progress is most needed.

Madame President, your leadership has laid down a clear blueprint for countryside growth. The AFP is not the agent of such growth. But we shall clear the way and pave the road. The road is littered with obstacles, some of them bearing the names terrorism and insurgency. Our soldiers commit to rid the road of such obstacles so that the proper agencies of development can do their job. And our soldiers will do it soonest.

In the meantime, our soldiers shall continue to fulfill their role as precursors of development in the areas yet to be reached by other government agencies. Over the years, they have doubled up as engineers, teachers, doctors, even social workers in the far-flung areas.

They have done their job with fiery missionary zeal, Madame President. Our soldiers are aware that every road built, every school building erected, every baby immunized, every child taught to read and write – that all these is a victory and a step closer to your vision for countryside development.

And in your presence, Madame President, I raise a call to my fellow soldiers in the Armed Forces.

And this is the call:

Let us together reaffirm our commitment to a focused, simple and frugal lifestyle.

Let us, in spirit, return to our roots as soldiers raised and toughened up in the battlefield – where we survived with the barest minimum; where our luxuries consisted only of our camaraderie, our dreams and the shared love for the country we serve.

To our roots as soldiers raised and toughened up in the battlefield – where the loftiest of our ambitions were not to grab political power, but to see to it that our land and people remained free and where democracy guides our nation’s way of life.

To our roots as soldiers raised and toughened up in the battlefield – where the reward we sought were not wealth nor recognition, but only the warm smile and embrace of our loved ones, and perhaps the occasional "thank you" of our fellow Filipinos.

Madame President, in selecting a successor to one of our country’s finest AFP chiefs of staff, you opted for this soldier from Sindangan town in Zamboanga del Norte. Mine is not to ask for the reason behind the decision. Your Excellency, I can only respond with a heartfelt thank you for entrusting the AFP mission to a Mindanaoan.

I am aware of the immensity of the leadership task reposed on your shoulders as the leader of our nation. The AFP is honored to stand beside you as you lead this nation along its rightful course.

Madame President, before you is a strong TEAM AFP: Defender of our nation, protector of our democracy and servant of our people. Hand in hand with our inter-agency partners, the local government units and the different NGOs, genuine peace and development will be attained.

Before you is a strong TEAM AFP: Where every soldier is a patriot – a patriot in the Adlai Stevenson definition of patriotism, which is "not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."

Before you is a strong TEAM AFP: WHERE EVERY SOLDIER COUNTS, where professionalism and meritocracy shall prevail, and where cohesion and team spirit is ingrained in each and every soldier.

And before you, Madame President is its 38th Chief of Staff: Humbled by your trust and by the mandate of our countrymen; and proud only of our Flag, of the tradition of Armed Forces, and of the courage and faith of my fellow Filipino soldiers.

Let us be clear about the AFP’s role in the nation’s life. We are here to serve, so please, allow us to serve and help build the nation. We want to be focused in our mandate, so please, provide us the opportunity to be focused. Our soldiers are not savage hunters. They are thinking, feeling and well-trained soldiers fighting for the cause of the entire nation and not of any one individual.

In fulfilling its constitutional role, the AFP will always advocate unity in the force, loyalty to the chain of command, and internal consolidation. This is what it takes to carry out the unique mandate given to us by the citizenry. We were created by the people of the Philippines pursuant to the 1987 constitution. We cannot be less than equal to the task.

We shall continue to go back to basics if only to remind ourselves of our roles, duties, responsibilities, mandate and mission; our oath to the Republic and our commitment to the people.

We will go back to basics to allow ourselves to rebuild and transform. We shall continue to go back to basics to give rise to a new institutional order that will highlight and promote the relevance of the AFP.

Our officers and enlisted personnel will be our most important sources of ideas in the process of reinvention and thus, our re-emergence.

We need a collective advocacy of our thrusts and vision. We must walk the talk as we highlight the role of the Filipino soldier in institutional reform and social transformation. It has never been a case of "us versus them," rather, "we’re all in this together."

The AFP mandate is our guide; and the laws of the land and national sovereignty, our charge — toward a Strong Republic.

I am awed by the tasks ahead of me, for which reason I can only mutter the words of Rabindranath Tagore.

I end with a proud salute to our Commander-in-Chief and to every Filipino who inspire every soldier to stand up for God and Country.

I thank you.