(The Cavalier Magazine, July-September 2024 Issue)
By J. Irving
Why do people say nice things to a person only during his funeral and not while he was alive? Why would I give tribute to a man who did not graduate from my Alma Mater?
I remember the story of a motherless mistah, an only child. When his father died, he buried him soon after. His relatives complained. My Mistah told them, “When my father was on his sickbed, nobody from you ever visited him. Now, he is dead …. he will never know that you ever cared!”
A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
This brought me to write this story. I care about a man who had a part in building my confidence and character, and tell him of his greatness while he is still alive. This article is not an obituary.
CADET LIEUTENANT 1ST CLASS WILFREDO PABLO ESTRADA UMALI C-4062, S-3, 1st Battalion (from Charlie Company), CCAFP – the Chairman of the Honor Committee. This was his last designation. Serendipity had decreed that we become bunkmates for three years, from Plebe to Cow. Being bunkmates ended during firstclass year, when Willy moved to the 1st Battalion Staff room and I remained with Charlie Company as a platoon leader.
We must admit that all living beings who passed through the portals of PMA as cadets were somehow afflicted with PTSD. For me, it came early. In our first night as plebes, I found myself crying in bed, asking how on earth did I end up in this part of hell? Willy kicked the bottom of the upper bunks, where I was. From inside his mosquito net, he whispered, “Bunkmate, listen!” I thought he heard me crying, but it was just about preparing me for the tough days to come, and making our misery humorous and bearable. I could hear others bawling and calling their mothers out loud to come get them and bring them home. This made me laugh.
The following early morning, Willy woke us up, still dark and the room unlit. While holding a flashlight, he barked at us his seven squadmates, “Maligo na kayo!” In bathrobes back to our cubicles from the communal bathroom in Melchor Hall, we found out he had ironed our BDA fatigue uniforms, with very distinct lines on the pants, as well as the three lines at the back of our olive-green shirts. Our combat shoes were brightly shined.
After dressing up, he would form us his squadmates in one straight line, facing him, as he checked our appearances: if we shaved, splashed aftershave, and shined our buckles. He then would take out a comb from his pocket, groom our hair one by one. All of these while we were still in shock. He would do this in the days that followed until we got the knack of things.
I learned that Willy was a turnback, noticing his serial number, compared to mine. Our plebe details (class ‘78) would punish him for our laxities. He was repeating “Beast Barracks,” as an“unrecognized” dumbguard. I often found him standing at the back of the grandstand, with other turnbacks, during our military science lectures. They would caution dozing or slouching classmates.
One Mistah from a different company complained to me while pointing to a shabby turnback, who endorsed erring plebes to his former classmates, the Yearlings. The exact opposite of Willy, who really went out of his way to help us adjust to our new life.
After summer camp, the Class of 1980 was integrated with the Cadet Corps. The platoon where I belonged became the plebes of Bessang Company, which corresponded to “Alfa” in the order of sequence. The plebes were each assigned an immaculate Firstie to be his “Kuya.” Plebe and Kuya became roommates.
One athletic afternoon, Willy had a big laugh when the rubber shoes he was looking for among the pile of laundry behind the lockers were on my foot, and discovered me sleeping. The three uppies were already inside the room and I could not get out. Willy was unable to control his laughter, but as always, he saved me that day.
Study period became our letter writing time (during exams, he would review early dawn, saying that memory retention is much better). He would edit my letters. One uppie discovered his talent and let Willy write his love letters for him to exchange with his girlfriend. In a happy ending, the uppie married her after graduation. Thanks largely to Willy.
During our Yearling year, Alfa Company moved to Regis Hall. Willy would call plebes from the adjacent room by placing his mouth before the outlet, at the level of his desk, using it as an intercom, and shout “One Bug!” During study periods and taps, he would let those plebes tell jokes or sing through this improvised “intercom.”
During Cow year, the Corps reorganized because of the Salas case, where a plebe died of hazing, resulting in the dismissal of 25 classmates. He would push me to compete with him with our grades. Willy promised to give me the PC branch of service, if ever he would get it.
