President: 2Lt Gregorio Honasan PA Secretary: 2Lt Oscar Martinez, PA

The class of 1971 takes a bow in its maiden appearance in the Cavalier after two years away from the Academy.

The class pow-wow staged last 19May 73 is worthy to be mentioned first. This was the first gathering together with the ever-growing ladies circle.  Belated kiss-the-bride!! Everybody, however, seems to have hidden their future drags and dumbguards. Kudos to the PC group that sponsored the affair. By the way, the PA-Navy group is next in line. When will it be? Our first foggy pay will come out soon. Maybe they will be more than willing to undertake it then. Let's have a 100% attendance next time, get that!

The wedding rush suddenly stopped last June. What causes the delay? Better join the party mistahs before it's too late.

Winds from the south had brought news about Mel Acosta, Romy Dominguez, Johnny Velasco, and Galvot still slugging it out there. By the way, only Rey Velasco, Bagsy Cabagnot and Ed Finones were left of the fourteen gallant Buldon Boys. Gringo Honasan was not so lucky. He is now at VLGH getting more holes than he bargained for. Advise for you guys out there: stay away from your radio antennas. Our rotting fieldmen are getting supporting fire from our air (rah rah) boys namely Red Kapunan, Bong Ebuen, Safix Sarmenta, andn Epoy Espejo. Soc Brazal and Wency Cruz are the ones gathering laurels for the Marines.

A number of us had joined the AAGFO (Association of Aides to Generals and Flag Officers). Present members are: Tibo Fusilero with the CIS; Ingo RG, flag lieutenant to the FOIC, PN; Garic RC, the little general of the IPCZ; Teddy Malajacan, the grand prosecutor of TJAG, AFP and Atot Paredes, man Friday of the CG, PSU. The ex-members are Rex Piad who is now connected with the CIS and Vic Batac who just finished his stint with the NITS.

Rey Poca is still out there in the mountains of Quezon while Reggie and Joe Paya are enjoying in the Visayas. Jess Paredes is at present going through the four easy lessons of skydiving under the able tutoring of the lamebird Tex Balmaceda.

Rey Velasco and Egay Aglipay are in Taiwan relearning their proficiency in chopstics. They were preceded by other Chinese lovers namely Ted Runes, Rex Piad, Atot Paredes, and Jun Paynor.

Danny Perico has joined up with Joey Lalisan in the most ticklish job in the country. He left Jimmy Canatoy, Temy Lim, and Alex Lasan in charge of his ROTC boys. Rey Doria was last heard from in Basa still tinkering with the idea of linking up with the Skylab using his babyjet. Ferna EB, Bert Sillona and Bobby Navida are still busy with their own birds.

Our MetroCom boys, Ping Lacson, Ferna EQ, Boy Cata and Jimmy dela Cruz are complaining about their lack of job nowadays.

Caloy Garcia and Rolly Malinis are right now in La Salle clattering their brains with more non-sense. Other brain masters (or mashers) led by Oca Martinez are right now in the State University. They are Bobby Sacramento, Ankie Brawner, Aris delos Reyes, and Rolly Degrace. On the other hand, INGO AA, not to be outdone, is abroad taking up his Masters.

Rey Rivers is our veteran engineer of Parang, Cotabato while Estan David is trying his hand with the signal.

If you were not mentioned, it's because we have not heard from you since graduation. Stand up and be counted.

By the way, Oca Martinez is right now compiling facts about the class to be incorporated in our projected class directory. Anytime you are in Manila, please leave your personal details with anybody assigned in the GMA.

Our class revolving fund is practically nil. New arrangements had been agreed upon during the last class meeting for financing unforeseen events. Please contact the following for more details:

VIC BATAC               - 5th CSU, HPC
RG INGO                    - Office, FOIC, PN
TED MALAJACAN    - OTJAG GHQ, AFP
OCA LEGASPI           - HPAF

Lastly, let's offer a minute of prayer to TONY DURAN who has decided to go ahead of us; and to MANNY NARTATEZ, for his safe return. To them both, we offer our salute and our firm resolution that the 109 MATATAGS will live up to the ideals they have lived and died for.

