The next Chief of Staff of the Philippine Military? General Sabban from WESCOM speaks

I've never liked the military - perhaps because I hate 90 degree angles, conformity, hierarchies and being controlled.   I've also been afraid of them for some reason - Law and Order.  Even this bias has been called to question here.

At the last joint meeting of the Palawan Chamber of Commerce and Industry/Palawan Chinese Chamber of Commerce, General Sabban, of the Western Command (WESCOM) was our speaker.  

It was fascinating to watch his entourage sweep into the ballroom at the AA Plaza Hotel where I was double checking that everything was set up correctly and arrived early - as did the General's scouts.  

I kept thinking that this one is the general..uh, no this one...I thought that 5 times.  He had so many people with him that I was definitely confused - and, of course, I have no idea of rank, so didn't address them properly.

They seemed quite affable when chatting, although one seemed nervous when he was frank with one of my questions - I assured him that I would say nothing (and, as my girls know - I forget anyway....I have no recollection of our topic!).  All of these lieutenants (or whatever rank they were) fluttered about, double checking my double checking - and asking me all sorts of technical and status questions.  

Some of the entourage - the PR Coordinator in Barong;

the Operations sergeant at the right who delivered the facts 

Here in the Philippines, it is extremely important to recognize the leaders in your audience.  It is fascinating to hear each speaker at a conference begin their lectures with "Good evening to you all, to President Sir Alex and Executive Vice President Sir Duff and to Mam Debra of the Peace Corps...etc.etc."    Everyone here is titled - usually with "Attorney Dilag" or "Engineer Rosario", and anyone commanding respect without such appellation is either "Sir" or "Mam".  I had to gather all of the titles to those people so that etiquette was followed.

Sir Bart and General Sabban

Finally, the 

General entered 

- what poise and grace!  

As he entered,  businessmen surrounded him and listened, as though to a guru - which I 

suppose he is.

 

I never notice rank, and chat with anyone...as I did with the General.  I tried to sit at the back of the room to take care of logistics, but was invited to sit next to the General at dinner.  What a charming man!  I really liked him, although appearances here are very deceiving...but he seemed very open, and held a question period after his lecture - mostly questions about the Spratlys - or Municipality Kalayaan, as we call it here.  There is a mayor of Kalayaan who reports to the Provincial Governor of Palawan, so all the contention over the Spratlys has nothing to do with government, but rather to do with oil and mineral rights.  

Apparently, there was a geological study done a few years ago, and China issued the report as the General quoted: "The Spratlys are a submerged Saudi Arabia when it comes to oil."   Ah, yes, now I understand why the USA is so supportive of its brother The Philippines....Power and money; power and money. 

When I was introduced to the General, he said, "Ah, the US minister of Defense told me I should connect with you."  Apparently, the military does a lot of do-gooder work - organizing a food program for indigenous people in Southern Palawan who are cave dwellers, as were their ancestors.  I've wanted to see these people, but the South is off-limits to Peace Corps personnel. The General was stumped as to why - he assured me that I would be well protected with his group.  So I hope at some point to accompany them to this site.  He also told me of various livelihood programs that the military has started and encouraged - especially that of growing and selling casava - a root crop used for many foods.  So, I expect that in the New Year, the Chamber of Commerce will enter into a MOA (Memorandum of Agreement - NOT the Mall of Asia) with WESCOM for community improvement.  That should be fun for me!!!

Bart's wife of 40+ years "Paz Aurora" known as Baby
 a businesswoman and started the Kitchen Incubation Project

I've lucked out with this assignment - luxury dinners

Palawan is a pretty safe place - and they want to keep it that way!

                                     He really held our attention

I was impressed - as was most of the audience - when the General addressed the issues of the Spratlys.  

He said that of all the nations involved, that the Philippines was perhaps the least prepared for military conflict...that many of the ships here were WWII vintage.  The US has donated a Vietnam War vintage aircraft carrier, but his main offering was that China, the major aggressor, was over 1,000 miles from the Spratlys and just couldn't send troops without refueling (however, reports of the new Chinese aircraft carrier were not brought up at our meeting).

Handing the certificate - from the Palawan Chamber and the Chinese Chamber

And, as entrances are so important, so are the giving of certificates of acknowledgment - my bet is that he has a secretary file these - just in case.

A great evening - and rumour has  it that General Sabban is favored to become the next Chief of Staff for the military - grabe!

Below is the press release about the meeting 

  PIA Press Release
Thursday, October 27, 2011

WESCOM appeals to business groups for the development of Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, October 27 (PIA) -- The Western Command (WESCOM) has called on to members of the Palawan Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (PCCI) and the Palawan Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (PFCCCI) to work as key partners in bringing peace and development to the province of Palawan and the city of Puerto Princesa.

WESCOM Chief LTGen Juancho M. Sabban AFP made the appeal to the business groups during the general monthly meeting of PCCI and PFCCCI held recently to encourage strong partnerships between the armed forces and the business sector.

Gen Sabban said he recognizes the crucial role that businessmen and entrepreneurs play in bringing progress to the community.

Emphasizing the potent power of collaborative efforts, Gen Sabban called on to members of the business groups to work hand in hand with the military to be able to “build strong synergy and maximize the potential for development offered by cooperation.”

“Peace and security are not a monopoly of the armed forces. It is everybody’s concern,” Gen Sabban said.

The WESCOM Chief assures the members of the PCCI and the PFCCCI that the military are with the businessmen at the forefront of further improving the economic condition of the province and the city.

Gen Sabban recalled how Palawan has grown “in leaps and bounds” compared to how it was 30 years ago, when the only paved road in Puerto Princesa was the Rizal Avenue and only very few business establishments stood along its length.

Through partnerships with the stakeholders involved, Gen Sabban expects the province to continue to grow.

WESCOM has also taken the opportunity to conduct a Security Assessment, Validation and Evaluation (SAVE) forum, one of its programs that aim to protect Palawan, particularly its economy, from the threats posed by lawless armed groups such as the New People’s Army (NPA).

Though Palawan enjoys relative peace, WESCOM does not want to be complacent but rather takes a pro-active measure to preempt, negate and deter lawless activities that could affect the general welfare of the province.

With its SAVE program, WESCOM has already consulted members of the tourism sector all over the province and the industrial sector from Southern Palawan. It is planning to hold another one with members of the business sectors from Puerto Princesa and some municipalities of the province.

The essential aspect of holding a SAVE forum is to create a communication network between and among the military, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and concerned stakeholders so that information relevant to the peace and security of the province and the city could be relayed efficiently and addressed immediately. (Maj. Bogaoan-6CRG/OCJabagat/PIA4B-Palawan)