Every semestral break, I spent my time with his family in Los Banos – gallivanting around in his Volkswagen beetle at UP Campus. Willy is from a humble family of seven siblings, a child in the middle. His mother is an elementary school teacher, his father a hobbyist “magtatari” (an expert who places sharp blades to the spurs of fighting cocks). His petname at home is “Budo,” a monicker for Buddha because he was chubby when he was younger. Sometimes, other mistahs would join us. We always had a grand time in Los Banos, and never ran out of things to do.
ENTANGLED IN ADVERSITY
When we were graduating cadets, Willy went to the city to enjoy his “Privilege” but in coming back to barracks, he was late together with Ifor Magbanua, a mistah. The two were reported “Late” by the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of that day, Maj Gaudencio Torres PA. Ifor, who is the First Sergeant of their Company, decided to screen the delinquency report (DR). The Tactical Officer (Tac-O), who made the report, went looking for the DR. The missing DR complicated the matter, and they were tried by the Battalion Board (Tac-Os as judges) for “Honor Code Violation,” namely cheating. The case was not handled by the Honor Committee (cadets as judges) because the system belongs solely to the cadets. Likewise, the new chairman, Ager Ontog, who replaced Willy, cannot try the case because there was no report. Moreover, Willy and Ifor could not report themselves because it would be a plain admission that they were guilty – a Catch 22 situation. The Battalion Board sentenced the two for separation from the academy.
During the trial, Cpt Oscar Martinez, the Senior Tac-O, lambasted Willy sincerely, leading to Willy’s depression … until now, whenever the incident comes to mind.
A NEW DAWN
The following school year, General Orlando Antonio ’58 PC, a townmate of Willy, went to see him, telling him that he can return to the academy. The general, now deceased, knows Willy very well – as a potential officer and a gentleman. Willy however refused, for the simple reason that his accusers were still in the academy.
Willy was the one who inculcated in me as a plebe with, “Never to take life on honor! Do not quibble!” Willy also wrote in the Corps Magazine: https://cyberarnis.wordpress.com/2022/04/01/the-honor-
Meanwhile, Ifor was accepted back the following year. He graduated with the Class of 1981, joining the Philippine Constabulary later. He retired in 2012 as a Police Brigadier General.
Willy, on the other hand, finished his Bachelor’s degree in Management and Industrial Engineering in Mapua in 1983, with honors (he was supposed to be in the Top 5 of class 80). He told himself, “Whatever happens, I will try my best in what I do.”
Willy is the best Database Administrator (DBA) I ever met, being Microsoft certified. As we all know, DBAs are the life of the company, who store and maintain information. DBAs have the responsibility to protect sensitive data from criminals, hackers and other unauthorized prying eyes. Nothing untoward happened during his watch. Even the recent global outage had no effect on him.
Willy worked in a prestigious British company in Ayala, JARDINE DAVIES and INVESTMENTS INC. He was sent to London in 1989 to design and develop the financial information systems of JARDINE LLOYD THOMPSON (JLT) GROUP INC., a multi-national merger that provides insurance, employment benefits advice and brokerage services. He worked with the company for 25 years. Then, he became a DBA of Dental Directory, covered by HIPAA (another layer of data protection), for about seven years.
When Willy and his wife, Tata, arrived in London, an immigration officer asked them, “Business or pleasure?” Willy answered that he came there to work. Immigration officers whisked them to a room, grilling them for hours, checking and confirming from his old and new offices if really he was hired and not merely looking for work. The British immigration officers were in disbelief that a non-British was picked to do a sensitive job. In the office, his officemates would ask Willy often how come he can speak and write English so well.
REFLECTIONS:
Life indeed is full of twists.
In the Class of 1980 yearbook, The Sword, I wrote under my portrait: “Bunkmate (Budo): Sayang! Just wait for me.” And so he did…
In May this year, 2024, I had the opportunity to pass through London and grabbed the chance to see Willy, with my wife and daughter and son-in-law, on our way to Rome.