President: Ping Lacson Secretary: Virtus Gil
Congratulations to the new LTCs of the class. We have Gringo Honasan, Caloy Garcia, Bay Ibo, Vic Batac, Egay Aglipay, Ed Matillano, Miles Millena, Edwin Abello, Volts Espejo, and Tex Balmaceda. Rex Piad and Ping Lacson are old LTCs. Congratulations too.

Last April 16, 28 Matatags met at a favorite hang-out in Cubao. At the midst of an eating spree, somebody suggested that the group should at least discuss some class matters before going to "PHASE TWO". A class election was suggested which was initially opposed by majority of those present until Czar Gopilan inquired who the class officers are. So, an election was held. Gringo Honasan, Oca Martinez, and Ping Lacson were nominated for presidency but Gringo and Oca withdrew for personal reasons. Ping Lacson is new Class 71 Prexy. For its first project under Ping, the class decided to hold an inter-battalion athletic competition at the PMA sport facilities on May 14, 1983.

The competition was a big success. 1st Bn mistahs won the tug of war and basketball but 2nd Bn delegates grabbed the pole race, bowling and 100 meter relay. 1st Bn ladies took  the beauty walk but the egg race was too much for them. Also,  71 carbon and corrected copies competed in Children's games. The competition ended in a draw but only after a series of protest lodged by 1st Bn alleging that Perla Zubia sprinted during the egg race and that the 50 meter dash, wherein Cisco Zubia easily won, should be declared no-contest. Although it took "SHABBY" the protest will be considered during the next Inter-Bn competition; that the Zubias must be excluded in egg and foot races for obvious reasons. A sumptuous lauriat dinner at the Baguio Park Hotel topped the day.

The reunion was highlighted by a mass at St. Ignatius Chapel the following day for our deceased classmates and the fathers of Gringo Honasan, Caloy Garcia and Rey Acop so that they may rest in peace. Tiboy Fusilero led the class in the spiritual strengthening exercise in line with his observation that at this point in time we should be strengthening the class spirit. Mistahs, we are lucky to have Tiboy in our class.

The Baguio activity ended with a lunch at half-way house after the mass. But not quite because, while Nelson and Chit Eslao, Bobby and Menchu Sacramento, Manny and Vicky Tandoc and Ging and Beng Cagurangan are tidying up PMA and Ping and Alice Lacson, Oca and Ginggoy Martinez, Rey and Mina Alcasid and the others are on their way home, Bay and Vicky Seron, Vic and Nene Batac, Rex and Jane Piad, Tiboy and Babes Fusilero, Virtus and Lita Gil with Rolly Garcia and Ernie Lumang proceeded to La Union to continue the weekend extravaganza. The affair is just swell. For those who didn't make it this time, better keep in touch. Were planning another one.

By the way, we are updating the class directory. For easy reference we will have it printed in a pocket-sized directory for distribution to the Mistahs. We intend to finish this project this quarter so may the following please contact Virtus at tel. 78-92-41. Aris, Brazzi, Degrace, Marte, Jake, Philipp, Archie, Doy, Bong, Fabric, Wency, JB, MM, Peewee, Ben Gange, Manny Resplandor, Popop, Rolly Clean, Danny Francia, Gatz, Gel, Nick, Romy, Rudy, RP, Tito, Jerry, Levy, Alex, Art, Edgar, Bobby, Czar, Ralph, Dong, Bobby Laciste, Jimmy Gopilan, James & Yari.

1983

In 1983, the year of crisis resulting from the Benigno Aquino assassination, members of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1971, together with other PMA classes, formed the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM). Here is how it was formed

RAM IS BORN (from Newsweek Responding to a Moral Crisis by Jose T. Almonte 25Feb 2008)

By then, disillusionment with strongman rule was widespread. Not only had the rural insurgency of the New People’s Army guerrillas spread from the traditional centers of agrarian dissidence in Central Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao. In the Muslim communities of Southern Philippines, a separatist rebellion was raging.

