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Not Even The Sky Is The Limit

Message of Lt General Oscar H Rabena AFP CG, PAF

Change of Command CAS, 7 Jun 10

Amenities…

Presiding over change of chief of office ceremonies, such as what we have just witnessed, brings to mind the irrefutable fact that the Air Force has the good fortune of having a pool of consummate leaders whose leadership skills, character and experiences fit the tide of history and time.

This morning, we JUST witnessed the changing of the guards at the Office of the Chief of Air Staff. Jawaharlal Nehru’s words reverberated in my mind when this renowned Indian statesman once said: “if the wheel of change moves on, those who were down go up and those who were up go down.” How correct he is for if we will pore literally to the movements of our key officers – one is “going down” south and the other is “going up” here. Whatever this new development connotes, their movements, I am certain, will give a new lease of dynamism, not only to the PAF organization, but also to the careers of these two fine gentlemen as they venture into another milestone in the military profession.

Major General Jess Fajardo, after a prolonged stint as our Chief of Air Staff, is now our new Commander of the 2^nd Air Division, leading the Air force of the Visayas in our ISO campaigns, peace initiatives and nation building efforts. Our outgoing CAS departs after over a year of dealing with our most important Staff requirements for the Air Force.

At the beginning, I know that Jess has not realized that I set quite a lot of goals and targets for our Air Staff and has given a lot of very specific tasks to that of my personal staffs, But he easily acclimatized himself and did successfully rise above all expectations. He ably made sure that the goals and targets I have set were met and that all the tasks were complied with.

A dyed-in-the-wool tactical man, he didn’t just “hover” during his stint as the overseer of our A-Staff concerns. He pushed the cyclic all the way forward while making appropriate collective corrections like instilling discipline among our officers and men. Initially, I thought that only the PAF Flying School or the tactical schools or units use the “star system” to reward young people who have excelled or perhaps give punishment to those who failed to do their job. But thanks to General Fajardo, we have our own version of the “star system” right here at HPAF Staff..

This system, in case some of you do not know, prevents our A-staff or any senior officer from being tardy or from forgetting to turn off their cell phones during conferences. I was told that some didn’t take it seriously at first but because they saw how General Fajardo was so serious about it, they finally got it stuck into their head and routine. A simple strategy that proves to be very effective. (In jest) Jess, I’m sure the moment you started this wala na sigurong na-late sa mga conferences and even during these change of office ceremony.

Aside from ably coordinating the many and varied workings of our entire Air Staff, he also personally monitored the improvement of the PAF Museum, the War Room and Operations Center, the repair of our chapel, and initiated the careful designing of the murals at the flagpole area at the Grandstand. He also pushed for the rigid implementation of “ENERCON” or energy conservation program and the installation of electric meters in all government quarters here at CJVAB. And of course , who will fail to forget the Delinquency Report or DR system – siya rin ang masugid na maipatupad ito in the Phil air Force.

Further he pushed for the conduct of champagne flights for all our retiring Air Force general officers. These last flights make the leave-takings of our Generals more memorable; but it will also give them that special chance to reminisce and experience once again those vivid memories of long ago when they were flying these aircraft.

The list is still long but the only thing I want to stress is, I am grateful to General Fajardo’s unremitting shore-ups to me as Commanding General; to his jovial company as my “mistah” and neighbor at 3^rd floor; and, most importantly, for his fine work and significant contributions as our Chief of Air Staff. I know that you will continue to bring that same vigor and work ethics as you lead the men and women of the 2^nd Air Division and that we can always count on you to deliver results. Kaya palakpakan natin si Major General Jess Fajardo! (Applause)

To warm the Chief of Air Staff seat after General Fajardo is Brigadier General Larry Dela Cruz, formerly our 205^th Tactical Helicopter Wing Commander. Larry is categorically not a stranger here at HPAF. His stint here started with his successive designations as Operations Officer, Athletic Officer and Chief of Admin and Plans and Programs Chief of HAS, HSSG. He then moved to OA-3 as the Chief of the Airlift Branch and then as Assistant Director of Command Operations Center.