I know Willy as a soft-hearted, compassionate and spiritual person. So, there was this incident when life’s circumstances went against him that he needed to take an entirely new course. That time when he resisted authority and challenged those who wielded power when they tried to put him down. If Willy wasn’t too rash or impulsive, he might have been able to weather the storm, but his principles always prevailed.
Nevertheless, it was time to chart a new course. In the end, he did particularly well.
The key to harnessing his tremendous energy was identifying and finding pleasure in the simple things that made him happy – a nice balance between optimism and practicality.
He is motivated when pursuing his goals. He taught me and his squadmates to be productive and resourceful. He thrives in teamwork. He is practical in his choices, keeping his feet firmly on the ground and honoring tradition, in tried-and-true methods. He has the power of practicality, realism, and caution on his side. He is attracted to strong and determined people. With intellect and intuition equally strong, he is highly interesting and an intelligent friend.
The debacle spurred him to put his life in order, in a very significant way. Improved concentration, a more realistic outlook, and a practical awareness of the limits of time, all helped him to make steady progress, particularly in his new career. The key to his success is adopting a realistic, practical, disciplined, and orderly approach to life. Let this be an inspiration to others.
He told me he is sick. He looks good from the outside, but he is suffering from the inside, healthwise. He almost succumbed to a stroke while self administering insulin for his Diabetes. His doctor advised him to avoid driving anymore, but he drove us around London and brought us to Stansted for our flight to Rome.
Let me tell you now, Willy. You are a good and honorable man. A true Mapitagan. Thank you for being a light that beacons. The entire Class of 1980 are very proud of you Mistah. You certainly deserve our snappiest salute. (Edited by Paul Mendoza ‘89)
From Charlie Company 
Ces Ordoyo, President of PMA ‘80
Thank you too bok JLo for putting up a very inspiring article of our very good mistah, Willy. Praise be to God!
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Edgar Punay ‘81, formerly ‘80
Thank you, Mistah for your tribute to Willie. His kindness was not limited to his squad mates and certainly did not end in Summer Camp.
You were in Bessang while I was in Tirad but it is well known in the “Plebe Corps”, that if you ever need to have your “low morale” lifted a bit and you need an EI and a “pep talk”, find Willie.
Truly the piece is an excellent tribute to a Mapitagan. And it also shows a great character that you truly are!
My snappy salute to Willie and to you!
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Cav Romy Palaroan ‘80:
BOK, you wrote the most moving article that transcends the limits of brotherhood and camaraderie among us Ayers beyond the portals of the Academy. It flows with noble idea of moral uprightness.and strength of mind and character of a man against all odds that the greatness of person is not gauged solely by the stars and laurels of glory heaped on his head, but by every bit of sacrifice he mustered and shared for love of his fellow men and for the goodness and joy of every man.. the bottomline.. I always remember in time of distress or depression during our Academy days, but he exemplified in me resilience, patience and tolerance when Cadet Palaroan’s mouth is spitting fire and storm on the hallway and other cadets.. getting turned back again is a very harsh and horrible experiemce.. but graduating.and getting into the service nd in the field proved to be the testing ground of all those concepts on morality, truth and patriotism that we imbibed in our system for four years.. so be it!.. so here we are, still alive.and kicking living up to that PMA standard we stood for: COURAGE, INTEGRITY & LOYALTY… thanks for sharing mistah and for having good brotherly friend like you and Willy..take care and hope three of us get a chance at class reunions one of these days.
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Thanks for sending over the essay script sir Jess! I have to say, reading through it gave me a profound sense of admiration for sir Willy’s unwavering strength and determination to follow his own path, regardless of what others might think. It’s a testament to how personal integrity and courage truly set us PMAYEERs apart from the rest.
I’m currently here at Radisson Blue Stansted London, waiting for my flight to Hong Kong tonight. As I sit here, I can’t help but wish I could shake the hand of a person who embodies such values — someone any PMAyeer would be proud of.