I soon began hearing of the grievances of field commanders in Mindanao and Sulu over the neglect of troops in the field and, particularly, of the lack of care for their wounded. Foot soldiers were being shortchanged even on their food and clothing allowances. Weapons and ammunition were always in short supply. At the height of the fighting, the Moro National Liberation Front rebels were often better armed than the soldiers of the Republic.

Because evacuation facilities were so limited, wounded soldiers who could otherwise be saved would die. And standing by helplessly while a comrade bled to death is always a bitter experience for any soldier—because fighting side by side and suffering together bind them closer than brothers.

Meanwhile, many of the generals and flag officers had been corrupted by the regime and, in the eyes of their juniors, no longer deserved their loyalty and obedience. “An entire AFP generation above us,” the RAM mutineers proclaimed memorably, has failed “to respond to a moral crisis.”

In fact a group of veterans from the Mindanao-Sulu campaign—most of them from PMA Class ’71—had begun actively to think of doing something to restore the honor of the military. Eventually, most of the aggrieved junior officers were brought under the leadership of their upperclassmen.

The most senior of these were Lt. Colonels Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, Victor Batac, and Eduardo “Red” Kapunan—all of Class ’71. But there were a number of lieutenants in the group, among them Diosdado Valeroso of the Philippine Constabulary/Integrated National Police (PC/INP).

The organization they later created—with the acronym RAM—had no central intelligence, but it was these three who led its “Core Group.”

President: Maj P.M. Lacson, PC Secretary: Maj. V.V. Gil PC

After the successful week-end extravaganza at Fort Del Pilar and Bauang last 14-15 May, Tiboy Fusilero volunteered to host the next 71 inter-battalion athletic competition in Cebu. He promised that it will be an extra-ordinary experience  for everyone.

Egay Aglipay is suggesting that the next class activity be a 71 overnight gathering in one of the family resorts around Metro Manila.

Jun Paynor is in town and is allegedly inviting mistahs to a get-together at Washington D.C. Jun must be serious. There are about 15 71's in CONUS; Rolly Degracia, Joe Ayap (Kuno), Rey Rivera, Rey Alcasid, Romy Dominguez, Raffy Galvez, Narcing Abaya, Danny Perico, Ernie Fernandez, Edwin Abello, John Velasco, Ariel Domingo, and Tex Balmaceda of course. Stan David is within walking distance too.

Congratulations to Oca and Ginggoy Martinez, Bay and Beng Ibo, Jess and Ollie Paredes, Caloy and Daday Garcia, Bert and Marmie Sillona, Virtus and Lita Gil, and Rolly and Malou Garcia for their newly borns. Jun Acosta and Rey Velasco, take note.

For information, the following is the partial results of the latest attempts to locate whereabouts of "Matatags:"

            OCA MARTINEZ - J6
            ARIS DE LOS REYES - NDF
            SOC BRAZAL -  where are you?
            MILES MILLENA - CFO. Try calling up Intramuros. If he's not there, he's probably in L.A.
            VIC BATAC - C2. Vic is challenging all mistahs to beat him on the scheduled March Week '84 marathon.
            REX PIAD - SOG. Jane Piad called up. She said Rex is the most lovable '71.
            BOY CASTELLANO - ASPP.  Balikbayan from Amsterdam.
            MARTE CHIOCO - Were still trying to find out.
            RG DOMINGO - Mindanao Steel Corp "Strongman".
            FINES FINONES - Trying to review Military Science at J3.
            POCA ACOP - RECOM 6. He's building a none-room mansion at Antipolo.
            JACK TAN - PCG.
            BERT SILLONA - ODMCR. He's busy baby sitting.
            MANNY FORONDA - Newest LTC of J1.
            JUN SARMENTA -  James Bond of LUSTEVECO.
            EQ FERNANDEZ - CAOCTF. The classic "now you see him, now you don't."

