AGFO WEBSITE

1. UPHOLD AND SUPPORT THE PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION.

2. PRESERVE AND PROTECT DEMOCRACY IN OUR COUNTRY FOR JUSTICE, LIBERTY AND FREEDOM TO ALWAYS PREVAIL.

3. HELP SUSTAIN THE MORALE, ESPRIT DE CORPS AND DISCIPLINE IN THE UNIFORMED SERVICES.

4. PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF FILIPINO VETERANS AND RETIRED SERVICEMEN.

5. ATTAIN AND SUSTAIN THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS AND PROPER DECORUM AMONG MEMBERS.

6. TO MAKE AGFO A POTENT ASSOCIATION WITH PATRIOTIC AND DEDICATED MEMBERS.

The idea of forming an Association of Generals and Flag Officers was first conceived in 1965. Direct action on the idea started when a group of star men got together in the house of Major General Guillermo Francisco to discuss matters that would lead to forming an organization. Subsequent gatherings continued to become larger, until, finally, at a dinner given by former Chief of Staff and later Secretary of National Defense General Ernesto Mata, definite steps to formally organize were undertaken. It was decided to register the Articles of Incorporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission with the end in view to forming a non-stock corporation which will exist for a term of fifty years. The purposes for which the corporation was formed are spelled out as the follows:

a. To work and defend, as we have done in the past, the preservation of the Republic so that justice, liberty and democracy shall always prevail;

b. To render assistance to any undertaking for the advancement of the general welfare of the people.

c. To render assistance or take action necessary to protect and advance the welfare and interests of the Filipino veterans of all wars.

d. To work for the advancement and protection of the welfare and interest of the retired officers and men of the AFP;

e. To set an example to all officers and men of the AFP of the spirit and comradeship, military courtesy and proper conduct and decorum so as to preserve the honorable tradition of loyalty and patriotism of the men in uniform.

By January 1966, there were 45 original members. This was the list of 45 submitted and registered with the SEC. In deference to seniority and age as well as representation by the different services, the selection of officials was done with the end in view to giving as adequate representation in the board. Members of the Board were major General Guillermo Francisco, President; Lieutenant General Alfonso Arellano, Vice-President, Lieutenant General Pelagio Cruz, Director; Commodore Jose Francisco, Treasurer; Commodore Jose Andrada, Auditor; and Brigadier General Roman Gavino was elected Secretary and Asst. Treasurer, Brigadier General Leoncio Tan was chosen Legal Officer. Committees for membership, programs and housing along others were formed in order to carry out the organization and business of the corporation.

Originally, General Arellano who was then USND allocated a room at the DND Building for temporary Office of the AGFO. The Secretariat was housed there and office equipment and clerical help were provided by the Defense Department. At the Induction of the first batch of officers, President Ferdinand E. Marcos was the inducting officer. Subsequently, the President has condescended to induct succeeding Boards as change occurred from time to time. The President has on every such occasion called the organization to help in the development of the country.

By negotiations and a lot of a cajoling on the part of the founding members, the AGFO was finally able to acquire by purchase and term payment the outgrown Clubhouse of the Camp Aguinaldo Golf Course, an installation conveniently adjacent to the Central Officers Club, the swimming pool, and the Aguinaldo Tennis Courts. Slowly, it began to build up its facilities by donation from other influential and affluent members, or by purchase from savings of initial fees of members.

The period from 1966 – 1979, saw AGFO expand its facilities to include provision for a function room, a recreation room, a canteen, and four air conditioned rooms for transient members.

Because of this unique position, and membership, the AGFO got involved in activities purportedly to live up to its avowed objectives. The USND frequently south the advise and recommendation of AGFO members. A screening Committee for the selection of General Officers in the Armed Forces was informally existing for a time. Most of the AGFO programs at the time consisted of sports, briefing by the Army, the Constabulary and the ISAFP, and other comradeship activities to promote the welfare of its members. Sports competitions included monthly golf, tennis and badminton matches among the members and was even expanded into dual, meets in golf and tennis with the Stripes (group of executives who were formers reservist who served in World War II), and some other organizations (Veterans Memorial Hospital, Tennis Clubs and other business entities).

Arrangements for drawing pensions were done by the Secretariat as a public- service feature of the organization. Pensioners would get their checks from the Secretariat and then stay for a short time to chat and play parlor games like chess, checkers, bridge and other indoor pastimes. An enlisted man detailed at the AGFO served to wait on members at the bar, for drink and coffee. The AGFO Clubhouse thus became a center of activity, and even widows of deceased members were invited to social affairs two or three times year.

The Association also negotiated for a sale of a site at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina with plots exclusively for AGFO members. This site is appropriately delineated by a symbolic marker which mirrored the logo that has been adopted in 1968. This logo has likewise been reflected in some stickers and decals that had been distributed to the AGFO members.

One of the accomplishments of the association was the effort to bring as close as possible a representative sprinkling of the retired as well as those in the active service. There was a time when the organization was beginning to be considered as composed only of the retired general officers. This misconception was slowly erased and as of now almost 80% of active-duty generals were voluntarily drawn within the folds of the organization. We consider the efforts to expand the membership from 45 in 1965 to 85 in 1986, 145 in 1972, 260 in 1983, 430 in 1986 and 479 in 1990, and 679 in 2002 as one of the major accomplishments of the various team of directors elected to manage the corporation.

