8ID welcomes the third wave of candidate soldiers

By DPAO, 8th Infantry Division, PA
June 28, 2010

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City, Samar  –  Another 200 young blooded applicants for the prestigious candidates soldier course were warmly welcomed by the Army’s 8th Infantry Division through a traditional opening ceremony followed by a military reception at Camp Downes, Ormoc City, around 10:30 A.M., on Saturday.

The newly opened batch of candidates is part of the 600 quota allocated by the Philippine Army to 8ID to complement both operational and administrative requirements of the command in terms of personnel matters.

It can be recalled that 200 candidates on the first batch were opened last May 12 and is still undergoing their basic military training at Camp Lukban in Catbalogan City while another 150 candidates were opened last June 16 and now in Camp Daza, Hinabangan, Samar also for their basic training.

This new batch will undergo their basic training in Camp Downes, Ormoc until they graduate.

Just like in previous opening, the ceremony was also graced by the 8ID’s Chief, Major General Arthur Tabaquero as speaker.

He reiterated to the new batch of candidates the same reminder he gave to the first two batches.

He told the candidate soldiers that taking an oath means being separated from their families that they have to overcome it as they overcome the tough and rigid training.

“As your training goes on, you will be honed and developed into disciplined, determined, courageous, mentally sharpened and loyal soldiers of our nation”, General Tabaquero includes.

“May you value the opportunity of being one of the chosen out of the thousands who keep on dreaming to join the ranks of the living heroes”, the good general adds.

"Rest assured that you will be trained professionally by our professional trainers and instructors to the best of their capabilities", vowed Tabaquero.

Despite of distance from Camp Lukban, the top military officials and enlisted personnel of the command went over to Ormoc to support the incoming soldiers of the region.