March 1985

Pres: Major Honasan, MOND

The fast fading year '84 has not been bad for Army Matatags. Remnants of IMETP for CY '83 have come back with their brand-new CONUS school badges (and the usual harvests of awards for academic excellence - despite dozing off in class) as another bunch has left to take their turn. Frau Sammy Zamora is in Germany for his GSC (PC's Egay Aglipay is taking the same course in U.S.A.) while kime Gopilan is being given extra-instruction by Ron Reagan's man, Director Casey, who earlier coached Ern Lumang and Mart Chioco.The rest are steadfast in their respective assignments, adding feathers in their caps (ready to fly now?).

Full Colonel (sir) Gringgo Honasan heads the '71 cast at MOND which includes Rudy Vasquez and Maryland-trained Rey Rivera. Bay Ibo is at GHQ along with Atty Oca Martinez, Gerry Albano, Rey Alcasid, and Huey Tabanda. Ging Cagurangan and Atty. Sac Sacramento insist on "following-up" their plebes in del Pilar. Nits Dallo is in RUC 3's AOR, exchanging wits with MSC's Mel Acosta who is stationed in Tarlac and PATC's Dong Tabamo, a recent graduate of Fort Gordon and now based in Nueva Ecija. Generously providing them logistics support is 3 MSP's Fred Rabara.

The other Army "die-hards" remain well-connected, with Engineers Caloy Garcia and Czar Gopilan (both former students at Ft Belvoir) holding the money bags for 51st and 52nd Engineer Brigades, respectively. There's Fort Benning doughboy Romy Dominguez (who also wields a supply diploma from Fort Lee) minding the operations at PACRIS; Rolly de Gracia, the transportation expert from Fort Eustice, honing to perfection his logistics management skill at OG4, HPA (this mistah is really proud of his newly-born corrected copy); and the two freshly-installed battalion commanders: Fort Lee alumnus Doy Francisco (who's chasing the terrorists in Ilocos) and SWAT boss Jake Malajacan, in Fort Bonifacio.

Ft. Benning schooled "Bouncy" Brawner is the dependable dispatcher at Metro Manila Transit; and overseas, tracking the whereabouts of Ranger Bert Boquerin, are Raffy Galvez , in L.A., Narsing Abaya in D.C., Johnny Velasco in the Big Apple and Estan David somewhere "south of the border". Ben Gange is doing great as full-time businessman after snatching a degree from AIM.

So there you are folks; that's the complete Army line up. Let's hear it from the PC, PAF And PN next issue. Maj G Honasan, PA President MOND.

Most of the members of the Class figured prominently in the February 1986 Revolution that toppled the regime of former President Ferdinand Marcos. Just like the West Point classes during the American Civil War, Class 71 found themselves in the opposite sides of the fence. One supporting Marcos and the other against. The only difference was that it was a non-violent warfare. Each side respecting the belief of the other. They agreed to disagree. When the smoke cleared, we were again one.

The following is a historical report of the events that transpired where many Matatags were the main actors. The idea is to refresh your memories as to where you were or what you were doing during this revolution.

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) At 6:45 p.m. on Friday, February 22, 1986, the Minister of Defense Juan Ponce Enrile and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lt. Gen. (later president) Fidel Ramos announced at a press conference that they felt Marcos had stolen the election. Therefore, they declared that they could no longer support Marcos and that Aquino was the rightful president.Subsequently, they barricaded themselves in two military camps: Ramos at Camp Crame, Headquarters of the Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police and Enrile at the Ministry of National Defense in Camp Aguinaldo. Both camps faced each other across EDSA in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Supported by only a few hundred fellow soldiers, Enrile and Ramos prepared for the inevitable attack by Marcos-loyal troops led by Gen. Fabian Ver, the Armed Forces Chief of Staff.

A few hours later, Radio Veritas—a Roman Catholic Church radio station which helped amplifying the voice of the Filipinos during the mass revolution and the only non-government-controlled radio station —replayed the press conference nationwide. Marcos himself later conducted his own news conference calling on Enrile and Ramos to surrender, urging them to "stop this stupidity."

