Basco, Batanes – The Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines (ARRAPI) inducted 700 new members from the Philippine Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps during a mass oath-taking ceremony here.
The national organization, known as ARRAPI, aims to recruit, organize and mobilize reservists across the Philippines. With the backing of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or AFP, ARRAPI has grown to more than 5,000 active reservists in just one year, contributing to national defense, disaster response, humanitarian assistance and civil-military operations.
The ceremony was led by ARRAPI Chairman Lt. Col. Michael L. Romero, a Philippine Air Force reservist, alongside the ARRAPI Board of Trustees: Lt. Col. Vladimir Mata, a Philippine Army reservist; Lt. Col. Mel Agpaoa, a Philippine Army reservist; Lt. Col. Joy Torres, a Philippine Army reservist; Cmdr. Peter Negrido, a Philippine Navy reservist; Lt. Col. Floreto Solano, a Philippine Army reservist; Lt. Col. Gel Bonggat, a Philippine Navy reservist; and Col. Yay Lacson-Hizon, a Philippine Air Force reservist.
Senior AFP leadership supported the event, including Maj. Gen. Danilo Dupiag, AFP acting OJ9; Capt. Liberty Gamueta, AFP OJ9 ODD chief; Col. Belle Manambao, NOLCOM U9; and Col. Mark Yambing, 2nd Air Force Reserve Center commander.
A key highlight of the ceremony was the participation of Governor-elect Ronald “Jun” Aguto, who took his oath as a Philippine Air Force reservist.
He affirmed his readiness to serve as both an elected leader and a citizen-soldier. Outgoing Governor Marilou Cayco, already a commissioned Philippine Navy reservist, also formally joined ARRAPI, underscoring her continued commitment to public service beyond her gubernatorial term.
“ARRAPI’s mission is to organize, unify and empower our reservists nationwide,” Romero said. “Batanes has shown the country what it truly means when public servants and ordinary citizens come together in the name of service and patriotism.”
The 700 newly inducted members, who include government employees, educators, barangay officials, youth leaders and professionals, will serve under ARRAPI in close coordination with the AFP Reserve Command. They will contribute to community defense, resilience-building and humanitarian outreach.
Cayco, on the other hand, expressed her enduring commitment to service.
“Though my term as governor ends, my duty to serve remains,” she said. “Joining ARRAPI allows me to continue giving back to the country as a proud reservist.”
Aguto added a strong message of leadership through service.
“I am proud to take this oath with my fellow Ivatans,” he said. “Batanes will be a province that leads in peace, preparedness and patriotism.”
With its rapidly growing strength, ARRAPI continues to solidify its role as a vital partner of the AFP, bridging civilian leadership and military preparedness.
The Basco ceremony is now recognized as one of the largest mass inductions of reservists in the region, setting a national benchmark for grassroots mobilization and civic-military cooperation.