Training ground under the Sulu sun

Training ground under the Sulu sun | Daily Tribune

LUUK, Sulu — Camp AKA, home of the 1102nd Infantry “Ganarul” Brigade soldiers, guardians of the second congressional district of Sulu, is more than just a military post. It is a home, a symbol, and a promise where history, heroism and hope converge.

Located in Barangay Bual, Luuk, Sulu, Camp AKA, covers an area of 42,315 square meters It is considered the heart of a modern Army, where the wind carries stories of courage and the soil remembers every footstep of sacrifice.

The camp was forged by generosity in the heart of Luuk, Sulu by the Arbison family, and was named in honor of the late Mayor Abdurahman K. Arbison (AKA), whose life-long service to the people of Luuk left an imprint as enduring as the land itself. The camp is a tribute to a legacy carved in compassion, leadership, and quiet strength.

Brig. Gen. Alaric Avelino delos Santos, the father of the 1102nd Infantry “Ganarul” Brigade, said the extraordinary generosity of the family of former 2nd district Congressman Munir Arbison Sr. has given birth to the modern military camp.

This once-barren ground has become the birthplace of one of the most advanced and dignified Infantry Brigade camps in the Philippine Army.

The donation did not stop at land — it extended to life-changing infrastructure: an administrative building that runs the pulse of operations; comfortable, secure Officers’ and Enlisted Personnel Quarters; a gym that fosters strength and camaraderie; and road networks that connect not only the camp but the community to the mission.

Delos Santos said these are not just structures — they are acts of faith in the Filipino soldier. Inside Camp AKA, the 1102nd Infantry “Ganarul” Brigade does not just train soldiers for war. “We train to protect peace. We lead not only with firepower, but with foresight and heart. Every soldier who walks its grounds carries something more than gear — we carry purpose.”

Additionally, Delos Santos said, “We train under the Sulu sun, we sleep under stars that know our fears and dreams. We salute not just the flag, but the idea that from this ground, a stronger, smarter, more compassionate Army will rise.”

Here, modern warfare meets timeless values. The digital battlefield is mapped alongside ancestral fields. Drones fly above rice paddies, the father of the 1102nd Infantry “Ganarul” Brigade and the youngest one-star general in the Philippine Army today.

Encrypted communications echo through halls built by the trust of local leaders, and the heartbeat of modernization blends with the soul of the tradition of the people in this part of Sulu.

But what makes Camp AKA truly sacred is the bond that binds us — soldiers, leaders and civilians — as one family.

When soldiers lace their boots, they remember why they serve. When they carry rifles, they also carry the stories of the land that welcomed them. And when they come home from patrol, they return to more than a barracks — they return to a place called Camp AKA, built by generosity, guarded by honor and destined for greatness.