At about 9 p.m., in a message aired over Radio Veritas, the highly influential Catholic Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin exhorted Filipinos to come to the aid of the rebel leaders by going to EDSA between Camp Crame and Aguinaldo and giving emotional support, food and other supplies. For many, this seemed an unwise decision since civilians would not stand a chance against a dispersal by government troops. Nevertheless, many people, especially priests and nuns, trooped to EDSA.

Radio Veritas played a critical role during the mass uprising. Nemenzo stated that: "Without Radio Veritas, it would have been difficult, if not possible, to mobilize millions of people in a matter of hours." Similarly, a certain account in the event said that: "Radio Veritas, in fact, was our umbilical cord to whatever else was going."

Rising mass support

At dawn, Sunday, government troops arrived to knock down the main transmitter of Radio Veritas, cutting off broadcasts to people in the provinces. The station switched to a standby transmitter with a limited range of broadcast. The station was targeted because it had proven to be a valuable communications tool for the people supporting the rebels, keeping them informed of government troop movements and relaying requests for food, medicine, and supplies.

Still, people came to EDSA until it swelled to hundreds of thousands of unarmed civilians. The mood in the street was actually very festive, with many bringing whole families. Performers entertained the crowds, nuns and priests led prayer vigils, and people set up barricades and makeshift sandbags, trees, and vehicles in several places along EDSA and intersecting streets such as Santolan and Ortigas Avenue. Everywhere, people listened to Radio Veritas on their radios. Several groups sang Bayan Ko (My Homeland), which, since 1980, had become a patriotic anthem of the opposition. People frequently flashed the LABAN (fight) sign, which is an "L" formed with their thumb and index finger.

Shortly after lunch on February 23, Enrile and Ramos decided to consolidate their positions. Enrile crossed EDSA from Camp Aguinaldo to Camp Crame amidst cheers from the crowd.

In the mid-afternoon, Radio Veritas relayed reports of Marines massing near the camps in the east and tanks approaching from the north and south. A contingent of Marines with tanks and armored vans, led by Brigadier General Artemio Tadiar, was stopped along Ortigas Avenue, about two kilometers from the camps, by tens of thousands of people. Nuns holding rosaries knelt in front of the tanks and men and women linked arms together to block the troops.Tadiar threatened the crowds but they did not budge. In the end, the troops were forced to retreat with no shots fired.

By evening, the standby transmitter of Radio Veritas failed. Shortly after midnight, the staff were able to go to another station to begin broadcasting from a secret location under the moniker "Radyo Bandido" (Bandit Radio). June Keithley was the radio broadcaster who continued Radio Veritas' program throughout the night and in the remaining days.

At dawn on February 24, Monday, the first serious encounter with government troops occurred. Marines marching from Libis, in the east, lobbed tear gas at the demonstrators, who quickly dispersed. Some 3,000 Marines then entered and held the east side of Camp Aguinaldo.

Later, helicopters manned by the 15th Air Force Strike Wing, led by Major General Antonio Sotelo, were ordered from Sangley Point in Cavite to head to Camp Crame.[23] Secretly, the squadron had already defected and instead of attacking Camp Crame, landed in it, with the crowds cheering and hugging the soldiers who came out. The presence of the helicopters boosted the morale of Enrile and Ramos who had been continually encouraging their fellow soldiers to join the opposition movement. In the afternoon, Aquino arrived at the base where Enrile, Ramos, RAM officers and a throng were waiting.

The Capture of Channel 4

At around that time, June Keithley received reports that Marcos had left Malacañang Palace and broadcasted this to the people at EDSA. The crowd celebrated and even Ramos and Enrile came out from Crame to appear to the crowds. The jubilation was however short-lived as Marcos later appeared on television on the government-controlled Channel 4, declaring that he would not step down. It was thereafter speculated that the false report was a calculated move against Marcos to encourage more defections.

During this broadcast, Channel 4 suddenly went off the air. A contingent of rebels, under Colonel Mariano Santiago, had captured the station. Channel 4 was put back online, shortly after noon, with a voice declaring, "This is Channel 4. Serving the people again." By this time, the crowds at EDSA had swollen to over a million. (Some estimates placed them at two million.)

