On 23 November 2019, the University of the Philippines Department of Military Science and Tactics (UP DMST), together with the UP Corps of Cadets and the UP Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Symphonic Band, held the Presentation of Sponsors at the General Antonio Luna Parade Grounds. The annual ceremony, which introduced the new batch of Sponsors to their respective units and the UP community, also honored the outgoing batch of Sponsors for their services rendered to the UP ROTC and the University.
Prof. Arlyn P. Macapinlac, the NSTP Director of the University, was the Guest of Honor and Speaker for the ceremony. She spoke of the shibboleths of the Corps, “Honor, Service and Excellence”, and how it extends from the University’s “Honor and Excellence”, made exemplary with the heart of service instilled by the CoS. She remarked, “Honor and Excellence are nothing without Service.”
The ceremony includes the designation, presentation and induction of new sponsors for the different units of UP ROTC, sponsors in Corps level staff positions and the recognition of the Corps Sponsor—the highest position in the organization. The outgoing members were also recognized for their services to the organization and the University. The highlight of the event was the turn over of responsibility to the new Corps Sponsor.
The presentation inducted the following students into the UP Corps of Sponsors (CoS) for Corps Year 2020:
Unit Sponsors, who are directly involved with looking after the welfare of cadets in their assigned units and the ones who facilitate the weekly Sponsors’ Time during cadet training days are Maria Nicole M Galang from the College of Social Sciences & Philosophy (CSSP) as the Rayadillo Unit Sponsor; Britney G Go from the College of Engineering (CoE) as the Field Artillery Unit Sponsor; Zyrille Y Sacobo from CSSP as the Infantry Unit Sponsor; and Mikhaela Mari B Tambaoan from CSSP as the Rescue Unit Sponsor. They serve as a bridge between cadets and cadet officers, further reinforcing the specialized training through interactions with the cadets.
The Unit Sponsors are led by their respective Company Sponsors in boosting the morale of their cadets. The units are distributed to two companies. Alpha Company, responsible for the Rayadillo and Infantry units, is headed by Company Sponsor Francesca Helene C Bañaria from the College of Science (CS), and the Bravo Company, consisting of the Rescue and Field Artillery units, is led by Company Sponsor Patricia F Baltazar from the College of Home Economics (CHE).
The Staff of the CoS consists of five sponsors whose roles are modeled after the Commander’s Coordinating Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Their responsibilities focus on the overall aspects of the operation of the Corps. Ma Roxette M Rojas from CoE serves as the Corps Personnel Sponsor who is responsible for managing the Corps office, looking after personnel welfare and manpower requirements; Annette Isabelle T Yuyucheng from CS is the Corps Intelligence Sponsor who processes information to ensure safety, security and efficiency for every engagement; Rachelle A Carlos from CSSP is the Corps Operations and Training Sponsor who provides planning, development, direction and documentation of all activities; Rica Joy B Laurente from the Virata School of Business (VSB) is the Corps Logistics Sponsor who oversees procurement, availability and maintenance of Corps assets; Kyla Mae Y Tan from CS is the Corps Civil Relations Sponsor who acts as the Corps’ representative to engagements outside of the organization and serves as the information and communications officer.
Inducted as the Deputy Corps Sponsor, the second highest position in the Corps, was Caren Claire L Avenido from the National College of Public Administration & Governance (NCPAG). She will be tasked with working alongside the Corps Sponsor in overseeing tasks performed by and within the CoS. Her responsibilities also include active engagement with the Unit and Company Sponsors, as well as oversee the work of the Staff.
The Outgoing Corps Sponsor, Ms. Camille Hazel A Ugarte, who has rendered service to the CoS for three consecutive years, formally turned-over the leadership of UP Corps of Sponsors to Ms. Julienard Marie T Delosovas the Corps Sponsor for Corps Year 2020. This was symbolized by the passing of the Corps flag and the recitation of their respective oaths to the community. Ms. Deloso held the position of Deputy Corps Sponsor in Corps Year 2019.
Special awards were presented to the outgoing members of the Corps of Sponsors for services rendered to the University.
For their continued and unfaltering service to the Corps of Sponsors, the Loyalty medal was awarded to Camille Hazel A Ugarte and Julienard Marie T Deloso. The Duty medal was awarded to Aedrianne Nicole C De Leon, Julienard Marie T Deloso, Cleo Angela G Dumoloy, Ma Patricia Angelika T Lubang, Bea Kathleen G Perlas, and Camille Hazel A Ugarte for their devotion to duty. Both the Efficiency and Honor medals were awarded to Ma Patricia Angelika T Lubang for her exemplary resourcefulness and initiative in performance, and for her maintained excellent academic status despite her commitments to CoS respectively. Lastly, the Leadership medal was awarded to Camille Hazel A Ugarte for best commanding the respect and instilling confidence within her fellow Sponsors.
Military medals were also awarded to select Sponsors, who also completed their basic ROTC courses and are enlisted reservists of the Armed Forces, for their socio-civic contributions to society. The Military Civic Action Medals were awarded by Major General Bernie Langub, commander of the Army Reserve Command to Pvt Camille Hazel A Ugarte Philippine Army (Reserve), Pvt Julienard Marie T Deloso Philippine Army (Reserve), Pvt Ara Allana D Tolosa Philippine Army (Reserve) and Pvt Bea Kathleen G Perlas Philippine Army (Reserve) for their participation in a Medical Civic Action Program for the Aeta Community conducted at Sitio Target, Barangay Sapangbato, Angeles City, Pampanga on 11 August, 2019, in cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.
The ceremony concluded with the UP ROTC Unit performing a Pass-In-Review of the troops. As they pass in front of their respective sponsors, the cadets received snappy salutes from their respective sponsors, signaling the start of a new Corps year for the UP Corps of Sponsors.
by Ms. Julienard Marie T. Deloso
