MAIKLING KWENTO
A Soldier's Chronicle
By Arianne Angela Solis

IT IS eight o'clock in the evening and the sound of firearms have ceased down. I do not know when will the rebels fire back, but I am much sure that they are just looking and waiting for the right time to attack us.

My cadets are resting now inside their barracks, and here I am, Lieutenant Luis Andres Abad, sitting beneath a tall coconut tree and writing another event in my life.

I used to play toy guns with my playmates when I was young- too young to know what peace--or love--is all about and too naïve to realize that the gun that I was holding would change the course of my life forever.

Few years have passed since my childhood and I grew up to be a gentleman and the game of guns was still in my system. I decided to enter the military academy. I became fond of George Patton and even memorized his line: "The object of war is not to die for one's country but to let your opponent die for his own." I become a military student, graduated with honors and soon after, I married a beautiful young lady who nursed my wounds during my training years inside the camp.

I thought my life is somewhat similar to a fairy tale, but fairy tales don't come true.

During the government conflict in Mindanao, I was sent there together with the rest of newly trained cadets. This would be my worst assignment ever. I had to spend months on muddy swamps and deep forests, fighting rebels. I do not understand why Filipinos like us had to fight each other just to get what we wanted. Is it because of principle? Beliefs? Religion? Ego, perhaps? I myself, a soldier of high rank still cannot heed the events that are happening on my surroundings--my own country.

On the continuance of this warfare, I have become aware of the words peace and love. I am old enough to understand the entire incursion that is taking place around me. I am sensitive enough to feel the loneliness whenever I remember my family. I feel my men's pain, the sorrows that they have inside their hearts. But we must go on and face the consequences of our profession, even if it costs of giving up our own dear lives.

Recently, I have received a news that soon, we will be returning to our homes for the President have released an order to conduct a peace talk with the Moro rebels. We are so happy here in the camp for this order have given us a new hope, a guarantee that after all our hardships that we had in the battlefield, there is still a chance for us to reconcile with our own families.

Also, I am glad that the government and the nonconformists in Mindanao had opened their minds to the bloody reality that was taking place because of this nonsense war. For once, everyone was given the providence to feel what tranquility and reconciliation mean.

As I end up this long story of my life, I just wanted to share this piece of event of my existence that taught me that the way to a perfect and prosperous country is not by violent movements but the willingness to survive not only for ourselves but also for our countrymen.

Commander Luis Andres Abad
Lamitan, November 2001

This piece was Angela's official entry to the SSCR's 2002 Literary Fest, Short Story Category.

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