I appreciate you deciding to keep the essence of your original message intact. Your words convey so much authenticity and emotion, and I’m glad sharing some phrases could complement your powerful narrative. Thanks for letting me be a part of this tribute.
Stay safe and keep inspiring sir
…cheers !
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CAV PAUL MENDOZA ‘89:
Happy Sunday sir!
I don’t think I’ll do justice to what you have written, as it is based on your personal experiences and knowledge. I don’t suggest changing the script because it provides a genuine account of what you encountered and felt while writing it. However, if you asked me how I would portray the whole story, here it is:
—
A Tribute To A Mapitagan
Honouring a Friend Who Shaped My Life
They say you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. But why wait until then to express gratitude and appreciation? In this tribute, I honor a man who played a significant role in building my confidence and character – Cadet Lieutenant 1st Class Wilfredo Pablo Estrada Umali C-4062, my bunkmate and my friend.
Act 1 – A Light in the Darkness
“A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway.” – Jerome Cummings
During those early days at the academy, Willy answered needs I didn’t even know I had. His kindness, leadership, and humor were a light that guided me through some very dark hours. As the great poet Kahlil Gibran said, “Your friend is your needs answered.” We all arrived as hopeful yet hapless plebes, thrust into an intimidating new world. The training was grueling and the rules strict. I often felt lost, overwhelmed, and homesick in those first few days. Tears sometimes came as I questioned how I’d ever survive this ordeal.
But Willy was always there with words of encouragement and laughter when we needed it most. Even in our darkest moments, Willy brought light. He took the scared young men under his wing and mentored us like his own brothers. Willy ensured we were dressed sharp, disciplined in our manners, and studied hard. Our bunk room became a sanctuary of humor and camaraderie thanks to Willy’s leadership. As John Quincy Adams once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
While others mocked or avoided the turned backs, Willy embraced the role to further impart his wisdom. I saw dedication and quiet pride in his efforts to improve himself and help others. He led by compassionate example. Through many challenges over the following years, Willy remained a steadfast source of motivation and guidance. He pushed me to strive for more while supporting me through setbacks. Willy kept his promise to try and secure my preferred branch of service if it came his way.
Beyond the academy walls, I found a second family in Willy and his loving kin. Their home always welcomed fellow cadets with grand times and a place to unwind. Spending breaks there gave me happy memories to cling to during tougher times. Now, before it’s too late, I want to honor the man who did so much for so many quietly and without fanfare. Willy brought out the best in me and others through his servant leadership, humor, and kindness. As Albert Schweitzer wisely noted, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”
Act 2 — Overcoming Adversity
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
Willy’s principles faced a stern test during a difficult time of confrontation and trial. While the circumstances seemed out of his control, Willy retained his dignity and character through it all. The missing report created a catch-22 situation, though following due process was the right path, even if painful. During the trial, negative attacks seeking to break Willy’s spirit only strengthened his resolve. Willy’s light would not be diminished. As Ernest Hemingway said, “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.”
Act 3 — A New Dawn
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
When one door closes, another opens. Though the outcome pained him, Willy’s talent and honor could not be denied. Refusing to dwell in bitterness, he excelled in his studies and dreamed anew. Willy’s star rose higher than anyone could have imagined. Leading with wisdom, skill, and an ability to connect with others, he found success and fulfillment. All who met him were impressed by his character, charm, and mastery. “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Willy embodied this idea fully.
Our reunion in his later years brought immense joy, showing that true bonds of brotherhood transcend all challenges. It was a blessing to see Willy’s light still burning bright, even in facing uncertain health. His optimism, humor, and friendship are gifts that will endure forever in my heart.
