One emotional text message... Options

[PinoyOtaku]

Posted 04:25am (Mla time) Feb 15, 2005
By Job Belen
Inquirer News Service


TABACO CITY, Albay, Philippines -- At 9:16 a.m. on Feb. 8, a Tuesday, Marine 1st Lieutenant Reynaldo Ricalde called his sister Michelle and said he and his men had been ambushed but that he had only suffered abrasions.

Minutes later, he texted her and said: "Ipangadyi na sana nindo ako, bantayan si Mama saka si Jet-Jet (I hope you pray for me, take care of Mama and Jet-Jet)."

Jet-Jet, 10, is Ricalde's youngest of four siblings.

The following day, a message came from Camp Gen. Simeon Ola informing the Ricalde family that the 29-year-old lieutenant had died and extending the Armed Forces leadership's condolences.

Love for soldiery

Ricalde was among some 30 soldiers who have been killed in the eight-day-old fighting on Jolo Island between the military and Moro guerrillas.

A 1998 graduate of Bicol University and a licensed electrical engineer, Ricalde really wanted to become a soldier, said Michelle, 23.

"Even though he had already passed the board exams for engineers, he
joined the Army training in Tanay, Rizal, for several months but unfortunately he was not enlisted," the sister said.

Undeterred, Ricalde got into the Navy and was assigned to the Marines.

Military dreams

The eldest son of Jose and Sonia Ricalde graduated valedictorian from the Pawa Elementary School in this city and showed his bent for soldiery early.

He was corps commander of the Citizens Army Training in high school and held the same post in college when he took up the Reserved Officers Training Course (ROTC).

After completing ROTC, he took an advance military course, bent on going into military service.

Marietta Sanchez, who was Ricalde's Grade 5 teacher, described him as a responsible although silent schoolboy. She particularly remembered his legible handwriting.

'Happy birthday, sis'

Two days before his unit came under attack on Jolo, Ricalde made sure to get in touch with Michelle to wish her a happy birthday.

Family members said the AFP leadership had recommended that Ricalde be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Makati City, but they preferred that his remains be brought to the family residence here.

The body of the young lieutenant was to be flown to Legazpi City by military plane today.

Imagine recieving something like that....