The Yano legacy

It has finally dawned on us that the service to the nation of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Alexander Yano is finally coming to a close on May 1.

We were in some kind of state of denial when we heard the initial announcement that General Yano is retiring much earlier than the originally scheduled June 13 turnover. The latest news is that he is relinquishing his post to his successor, Philippine Military Academy (PMA) classmate and Army chief Lt. General Victor Ibrado, and that he will be named Ambassador to Brunei.

At first, we did not want to believe the news. Of course, we knew that General Yano is slated to retire this year but we had somehow hoped that the Yano leadership of the AFP would somehow last just a little bit longer. But, as the Streisand ditty goes, some good things never last.

Despite the short stint, General Yano will be leaving very vivid, fond and positive memories of the face of the AFP that many, particularly the local business sector, may not have seen before.

As far as we can remember, General Yano is probably the first and only AFP chief to have rung the bell at the Philippine Stock Exchange to signal the start of the day’s trading.

The gesture was more than just symbolic. General Yano’s presence at the bourse marked some kind of “reconciliation” between the business community and the AFP. It will be recalled that prior to General Yano’s assumption, the business community had reeled under the adverse effects of military adventurism capped by that unfortunate takeover of the Manila Peninsula.

When the AFP chief rang the trading floor bell on that day of his memorable visit, he sent the clear the signal that the days of military adventurism that sent many investors packing are over, at least while he is in charge of the military sector.

That was not to be General Yano’s last interaction with the business sectors. That event was quickly followed by dialogues with several major business organizations, including the influential Management Association of the Philippines, where he patiently spoke of the plight of the Filipino Soldier in battle and briefed leading figures in the country’s business community including the likes of Washington Sycip on how the AFP is using taxpayer money in the fulfilment of its combat and non-combat missions.

In the process, General Yano won not only the sympathy of the business community but its admiration as well. Our colleagues in the business sector have told us many times how business leaders have reached out to the AFP through financial and material assistance for scholarships and livelihood for the families and children of our soldiers, thanks to the representation of the Highest Ranking Soldier of the Land.

General Yano has surprised many of our business leaders. Some of them have told this column that they were puzzled as to how someone so low profile and so soft-spoken as General Yano could command so much respect and generate so much understanding and support for the AFP.

Our businessmen-friends say it is the AFP chief’s humble ways which has won so much goodwill for the institution he represents. The AFP chief’s winning ways have definitely healed the wounds inflicted on the business sector in the past by a handful of rogue elements within the military.

General Yano will leave behind an AFP that is better understand and better loved by the Nation it serves.

A grateful business community salutes him.

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