Ateneo ROTC Batch Dasig ‘21-’22 Graduation and Change of Command Ceremony

On 30 May 2022, Ateneo ROTC held its Graduation and Change of Command Ceremony for Batch Dasig '21-'22 This formal celebration was for the eighty-five (85) basic cadets who successfully completed NSTP-ROTC 11 and 12. In addition, Ateneo ROTC also bid farewell to five (5) advanced cadets who have honorably served and fulfilled their duties as part of the Ateneo Corps of Cadet Officers. 

In his opening remarks, Dr Leland Joseph R Dela Cruz, the Associate Dean for Student Formation, expressed his gratitude to the Philippine Air Force for its continued guidance in the formation of the ROTC cadets. Furthermore, he extended his congratulations to the now-retired cadet officers, citing the exemplary performance of the ACCO in previous years, and wished the incoming First Class (1Cl) and Second Class (2Cl) cadet officers all the best this coming year.

After Dela Cruz's remarks, the commandant, LTC RITZA ANN M JOVELLANOS PAF (GSC), officially turned over the graduates of the NSTP-ROTC to the 1st Air Force Wing Reserve. They were then formally received to the reserve force by LTC ROLDAN R VARGAS, who also led the cadets in their Oath of Allegiance.

The second highlight of the event was the Change of Command ceremony. The outgoing corps commander, C/COL MARIELLE G MONTERO 1Cl, officially relinquished her duties and responsibilities to C/MAJ JAEANE SHANE V SANTOS 2Cl as the incoming corps commander of Ateneo ROTC for the school year 2022-2023. In their speeches, the previous and current corps commanders emphasized the value of working with their fellow cadet officers, instilling discipline and trust, and experiencing growth in the AROTC as a person for and with others.

Finally, the Guest of Honor and Speaker, LTC ANTONIO JOSELITO G LAMBINO II PAFR (MNSA), an AB Communications alumnus, concluded the ceremony with a message about passion, compassion, and dispassion in the cadets’ discernment process towards meaningful action in their role as future Air Force reservists.

In his message to the cadets, LTC LAMBINO PAFR highlighted passion, compassion, and dispassion: “I think it is helpful to know our passion – or what we feel strongly about, our compassion – staying woke and feeling the heartbreak from human suffering, and dispassion – maintaining the emotional distance necessary to assess options, especially with the analytical tools our academic disciplines have provided us. I am confident we will all find our way to meaningful lives as Ateneans and reservists of the Philippine Air Force. To our graduates, congratulations and welcome to the Philippine Air Force Reserve. May you take on this new identity with the fire of your passion, the clarity of dispassion, and the humility of compassion.”

Overall, the ceremony was a complete success. With messages of hope and farewell for the graduating cadets and the incoming batch of cadet officers, they can now move forward as reservists who are instilled with the values promoted not just by ROTC, but also by the Ateneo as an institution. 

We offer our sincerest congratulations to the graduates of NSTP-ROTC, and to the now-retired officers of the Ateneo Corps of Cadet Officers from Batch Makinang 2019. Long live the Wing!