THESIS AWARD. Army Col. Gulliver L. Señires (left) bags the bronze thesis award and silver medal in academic excellence as he graduated with 65 others at the National Defense College of the Philippines’ Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) Regular Course 53 on Monday (Sept. 10, 2018). Also in photo are Secretary of National Defense Delfin N. Lorenza (center) and Señires' wife, Jennifer, during the graduation rites in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. (Photo provided by Col. Señires)
IMUS CITY, Cavite – A ranking military official never expected he would bag the major academic awards that were kept secret until their graduation from the premiere military college - National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP). But, as far as this Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) official is concerned, he did his best in the top military academic institution.
But as the graduation rites unfolded at the Tejeros Hall, AFP Commissioned Officers Club House in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Sept 10, newly confirmed Philippine Army Colonel Gulliver Lapitan Señires, GSC (INF) PA with his wife in tow was surprised when the top graduate-awardees were announced during the occasion.
He shared he was truly honored as National Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana graced the event and congratulated him and a few other awardees.
Although he admitted to have exerted his best efforts in academics, Señires was a bit surprised when his name was called as silver medalist for graduating with a general weighted average (GWA) of 1.13 for his Master’ Degree in National Security Administration (MNSA) Regular Course 53.
And to add a feather to this cap, the military colonel also bagged the “Bronze Award” for this master’s thesis entitled ‘Localized Peace Process: Towards Creating a Geographically-adoptive, Mass-based Indigenous Transition Model’ from among the Top 10 shortlisted for the awards.
He was the only graduate in his batch who bagged two awards in separate categories, where the others merely excelled either in academics or thesis.
The ‘bronze’ thesis
Señires shared that “my thesis was an improvement of the program I initiated in Kalinga,” where he served as Batallion Commander of the 50th Infantry Batallion in-charge of internal security operations in Kalinga Province and 2 Municipalities South of Apayao Province.
He draws inspiration from his constant interaction with communities in far-flung areas in the countryside, including personal conversation with members of the New People’s Army (NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines) as he layed down and discussed various propositions to finally end the insurgency in the Region, as well as the whole nation.
According to Señires, when national efforts to forge peace with the CPP-NPA-NDF (or collectively known as CNN) fail, the threat is most felt in these (far flung, countryside) communities where extortion, encounters and disturbances happen.
“So I ask the question, when will these violence stop?”
His thesis highlights a “Reconciliation Program for NPA in Kalinga” as an offered solution to end insurgency in this Region, because based on his personal experience “the major reason why they (the NPAs) don’t surrender is because they have criminal cases, they don’t want to go to jail.”
Señires hopes that his thesis model, which is applicable in all areas in the Phils, an LGU led (and support from all sectors of society), where customary practice of indigenous peoples are applied and integrates former rebels into mainstream society as peaceful and productive citizens, if adapted by the AFP will put the 5 decades of armed conflict with the CNN to rest.
Groomed to be a priest, not a soldier
Growing up to an idealist lawyer as father, this third son of the late Atty. Godofredo Villarin Señires, Jr. and housewife Leonora Lapitan Señires was actually groomed to be a priest, “the supposed military in the family is our eldest, Godofredo III, he shared.
“Our profession (including his 3 other siblings) were somewhat planned before us, where one should be a soldier, an engineer, a priest and a journalist, “and my (late) father really took time to expose us where needed to somehow awaken these callings in us,” he shared.
He recalled the Sunday masses at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (also known as Baclaran Redemptorist Church) during his childhood years.
But, fate had his way, when his brother had “vision” issues, “we compromised to shift roles, he will be the priest and I will pursue a military career.”
Thus, this, then young ‘Menudo’ (an all male Latino boy band that was popular in the ‘80s) fan ended up in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), and joined the Philippine Army after he graduated in 1992.
NDCP’s MNSA Program
As peace and order plays a vital role in the country’s progress and development, the men and women tasked as administrators of the country’s national security must have the broad skills and proper attitude to perform their multifarious responsibilities, which is what NDCP’s MNSA program equips its graduates of.
The program provides the needed education in terms of analytical and conceptual skills to prepare them to meet the broad challenges emanating from the internal and external environment.
Señires was among the 65 who completed the course on this batch.
His classmates include officials from the civilian government agencies, private Sector, foreign military students (Sri Lanka Army, Bangladesh Navy, Indian Air Force, Pakistan Air Force, Nigerian Army, Royal Malaysian Air Force and Malaysian Army) and officers from the country’s military service branches such as Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy and the Philippine Army.
Señires treats the "MNSA time" more as an oppotunity to rekindle family ties, as “I have been deployed away from home most of the time, and taking the MNSA means having to spend more time with family, especially my wife and kids,” he shared.
But keeping the balance on his multi-roles, as a husband, father (to 3 children), son, brother and his duty as designated Army Group Coordinator (main task is to process release of support for Army students like allowance, POL allocation, uniforms including admin works like assignments, etc to the Philippine Army Headquarters), not to mention contending with 64 different personalities (a mix of intelligent, practical, experienced and deviant ones during the program), was the challenge he has to face.
“But as a military professional, this is your mission, where you must ‘properly’ work your way around, give it your best,” Señires shared.
Besides, the AFP ‘schooling’ process, from his Infantry Basic and Advanced Courses, CGSC and Master of Military Arts and Science from US Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Scout Ranger Class 125-96, and Master of Strategic Affairs from Australian National University, Acton ACT in 2008 has long prepared him for this.
Best practices he can share
“I just don’t listen to lectures during the class, I record them,” so he can go back, and review anytime.
Active participation during group discussion is also key, “be critical, if you don’t agree with the lecturer, then present your argument,” as the NDCP allows for ‘no-holds-barred’ discussion “as we are talking about our national security here.”
Señires also advised future-MNSA course takers to submit turn-ins in time, “don’t depend on deadlines, do your works in advance.”
Other than giving your best, most important is “to make sure you answer the question as clearly and concise as possible.”
“Enjoy the course, make friends that could widen your horizon and influence, this is the best take-away from the program.”
Lastly, focus on your studies, not the awards. “Self-improvement is your goal, the award will come naturally in the end.”
Other than Señires, the other thesis awardees include “Bronze”: Col Ferdinand Melchor C Del Cruz, GSC (MI) PA (Philippine-Malaysian-Indonesian Trilateral Cooperation to Cunter Violent Extremism: Challenges and Prospects) Silver Award: Col. Adonis Ariel G. Orio, GSC (INF) PA (“Large Scale Mining Industry in Agusan del Norte: The Implication of Natural Resource Conflict in National Security”); “Gold”: Capt. Mac Raul B. Racacho, PN (GSC) (“Fortifying Our Naval Bases that Secure our Seas”) and Capt. Jorge A. Ibarra, PN (GSC) for his thesis “Strategic Approaches Toward the Protection of Philippine Sovereignty Rights and Jurisdiction in Enhancing Maritime Security in the Philippine Rise.”
For Academic Excellence, the other awardees, include: Bronze Medalist Col Ferdinand Geminic P Ramirez GSC (FA) PA (GWA: 1.15), another Silver Medalist Col Roleen M Del Prado GSC (SC) PA (GWA: 1.10) and Gold Medalist Cdr. Norsal D. Dimaporo PN (GSC) for a GWA of 1.08.
Atty Suharto Ambolodto, from MNSA RC-40, joined the class during their graduation rites. (PNA)