Also, since its organization, AGFO has been governed by a set of By-Laws that has never been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission as envisioned. However, the initial By-Laws underwent several changes adopted to cope up with the demands of the times. In June 2000, a Special General Assembly was called to act on the new proposed AGFO By-Laws. The Assembly approved the By-Laws and which was immediately submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission for approval. During the Regular Board meeting in July 2000, despite the absence in the agenda for an election of officers, the June 2000 By-Laws was prematurely implemented by declaring all positions vacant followed by an election of a Chairman, a President and other officers. This triggered an organization crisis which could not be immediately resolved. Hence, because of the unwarranted and unscheduled election and change of structural organization in November 2000 unanimously approved and declared the June 2000 By-Laws null and void and re-adopted the old AGFO By-Laws as well as had the June 2000 By-Laws withdrawn from the SEC. The Old By-Laws was restored and amendments were made that now required the General Assembly to elect directly a Chairman/President from among the elected directors. The AGFO By-Laws was finally approved on August 3, 2001 after the first original AGFO By-Laws found from the SEC archives.

As its activities became more assertive and as the issues and problems of national security changes, minor irritations and varying views in national affairs became more pronounced. The Organization thus become a forum wherein divergent views were reconciled and where questions of relevance to the Armed Forces, were answered freely and candidly. Results gathered from informal and heated discussions on sensitive security cases, the subsequent campaigns against the dissident, the secessionist movements, and even attempts to destroy the image of the Armed Services, were relayed to members who were in position to destroy the image of the Armed Service, were relayed to members who were in position to take action on such matters. There was a time when one of the directors was assigned to liaisons with the congress to monitor progress of legislation affecting the retirees. Some members of AGFO were able to run for election to the Constitutional Convention but only two were formally elected. These two were requested to reflect the views of AGFO in certain security matters.

In one of the first briefings of the AFP at GHQ, at the War Room at Camp Aguinaldo for benefit of the AGFO, where most of the members were present in annual convention, Lieutenant General Pelagio Cruz, then the President, thanked Amb. Manuel Yan, then the Chief of Staff, for his invitation to the briefing and remarked " in behalf of the AGFO, I want you to know, that we the retired general still feel we belong to the Armed Forces. When you accomplish something outstanding, we feel just as proud of you. When the AFP gets a mark for any reason whatsoever, we too are embarrassed. We are part and parcel of the AFP, the organization we do deeply love and to which we have dedicated the best years of our lives".

The declaration of Martial Rule (PD 1081) caught the association flatfooted both in its timing and it its severity. Immediately the AGFO south an audience with the Chief of Constabulary upon whom the great burden of implementing the Presidential Proclamation was reposed. The audience was granted and the association pronounced approval of the moves of the Administration and offered the services of AGFO (collectively or individually) to the New Society.

The association has been trying to assert itself in matters that affect veterans and retirees. It spearheaded the pension-equalization move when the wide gap between premartial law and post-martial law pay pension had been apparent. It contributed greatly in getting modest adjustments of the pensions of retired personnel. Assemblyman Lucas Cauton, a member of AGFO, and other veteran friends at the Interim Batasang Pambansa had done a lot for their fellow veterans. The Retirements Act now in effect has undergone a lot refinements during its study and final forum in sessions conducted at the AGFO Clubhouse.

The Registry of Generals and Flag Officers of the AFP was first published in 1979. This research work was undertaken to properly chronicle the services of the Filipino officers who have attained star rank from the Philippine Revolutions to the present. They need not be members of AGFO, since membership to its voluntary. A more refined editions is now in the process of production. This edition will mark the end of the work of the Registry Committee as it was envisioned that subsequent updated versions will be published in separate volumes including therein only members of the Association.

In line with the accelerated infrastructure development in Camp Aguinaldo, the idea of having a distinctly designed Clubhouse came into reality in 1980 when then Chief of Staff allotted a piece of real estate upon which to erect a permanent building. A generous (P1M plus) donation from an illustrious benefactor brought the New Clubhouse to a reality. It is located in a choice area and is uniquely designed to reflect the bright future of the AGFO. Now members will not have to be too apologetic to visitors about the inadequacy of its facilities. Ten years later, the same benefactor donated a substantial addition to the infrastructure and facilities to keep in step with times. In 1999, the same benefactor once again donated a substantial sum of money to use in the expansion, repair and acquisition of facilities thus making the AGFO Center more spacious and beautiful. The AFP Leadership and Major Service Commands provided equipment and funds to develop the whole AGFO complex into what it is now. Fund raising activities (raffles and golf tournaments) were undertaken to augment AGFO’s capital funds. Now the Association has sufficient funds not only to support its yearly programs, to include “abuloy” to its “departing members.

The members of the association through their elected members of the Board and the elected officers are relentless in their effort to expand the AGFO and to be able to assist in the accomplishments of its avowed objectives. As the association increased its membership, it has likewise increased its social and kindred activities and have drawn even the wives and dependents into the vortex of social life. The germ of an idea wherein members could participate in business and other development projects however, remain still a concept. Assistance in bringing the AFP closer to the people is still very much in the suggestion state. There is till a lot of things to do if the association will live up to the lofty purposes for which it was originally conceived, otherwise, it will lapse into a simple fraternal and social organization with pretenses of elitism.

There is no doubt that the general officers, both on the retired and in active serve can be welded into a very influential segment of our community. As an organization, the generals can constitute a potent group and it is most fortunate that the members of the association, both retired an in active service, are still endowed with patriotism, high ideals, great devotion to duty, loyalty to the national security organization, an love of country.

With the active and aggressive Board behind the AGFO and with unstinted support of the members, there is only one direction that AGFO can go - - - FORWARD!