In the late afternoon, rebel helicopters attacked Villamor Airbase, destroying presidential vehicles. Another helicopter went to Malacañang, fired a rocket and caused minor damage. Later, most of the officers who had graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) defected; the majority of the Armed Forces had already changed sides.

On the morning of February 25, Tuesday, at around 7 a.m., a minor clash occurred between loyal government troops and the reformists. Snipers stationed atop the government-owned Channel 9 tower, near Channel 4, began shooting at the reformists. Many rebel soldiers surged to the station.

Later in the morning, Corazon Aquino was inaugurated as President of the Philippines in a simple ceremony at Club Filipino in Greenhills, about a kilometer from Camp Crame. She was sworn in as President by Senior Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee, and Laurel as Vice-President by Justice Vicente Abad Santos. The Bible on which Aquino swore her oath was held by Aurora Aquino, the mother of Ninoy Aquino. Attending the ceremonies were Ramos, who was then promoted to General, Enrile, and many politicians. Outside Club Filipino, all the way to EDSA, about hundreds of people cheered and celebrated. Bayan Ko (My Country, a popular folk song and the unofficial National Anthem of protest) was sung after Aquino's oath-taking. Many people wore yellow, the color of Aquino's campaign for presidency.

An hour later, Marcos conducted the inauguration at Malacañang. Loyalist civilians attended the ceremony, shouting "Marcos, Marcos, Marcos pa rin! (Marcos, Marcos, still Marcos!)". On the Palace balcony, Marcos took his oath as the President of the Philippines, broadcast by the remaining government television channels and channel 7. None of the invited foreign dignitaries attended the ceremony for security reason (although Moscow sent a congratulatory message). The couple finally stepped out in the balcony of the palace in front of the 3000 KBL loyalists who were shouting to Marcos: "Capture the snakes!" First Lady Imelda Marcos sang one more rendition of "Dahil Sa Iyo" (Because of You), the couple's theme song, rather tearfully, chanting her trademark Tagalog entreaties:

Because of you I attained happiness
I offer you my love
If it is true that you shall enslave me
All of this is because of you.

After the inauguration, the Marcos family and their close associates hurriedly rushed to leave the Palace. The broadcast of the event was also cut off as rebel troops successfully captured the other stations.

By this time, tens of hundreds of people had amassed at the barricades along Mendiola, only a hundred meters away from Malacañang. They were prevented from storming the Palace by loyal government troops securing the area. The angry demonstrators were pacified by priests who warned them not to be violent.

At 3:00 p.m., Monday, (American time) Marcos talked to United States Senator Paul Laxalt,asking for advice from the White House. Laxalt advised him to "cut and cut cleanly", to which Marcos expressed his disappointment after a short pause. In the afternoon, Marcos talked to Enrile, asking for safe passage for him and his family. Finally, at 9:00 p.m., the Marcos family was transported by four American helicopters to Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga, about 83 kilometers north of Manila, before heading on to Guam, and finally to Hawaii.

When the news of Marcos' departure reached the people, many rejoiced and danced in the streets. Over at Mendiola, the demonstrators were finally able to enter Malacañang Palace, long denied to Filipinos in the past decade. Looting by overly angry protesters occurred, but mostly people wandered inside, looking at the place where all the decisions that changed the course of Philippine history had been made.

Many people around the world rejoiced and congratulated Filipinos they knew. Bob Simon, an anchorman at CBS said, "We Americans like to think we taught the Filipinos democracy; well, tonight they are teaching the world."

05 March 1988

A new set of class officers were elected to serve until our next hosting in 1991 unless sooner recalled by the class.

Vic Batac, Oca Martinez and Rey Rivera were elected as President, Treasurer and Secretary, respectively. Because Rey was posted in Mindanao Jake Malajacan is presently acting as Secretary. Selected as Service Reps were Levy Zamora for PA, Egay Aglipay for PC, Bert Sillona for PAF, and Bing Alano for the Navy. Ariel Domingo is recognized as the rep for all class members abroad.