Jay Mark Cubao

RO- B

Reaction Paper on
“History of the Armed Forces of the Philippines”
After reading the History of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. I have learned a lot of things.
The article plotted the biggest events in the history of the Philippines. It implies the different period of
time how the military forces of the Philippines transformed from a simple made weaponry to the
advance and glance of a world class Army. The article was great and interesting. It talks about how
Filipino soldiers endure the struggle just to keep the Philippine free from oppression. The article covers
the whole story of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 1521 which the bravery of Lapu-Lapu is
recognized as the first act of being a soldier of the country till the current times. The story sites the first
transitional declaration of the Philippine Army as former President Manuel L. Quezon renamed it as
Armed Forces of the Philippines. And Douglas McArthur was the first to manage the AFP and held the
position of Field Marshal. The bravery of the soldiers rather gives me the idea of what Filipinos really
are. The Filipinos maybe impotent in instrument in wage wars but the spirit of being a natural born
warrior will always appear in times of quandary.

The writer of the article perfectly highlighted the past happenings involving the development of
Philippine Military Forces. I can say that through stressing different periods of time is the best way in
presenting the remarkable challenges and struggles of the early soldiers of the country. The time of
Bonifacio for me was the leading timetable in the article. I have a background knowledge of this event.
And the event was exceptional because it portrays the quote of “Alipin sa sariling bayan”. The not
recognizing of independency was the most bias part of the article and it resulted war between Filipinos
and American but in this point of time the military forces of the country are lacking of powers resulting
of countless defeats. USA gains supremacy in mainland Philippines. The transitional period of
commonwealths was also remarkable as these agreements happened in a logistic manners that less
usage of weaponry, as Filipinos gained the independency in being a puppet of these dominant countries.
Also on the article, There was a war between barangays; a group of people in certain locality. Before
colonialism native Filipinos has battles between places to places gaining power from groups to groups.
This gives the idea of Filipino’s are territorial.

However, jumping into the present, Armed Forces of the Philippines are still lacking. In battle of
Marawi, in that point of time the Philippines is aiming independency from United States of America
resulting to avoid asking help for aiding the war. But the war ended through the help of Americans as
Philippines are still having a need of forces to suppress terrorism. I still hoping that we will gain that
power and show to the world that we can overcome circumstances all by our own.

The article “History of Armed Forces Of the Philippines” is very informative. It sites events
happened from the past that gives us ideas on how they fought for our freedom. The freedom we have
now. It portrays how the Soldiers through time protected the country. That even now it aims to get to
the peak. Through reading this article, Filipinos can proudly say that “Where I’m from, Everyone’s a
hero.