Honor and duty of the heart

This week I was invited to the retirement of General Tristan Kison. It was my first-ever retirement ceremony to attend. I decided to go because General Kison, who was head of NCR Com, has always been very supportive of my Pasig River efforts — particularly the River Warriors. He lent his men to do the training. He even went to the graduation. He attended our second General Assembly where we awarded the exemplary River Warriors with their first “heart” medals. You know how the military awards stars? Well, we decided to award “hearts.”

Though my schedule was very tight, I adjusted everything to be able to accommodate the event. I was not prepared for how touched I would be. I didn’t know that Titan (as he’s called) was such an excellent public speaker with easy rapport with the audience — many times speaking extemporaneously. His sister and brother in law are ABS-CBN executives so I have always felt quite comfortable with him.

While the ceremony was going on I looked at the men in the field. They were standing at attention and didn’t flinch an inch. I was struck by the discipline. Titan gave his well-applauded valedictory and then it was time for the parade. The officers and the men who had been standing at attention for over an hour on the field commenced to do a parade of honor for the general.

Then Titan stood up and walked to the field to acknowledge their parade. At that point what I felt was the heart of a man — one who had served his country for 37 long years. I wonder how that must have felt for him. For me, I was hit with a wave of emotion. It was like one phase of life was over. I felt the dignity and honor of the life he’d led and then the compassion of the man who stood up to acknowledge his troops. It was very, very moving. As he stood up — a solitary figure saluting the troops passing by — it was like flashes of a life on parade before him. I really wonder how he felt. I wonder how generals feel. I have talked to the military men and women who have helped in the cleaning of the estero. They tell me when they go home it is just to give their clothes to be washed — and then they have to go back to camp. There is no overtime pay. It is a tribute to Army wives that they keep the family intact. In this scenario they are every bit heroes as well.

Author Gina Lopez with General Tristan Kison

I wondered how Titan’s wife and his two children felt. Surely their hearts must have burst at the seams with pride for having a father who was so dutiful. The military can be quite rigid. There are rules and regulations and a strict chain of command. What struck me about Titan is his heart. His heart had continued to be — and bloom in military service. There is probably much more about the military than we need to know about. 

It’s people like General Kison who make the Armed Forces of the Philippines shine.

In one lifetime, I was in the army (if you can believe in this… it is my repeated experience during regression sessions). I fought battles. I fought for truth and justice. And I made mistakes. What I have brought over from those lifetimes is a being that resonates with honor and duty.

Maybe this is why General Kison is standing up after 37 years of service — honor and duty in his heart, ending one phase of his life and about to start another. I made me emotional. Emotional enough to write about it today.

Honor and duty. To a higher cause. This is such an important basis for life, and for the country. I salute you, General Tristan Kison, for a life well-led. I salute your wife and your children — for standing by you as you served your country. I, and your country, wish you well in your future endeavors ahead. Perhaps the best is yet to come.

And I salute the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who continue to serve the country unselfishly with honor and with duty.

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I can be reached at regina_lopez@abs-cbn.com.