History of the AFP
Reserve Force
The AFP
Reserve Force known today is the constitutionally mandated citizen armed force composed
of able-bodied citizens organized, trained, equipped and maintained primarily
to provide the base for expansion of the AFP’s Regular Force in the event of
war, invasion or rebellion, as well as assist the government during disasters
or calamities, in socio-economic development and in the operation and maintenance
of essential government or private utilities in the furtherance of the AFP’s
overall mission. The citizen soldiers alternately referred to as reservists, compose
the Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). They are incorporated
into the Reserve Force based on their qualifications.
The reservists are members of the AFP but they are also civilians who
have careers outside the military during peace time and during crisis and/or
war time, they are soldiers who are called upon for training and/or service
when necessary.They are known for being the patriotic men and women who
dedicate their time and effort for the service of the country. For many years,
reservists have contributed much to the AFP and to the nation and they have
been regarded for their volunteerism and dedication. But before the existence
of the modern day reservist, the notion of a citizen soldier or militia has
already been around in many forms for hundreds of years, from the Pre-Colonial
Period to the early 19th Century from which the modern day Reserve Force was
born.
Pre-Colonial Period
1521
– When Ferdinand Magellan landed on the Philippine shore, he met stiff resistance
from the fearless Lapu-lapu and his band of brave warriors in the famous Battle
of Mactan on April 27, 1521. Lapu-lapu’s heroic act led to him becoming the symbol
of the modern day reservist as can be seen in the official seal of the Laang Kawal.
Spanish Colonial Era (1521-1898)
July
7, 1892 – The Katipunan was founded with three fundamental objectives: to
“teach the ideals of patriotism and democracy, to foster the highest type of
brotherhood among the members, and to promote chivalry and civic virtues for
the glory of their grace”. The Katipunan formed the nucleus of the Revolutionary
Philippine Army.
1896
– The Filipino-Spanish hostilities started and the revolution broke out.
Artemio Ricarte led the revolutionists in attacking the Spanish garrison in San
Francisco de Malabon (Mapagtiis). He defeated the Spanish forces and the civil
guards as well as the officers who were taken prisoners. Meanwhile, Andres
Bonifacio personally led an attack at San Juan Del Monte to capture the town’s
powder magazine and water station which supplied Manila. The Spaniards were
outnumbered and fought a delaying battle until reinforcement arrived. By then,
Bonifacio’s troops were drove back with heavy casualties and regrouped in
barrios nearby. The Katipunan, composed largely by provincial units’ dependent
on particular leaders, was neither a militia nor a conventional army. It was
only on October 31, 1896 when Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo proposed a republican
government in Kawit, Cavite and organized a regular army. It was called the
“Army of Liberation of the Philippines” which was largely a volunteer army
composed of three corps comprising ten thousand men.
1897
– The Philippine Revolutionary Government and its Army were born on March 22,
1897 at Tejeros, San Francisco de Malabon in Cavite. Artemio Ricarte was unanimously
elected to the post of Captain-General of the Army which corresponds today to
the exalted post of Chief of Staff of the AFP.
1898
– General Emilio Aguinaldo declared Philippine Independence from Spain and formed
the first Philippine Republic, in which he sat as its President. Additionally,
on October 25, 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo through the wisdom of Antonio N.
Luna authorized the establishment of the Academia Militar to train field grade
officers of the revolutionary Army. However, it was deactivated on January 20,
1899 due to the resurgence of the Filipino-American hostilities.
1899
– Tensions between Filipinos and Americans erupted into a full-scale war when a
Filipino soldier was shot dead by an American trooper on February 4, 1899.
Aguinaldo immediately responded to the American challenge by declaring war the
following day. The Philippine army initially fought a conventional war but
eventually shifted to guerrilla warfare in mid-November 1899.
Insular Government (1901-1935)
1901
– The Americans established the Insular Government, a United States territorial
government established by the Tydings–McDuffie Act, designed as a transitional administration
in preparation for the country’s full achievement of independence.
1905
– The Philippine Constabulary was established as a school for military officers
in Intramuros, Manila and produced its first graduates the following year. The school
was renamed the Academy for Officers of the Philippine Constabulary in 1918,
and then the Philippine Constabulary Academy (PCA) in 1926. Today, the PCA is
fully known as the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) created under the
Commonwealth Act No. 1 of 1935 or the National Defence Act.
1912
– Training of male college students on “military drill” was introduced in the University
of the Philippines as part of the different degree courses offered of the colleges
which were already established. At the same time, basic military science in the
first two years became a requirement for graduation of all male students.
1917
– The Philippine National Guard was established as a militia that was created
by the Philippine Assembly in 1917 to serve under General John Pershing in
Europe during World War I. It had 25,000 soldiers when it was absorbed by the
National Army. However, it was not able to see action for it was only mustered
into federal service on Armistice Day and would never leave the islands. After
the war, the entire National Guard unit was deactivated, and its officers were
placed on the reserve list.
