Oriental Mindoro, The Philippine Marine Corps: Two Diamonds at 75
Long before the Spanish era, the island of Mindoro was supposedly already a hub of trade, its people engaging with Chinese merchants.
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Daily TribuneLong before the Spanish era, the island of Mindoro was supposedly already a hub of trade, its people engaging with Chinese merchants.
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This November, two diamond anniversaries are being celebrated -–the creation of the province of Oriental Mindoro and the organization of the Philippine Marine Corps.
A diamond, the most precious of stones, derives its name from the ancient Greek word adamas, meaning “invincible.” It is a fitting metaphor for these two entities that have withstood the test of time and emerged stronger with each passing year — my beloved home province, Oriental Mindoro, and my brothers-in-arms, the Philippine Marines.
Oriental Mindoro: A province
of progress and promise
Long before the Spanish era, the island of Mindoro was supposedly already a hub of trade, its people engaging with Chinese merchants. So abundant was its natural wealth that the Spanish named it Mina de Oro — “mine of gold.”
Under Spanish rule, Christianity took root. The American regime ushered in education, infrastructure, and commerce, laying the groundwork for modern development. Though World War II and the Japanese occupation brought devastation, the resilient Mindoreños swiftly rebuilt their communities and institutions.
On 15 November 1950, by virtue of Republic Act 505, the island province of Mindoro was divided into two provinces, Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro.
Today, 75 years later, Oriental Mindoro stands as a testament to progress and promise. It became a first-class province, I can proudly say, in 1991, during my term of office as Governor. The capital of the province, Calapan, became a component city in 1998 and is currently the regional capital of Region IV-B, MIMAROPA.
It has a population of close to a million. It is the rice granary and fruit basket of the Southern Tagalog region. It is the banana king of the region and the calamansi king of the country. It has one of the most famous tourist spots in the country, Puerto Galera, which UNESCO has declared a biosphere reserve. It is home to the world’s one and only “tamaraw.”
Happy 75th Anniversary, Oriental Mindoro — truly a mine of gold!
The Philippine Marine Corps: ‘Karangalan, Katungkulan, Kabayanihan’
Also born in 1950, through AFP General Order No. 319, the Philippine Marine Corps began as a company under the Philippine Naval Patrol. In the decades since, the Marines have become synonymous with courage, discipline, and unwavering service. The Marines live their core values of “Karangalan, Katungkulan, Kabayanihan” (Honor, Duty, Valor).
From battling the Huks, pirates, and smugglers in the Sulu Sea to confronting private armies and insurgents, the Marines have always been at the forefront of the nation’s defense.
They distinguished themselves in the quelling of the secessionist uprising in Southern Philippines and in counter-insurgency operations. They played a major role in the campaign against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2000, the Zamboanga siege in 2013, and the Marawi siege in 2017.
They guard the frontiers of our nation — from Batanes in the north to Tawi-Tawi in the south, Cagayan in the east to Palawan and the West Philippine Sea in the west.
It is because of the Marines that the citizens of our nation can sleep soundly, knowing that it has a military force that is anchored in discipline, united in purpose, and leading the archipelagic defense. A force that is the “most ready” to defend the nation without fear and without fail.
Happy 75th anniversary to the few, the proud, the Philippine Marines!
