I remember the time during my promotion to Full Colonel, nine of us from class ’80 in the previous promotion were jumped over by class ’81 and a few from class ’82 due to some “offenses” and others for being assigned to the Intelligence Service, AFP (ISAFP) for too long daw. The following year we faced a different kind of interview – a group interview conducted by the Board of Generals (BOG) headed by the Chief-of-Staff, General Abaya, along with his major service commanders and selected J-staffs (para daw isahan lang at hindi aksaya ng panahon nila). The candidates for promotion were all seated in a big room and arranged accordingly to the results of our Qualitative Rating Sheets (QRS) and we were told to convince the board in two minutes: “Why we deserve to be promoted?”

Many amongst the interviewees told about their combat exploits and management achievements. Kabado lahat! There were already some Lieutenant Colonels from class ’82 seated ahead of us (with better ratings in their QRS). One of them was LTC UNDOG ’82. He is a highly decorated Special Forces commander. He said that he was the group leader who is accredited for neutralizing the most-wanted Abu Sayyaf Commander Robot! Then next one seated to him was my mistah,

LTC EMILIANO R. GUPANA II O-8162 PA

When he stood up and held the wireless microphone, there was a long pause and silence. Then, he answered with a one liner,

“Sir, I am the Squad Leader of Cadet Undog!”

You know what? He was able to make the poker-faced CSAFP burst into laugher from a very tense and serious atmosphere…bwhahaha! Of course, my mistahs and I were all finally promoted to full colonels that year and everybody eventually made it as generals!