1922
– Department of Military Science and Tactics was established in UP and the 2-year
Basic Military Science Course and 2-year Advance Course became the precursor of
the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
World War II (1939-1945)
1941
– When World War II broke out, two regular and ten reserve divisions of the Philippine
Army undertook the defence of the Philippines. These divisions were incorporated
into the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) under the command
of General Douglas McArthur. President Manuel L. Quezon issued Proclamation
Number 740 on 01 August 1941 transferring the Philippine Army and Philippine
Constabulary to the control of the U.S. Army.
1942
– Ten (10) Reserve Divisions composed of professionals, businessmen, ROTC
graduates, the School for Reserve Commission and former cadre trainees and
volunteers were then mobilized and subsequently inducted. They fought valiantly
against the Japanese Imperial Army for the defence of the country and later on
final defence of Bataan and Corregidor as they delayed the timetable of
aggression until the day of liberation.
1942-1944
– A ragtag group of former ROTC Cadets, Guerrilla Fighters and draftees of the
Philippine Army Reserve Force collectively known as the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas
formed units among themselves and fought gallantly against the Japanese invaders
during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.
Philippine Independence (1946-present)
1968
– On September 15, 1968 upon the insistence of graduates and cadets of the University
of the Philippines (UP) ROTC, and under the able leadership of Captain Benjamin
Vallejo, the now famous “Sunday Soldiers” came into being. A purely voluntary-civic-military
undertaking sponsored by the University Chapter and the UP Department of
Military Science and Tactics (DMST). This program was designed to make
participants therein to be Citizen Soldiers – good motivated citizens and
effective loyal soldiers. The volunteer concept became popularly known as the
“Rainbow” Ranger training. In the 70s, the Philippine Home Defense Program was
established accelerating the administration and training of the Reserve Force
based on the ‘weekend warrior’ concept, and the organization and utilization of
reservists to assist in the socio-economic development.
1977
– The Metropolitan Citizen Military Training Command (MCMTC) was activated on
April 1 which supervised the implementation of the ROTC Program in Metro
Manila. A provisional Army Reserve Command was activated pursuant to General
Orders Number 250, Headquarters Philippine Army (HPA) dated September 1
absorbing the personnel, records and equipment of the defunct Reserve Affairs
Unit (RAU) of the Philippine Army.
1986
– After the EDSA Revolution, the Army Reserve Command was shortly deactivated
since the AFP at that time needed to undergo retraining and re-organization.
1987
– The 1987 Constitution was ratified which provided for the establishment of a
citizen armed force, mandating a pool of Citizen Soldiers of the State to
address the national security challenges.
1989
– The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Reservist and Retiree Affairs,
OJ10 (Now OJ9) was established as one of the Joint Staff of the AFP to cater to
the needs of the reservists and retirees.
Birth of the Modern Reserve Force (1991-Present)
1991
– The Republic Act Number 7077 (Citizen Armed Force or AFP Reservist Act of
1991) was enacted which operationalized the citizen armed force and which would
be organized, trained, developed and maintained to ensure their readiness to
immediately respond to the call to service. It directed the AFP to organize and
maintain units with the sole purpose of reservist management and organized the
reserve force into five components:
1. Army
Reserve Component;
2. Air Force
Reserve Component;
3. Navy
ReserveComponent;
4. AFP-Wide
Technical Reserve Component; and
5. Affiliated
Reserves.
1992
– The Reserve Command, Philippine Army (Now Army Reserve Command) was reactivated
pursuant to General Orders Number 388, HPA dated 12 May 1992 and became a major
Philippine Army unit tasked to implement the Reservist and Retiree Affairs
Plans and Programs.
1993
– The Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Command (AFPRESCOM) came into
existence after the enactment of Republic Act 7077. General Headquarters AFP
activated AFPRESCOM on April 1, 1993 from the personnel and facilities of the
defunct Metropolitan Citizen Military Training Command or MCMTC.
At
the time of its activation, AFPRESCOM was mandated to provide for
thedevelopment, organization, training, administration, maintenance and
utilization of the Citizen Armed Force as a base for rapid expansion of the
AFP. The Command also provides administrative control and supervision over
Affiliated Reserve Units whose services and utilization are national in scope.
2001
– Republic Act Number 9163 or National Service Training Program Act of 2001 (NSTP)
was established making NSTP a requirement for all college students.
The Reserve Force at Present
The Deputy Chief of Staff for Reservist and Retiree
Affairs, the AFP Reserve Force continues to pursue plans, programs and
activities for the development of the Reservist and Retiree Affairs.
History bears witness that even before the colonial
period, the concept of a Citizen-Soldier or a Citizen Armed Force has already
existed. From the early inhabitants of the Philippine Islands to the modern
Filipinos, we are almost always willing to fight for the sake of our land and
our people.
Over time, we Filipinos have exhibited a keen and
uncompromising sense of territorial defence and have not hesitated to act
forthrightly, even if our lives were at stake. Alongside our renowned heroes,
there were many brave men and women who also fought on the side lines but they
are not that much celebrated because they were only regular citizens that
linger in the background and shadows of our rich patriotic history.
It is only until the early 1900s that the importance
of these Citizen Soldiers were recognized upon the establishment of the legal
mandates that now serve as the basis for the institutionalization of the
current Citizen Armed Force or the Reserve Forceof the Armed Forces of the
Philippines.