Reflections
“ It is not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters” – Epictetus
Willy is the best Database Administrator (DBA) I ever met, a Microsoft certified professional. As we all know, DBAs are the life of the company, who store and maintain information. DBAs have the responsibility to protect sensitive data from criminals, hackers, and other unauthorized prying eyes. Nothing happened untoward during his terms. Willy worked in a prestigious British company in Ayala, JARDINE DAVIES and INVESTMENTS INC.; then, he was sent to London in 1989 to design and develop the financial information systems of JARDINE LLOYD THOMPSON (JLT) GROUP INC., a multi-national merger that provides insurance, employment benefits advice, and brokerage services. He worked with the company for 25 years. Then, he became a DBA of Dental Directory, covered by HIPAA (additional layer on data protection), for about seven years; and even sought by the Scotland Yard to handle the database of London Police. He refused the last job offer and decided to just enjoy his remaining life, traveling, as a retiree.
When Willy and his wife, Tata, arrived in London, an immigration officer asked them, “Business or pleasure?” Willy answered that he came there to work! Immigration officers whisked them to a room, grilling them for hours checking and confirming from his old and new offices if really, he was hired, not seeking work? British immigration officers could not believe nor understand that a non-British is preferred to do a delicate job. Officemates asked Willy, often, how come you can talk and write English so well?
In the Class of 1980 Year Book, the Sword, I wrote under my portrait: “Bunkmate (Budo): Sayang! Just wait for me . . .” So, he waited…
Last May this year, 2024, I had the opportunity to drop by at his home in the London suburbs, with my wife and daughter with her husband, on our way to Rome to seek the blessings of the Pope for our 40th wedding anniversary, which a close relative arranged.
Willy is a soft-hearted, compassionate, and spiritual person. Life circumstances challenged him to take an entirely new direction. There was a time when he resisted authority and challenged them when they were trying to put him down. If Willy wasn’t too rash or impulsive, he might be able to free himself from restrictive circumstances but his principles always prevailed. Nevertheless, it was time for constructive measures. In the end, he did particularly well because he is practical, realistic, and he drew on common sense – and he derived much satisfaction from his triumph. The key to harnessing his tremendous energy was identifying and finding pleasure in the simple things that made him happy – a nice balance between optimism and practicality. As Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
He can especially motivate to pursue his goals and commitments, and he taught me, to include his squadmates, to be productive and resourceful. He thrives in teamwork. He is practical in his choices, keeping his feet on the ground and honoring tradition, as well as, tried-and-true methods. He has the power of practicality, realism, and caution on his side. He is attracted to strong and determined people. With intellect and intuition equally strong, he is a highly interesting and intelligent friend.
The debacle was a time when he put his life in order, in some significant manner. Improved concentration, a more realistic outlook, and a practical awareness of the limits of time, all help him to make steady progress, particularly in his deviated career. The keys to his success are adopting a realistic, practical, disciplined, and orderly approach to life.
He told me he is sick. He looks good from the outside but he is suffering from the inside, healthwise. He almost died because of stroke and self-injecting insulin for his diabetes. His doctor advised him not to drive anymore, but he drove us around and brought us to the airport during our flight to Rome. I invited him to join the Mapitagans in 2030 Golden Jubilee homecoming; but said he might kick the bucket in less than five years. We are planning to go on a cruise to Greece next year, to spend more time to reminisce our cadet years.
Vita brevis, carpe diem indeed, my friend. Thank you for being a light that guides me still.
—————////
Your original narrative is powerful and authentic, and I believe it captures the essence of your journey and emotions beautifully…cheers
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Fom: Cav Oca Singson ‘85,
Sir Jess, sentimentally jnspiring article. True indeed “ never take life sa Honor Code”.
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From: Cav Job Antonio ‘82,
Good day, Sir Jess! This is a very touching story! In fact, I never knew of that incident when my late father fetch him to go back to PMA. I knew that my father loved the cadets so much, but this is another side I just learned. And also, this article also pains me so much that Sir Budo is not that healthy anymore.
I salute you both, Sirs for making me a better person than before. It was your mentorship that helped me survive my plebe year, Sir!
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From Willy:
”Thanks, bunkmate. It was my desire to make you all proud of me that spurned me on. I want to hold my head up as you all do as a Mapitagan. I am and will always be proud of all of you.”
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Maraming salamat, Jess.Paco76 Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
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