Mid-April of 2004, Headquarters TRADOC hosted a dinner reception for the students of the ongoing Command and Staff Course (CSC) 01-04, who were accompanied by their spouses. At this time, disappointments among students were still looming in the air. Due to urgency and time constraints, the course they are taking is condensed and shorter. It is not recognized as equivalent to Command and General Staff Course (CGSC) but instead it will only make them eligible in becoming Battalion Commanders. The dinner invitation handed out for that occasion stated that everybody must come in Barong, including the foreign students. As the Chiet-of-Staff of TRADOC, I was tasked to make the Welcome Remarks. So, I spoke:

“As you can notice tonight, we, the gentlemen, are in Barong, not in our usual military uniforms; because for us Filipinos, the barong is a Power Dress. Executives in Makati and lawyers classified as “Abogado de Campanillas” wear barong. Even foreign dignitaries invited to Malacanang are now required, as stated in their invitations, to come in barong-not in their usual coats and ties! Maybe, you noticed this when President Bush attended a formal dinner in Malacanang last year. He wore a Barong!”

But do you know that this same Barong was the official attire of the “Indios” the people belonging to the lowest status of society during the Spanish era? Their masters, the “lIustrados” and “Hacienderos” at that time required the “Indios” to be in Barong all times in order that the “Indios” cannot conceal weapons or hide stolen goods under their shirts. This explains for the tucked-out, see-through, and pocketless design. But the Filipinos that we are, we have transformed this same Barong to be a Power Dress.

With this we can correlate the Barong to your course, Command and Staff Course, now known as CSC (not CGSC). You, students, belong to CSC Class 01 and considered as pioneers of this course. Until now, you might still have second thoughts about your course and feel inferior to officers who are graduates of CGSC of other institutions, here and abroad. But I know with your positive attitude and determination, you can make CSC a POWER COURSE of the Philippine Army, like the Barong. You can achieve this by proving to everybody that you will be as better Battalion Commanders, when time comes. Think about that!