Following brief stays at the then 570^th Composite Tactical Wing and 100^th Training Wing, he went back here at headquarters as Director for Local training at OA-8 then as Chief of Protocol Branch and became the Acting SAS for almost a year. After four years of respite from the hustles and bustles of HPAF, and stint as the Director for Operations of 15^th Strike Wing, Larry came back as A-3. We can definitely rib him and say na “kahit siguro sa dilim, alam ni Larry ang kasulok-sulukan ng HPAF building”.

(Say in jest) I was told that some HPAF staff are tensed about the comeback of the original “Larry – the amiable Larry”. Well, I would like to take this moment to assure all of you that Larry have mellowed down a lot, right, ‘di ba, Larry? His gracious smile should be enough to take the edge off their unfounded fears.

But, kidding aside, Larry’s seemingly, well, he may be strict but he is a sincere friend and he knows how to take care of his colleagues and subordinates. Balita ko ayaw siyang paalisin sa -205^th Tactical Helicopter’s Wing – well, it’s because, under him, they were able to record a lofty rate of 89.40 percent of missions performed in support to ISO. Despite pecuniary and aircraft spare constraints, it did not dampen the spirits of the 205^th men and women to be innovative, judicious and efficient in their maintenance practices, resource management, effective planning and forecasting for optimal aircraft operation.

Lest I forget, thanks to General Dela Cruz, 205^th THW has gone “hi-tech” and is making sheer effort to create a “paper-less” office works. All of the Wing’s functional areas are now monitored in terms of workloads via the Management Information System (MIS). Some of their IT-based programs include their Aircraft Monitoring, Warehouse Inventory, and Electronic Bluebook. And, just recently, they have launched the aircraft mounted laptop prototype with GPS to aid our pilots with vital in-flight information such as location of friendly and enemy troops.

That is the reason why we feel he would bring with him his experience when he was Commander of the 205^thTactical Helicopter Wingin making improvements here at HPAF and in the Air Force as a whole. These are just some of the proofs of General Dela Cruz sagacity as an officer and leader. Hence, it is indeed a pleasure to welcome him back at HPAF and I look forward to working with him as our new CAS.

Ladies and gentlemen, I envisioned an In-STEP Air Force and I was truly fortunate that I have fine men, like our two key officers this morning, who have contributed greatly in slowly but surely making our vision closer to full realization. It is then with great pride that I designated them into their new positions where once again they have that great chance to strut their stuff. Rest assured, gentlemen, that I already have a lot of new requirements, new responsibilities and challenges for you in your new positions and I know you will handle with the same grace, character and competence you demonstrated in your former jobs.

Although we have accomplished much as a Service, although we have delivered in the face of the overwhelming odds, although we are now the In-STEP Air Force, I still expect to be better and better and better in everything that we do. Faces and personalities may change every now and then but our goal and mission remains the same – coordinated efforts of our Air Staff, in our short and long term strategic planning, in the maintenance of our standards as an Air Force, to name just a few – and thus our drive and desire to make this happen must continue to build up as well and carry us more rapidly ever forward.

Let us keep in mind that in working alone, we are limited by our individual weaknesses; but in working together, there is simply no limit – not even the sky. Synergy in vision, purpose and values is potent. That was what I pictured and prayed for when I laid down the toeholds towards our betterment as a Major Service. I cannot do it alone. I need every hand, every mind, every heart on board. I need the full support and backing of every officer, airman and civilian employee to put those words into action and in so doing engender tangible results.

Automaker, Henry Ford, said it best with his words, and I quote: “If everyone is moving forward together, success takes care of itself,” unquote. Let us be united in everything that we do in order to become the finest In-STEP Air Force possible.

To General Dela Cruz, I have no single iota of doubt that with your acumen and capabilities, you will be exacting in ensuring closer coordination of our A-Staff. Our Staff still have a lot of work to do and a lot of our targets and goals are still to be met. I fully expect you to make certain we get it all done.

General Jess Fajardo, I expect you to further uphold and maintain the high standards of the Air Force there in the Visayas as our new 2^nd Air Division Commander. The existence of our Air Divisions serve as embodiments of the PAF’s effort to continue and enhance its role in internal security and other concerns. Please ensure that the 2^nd AD will be PAF’s good quintessence in the Visayas. A unit that all the Visayan people will be proud of.

I wish our two Generals all the best in their new responsibilities as CAS and Division Commander.

May God continue to bless us and the Philippine Air Force. Thank you and let us all have a good day ahead. Maraming salamat.