Vanguards of the Philippine seas fulfill their duty to protect and defend the nation’s maritime borders through self-discipline, strict adherence to operational readiness and a strong commitment to service.

The demand for military service in the Philippine Navy reflects various challenges due to the country’s unique geography and dispersed archipelago.

With this, Navy spokesperson Captain John Percie Aquino Alcos highlighted the Philippine Navy’s vision of transforming itself into a “modern and versatile naval force” that is “adaptable to the nation’s maritime defense and development needs.”

“We want to become a modern naval force for the people, specifically for the Filipino people. That will not matter if our countrymen will not realize that the Navy works for them and the Navy actually belongs to them,” Alcos told the DAILY TRIBUNE in an exclusive interview.

The Philippines boasts an extensive coastline and thousands of islands, making law enforcement complex due to the country’s strategic maritime location.

Hence, Alcos emphasized the country’s efforts to develop a sustainable fleet buildup to effectively fulfill its mandate of securing territorial waters. This initiative is part of the ongoing modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the implementation of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept.

This capability development aligns with the country’s current security needs in its territorial waters, particularly in asserting sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) — a region rich in natural resources and strategically important to claimant nations.

Alcos’ wide-ranging expertise makes him particularly valuable in navigating the current security challenges the Philippine Navy confronts.

His expertise in surface warfare, intelligence, education and training, finance, planning and personnel management can be utilized to enhance the operational efficiency and long-term stability of the Philippine Navy, earning him the title — “man of service.”

Even before being designated as the Naval Public Affairs Office director and a concurrent spokesperson, Alcos had advocated for the Philippine Navy to be “more visible and felt by the public.”

“That had always been my goal — to make sure that every Filipino I meet, they will know that they have a Navy that they can rely on anything, whether in peacetime or crises,” he said.

While the Navy further strengthens its capabilities, Alcos noted it has never left the Philippine waters, including the WPS.

“We’ve been there 24/7 for several decades already. We have never stopped patrolling not only the West Philippine Sea but every inch of our maritime areas and jurisdictions,” he said.

Sailing seas

Alcos, a native of San Pablo, Laguna, is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy “Banyuhay” Class of 2002.

After completing his time at the PMA, Alcos pursued further education and training, both locally and internationally, to expand his knowledge and skills as a naval officer.

He completed the Naval Command and Staff Course with the highest academic honors and graduated near the top of his class in the Defense Services Command and Staff Course abroad.

Alcos finished a Master’s degree in Business Administration at Ateneo Graduate School of Business, where he was a consistent Dean’s Lister, and a Master of Science in Defense Studies.

As a skilled naval officer, Alcos held several positions in the Philippine Navy and the AFP.

He became the Foreign Liason Officer for the Navy chief and was eventually appointed as the deputy commander of the Offshore Combat Force. He was then designated as a chief of the Combined Training Division of the Joint and Combined Training Center.

Stint as peacekeeper

Alcos was also deployed as a Peacekeeping Staff Officer at the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in Israel and Syria.

Before it was decommissioned in December 2021, Alcos served as the final Commanding Officer of BRP Miguel Malvar (PS19), the most decorated warship in the Philippine Navy and the top vessel among the Malvar Class Patrol Vessels of the Offshore Combat Force.

He completed his skipper duties at seas aboard BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17), a High Endurance Cutter, in December 2022; BRP Magat Salamat in February 2021 and BRP Ismael Lomibao in August 2018.

Dedicating service to the nation, Alcos was honored with several awards and commendations, including the Distinguished Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Star.

Twist of fate

None could have anticipated that Alcos’ life would take a crucial turn — a twist of fate, many would say. Alcos was the firstborn among the four siblings.

In contrast to who he is now — a bubbly and sociable spokesperson, Alcos was an introvert during his younger years.

Growing up with limited financial resources, Alcos conquered life’s challenges at a young age.

“My dad left because he had to work abroad. I think I was only seven when I took on a lot of responsibilities as the oldest son. We did not come from a wealthy family. We had enough, but we were not rich,” he shared.

At first, Alcos wanted to be a doctor because he knew could serve more people in need of medical attention. He initially took up a Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Santo Tomas.

“Maybe, it was ingrained in my subconscious that my purpose in life is [to provide] service to others. So, I took up BS-Biology first in UST,” he said.

Alcos was about to take the path he desired, but fate has other plans for him.

After a year of serious studies in college, he became obsessed with basketball, causing him to drop out.

“Because of my love for basketball, I got kicked out of UST (University of Santo Tomas). I was not attending school. I was just playing basketball all the time,” he revealed.

Eventually, his mom decided to stop him from studying. He was sent home to San Pablo, Laguna.

As a dropout, taking care of his cousins became his routine on returning to the province.

“Every morning, I go to the marketplace to buy groceries. Then, I go straight to my grandparents’ house. I’ll cook, then take care of the babies and go home after,” he shared.

Joining the military was not his first choice. Until, one day it suddenly dawned on him.

“One Sunday morning, I woke up in my room. Then, I was looking at the corner of the room. Then, I remembered what my mom said: ‘If I want to continue my college, it should be in San Pablo,” he said.

From that moment, Alcos recognized the signs — or the proverbial writing on the wall.

“Eventually, 20 years from that time — that was 1996. I said: ‘I’ll be in the same bed looking at the same corner in the ceiling.’ So, I prayed. I said: Lord, tell me what to do. Show me what is in store for me,” he recalled.

“We normally have newspaper deliveries only on Sundays,” he noted.

Alcos went out to his room. He decided to sip a coffee, sat on the balcony, and read the newspaper. That’s when he noticed the PMA’s (Philippine Military Academy) advertisement.

“There’s a newspaper in front of our home. You know, when I opened the newspaper, I saw the application form — stating: ‘Be a PMA cadet’ and then I applied as a cadet in the academy,” he said.

Without his mother’s knowledge, Alcos applied to the academy and underwent selection process. His military career started after passing the PMA entrance examination.

Leadership: Guiding light

While in uniform service, Alcos was able to expand his abilities and perform his duties. He acknowledged that leadership is “wearing different hats at the same time.”

His leadership style revolves around the mantra: “Mission first, family always, God above all.”

In his 23 years of service in the military, Alcos had only two goals — first, was to be promoted as Navy captain. The second is to command a Philippine Navy warship.

“I have achieved both already. So as an officer, I feel that I have achieved my goals when I entered the Navy. But now, I see that there are still many things that need to be done. There are so many things that need to be done for us to realize the Navy’s vision of being a modern and multi-capable Navy,” he said.

Alcos emphasized that a commanding officer of a naval warship must always remember that people “will look up to you as their father or a friend.”

“Depending on the situation, sometimes you act as a counselor. Most of the time, you play the role of a disciplinarian. But always, you are the guiding light — the person who points your men in the right direction,” he said.

Believing that a leader should inspire their team to accomplish a mission, Alcos stated:

“If you cannot motivate your men to achieve the mission, then you’ll never be an effective leader. I always see myself as an inclusive leader rather than an exclusive one.”

He stressed that a leader must ensure their team has all the necessary information to perform effectively. Without this, team members may struggle to understand their roles or the mission’s objectives.

Alcos also acknowledged the shift in his current role within the military — from being actively involved in naval operations at sea to becoming the face of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Naval operations are very dynamic, and I miss working with highly technical people. I miss the challenge. But if you want to make a significant contribution now, I believe the biggest impact you can make is to be out there in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.

As a spokesperson, Alcos — along with other AFP representatives — plays a crucial role in keeping the Filipino people well-informed about the country’s efforts to assert its sovereignty and sovereign rights in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.