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Come One , Come All !
It is with pleasure that AGFO invites everyone to our home base with what the eye can appreciate as one enters .
Likewise , AGFO encourages availment of the facilities / amenities inside for gatherings, events and / or affairs subject to rules / policies.
This presentation is my first and only report to the general membership and covers the following: (1) Introduction, (2) Status of Membership, (3) Welfare of Members and Dependents, (4) Activities for Association Year 2025, (5) Status of Special Projects, (6) Financial Summary, (7) Conclusion. I have served two - 3 years consecutive terms or six consecutive years as a Trustee from 2020 to 2025, and elected as President and Chairman of the Board for 2025. My term as President and Chairman for 2025 coincided with my 6th year as member of the Board of Trustees, hence as per AGFO Bylaws, I have served six continuous years as a Board member which bars me from seeking another term.
Introduction
The Association is celebrating its 60th year this year at a time that our country is facing challenges and aftermath of calamities.
As conceived by our Founding Fathers in 1965, AGFO’s principal purposes consist broadly of the following: (1) advocating the preservation of the Republic and working for the benefits of the veterans and the retired uniformed personnel, (2) inspiring those in the active service to preserve their organizational ethos- ethical principles, values, and standards of performance, or professional expectations- to enable them to reach, maintain and enhance their operational effectiveness, and (3) ensuring the continuity of the Association through sound resource management, fund raising initiatives, and continuous recruitment of new members.
Membership Status
As of today, the Association has 975 members broken down as follows:
AFP- 562
PNP- 274
PCG- 99
BFP- 22
BJMP- 18
For 2025 we have 32 new members:
AFP:
BGen Danilo Dupiag PA BGen Herbert Yambing PA
MGen Arturo Roxas PN(M) VAdm Alexander Lopez PN
RAdm Nichols Driz PN LTGen Charlton Sean Gaerlan PN(M)
LTGen Rafael Valencia PA BGen Elvin Hermogino PN(M)
LTGen Antonio Nafarrete PA BGen Jude Ejercito PAF
BGen Jesus Lomeda PA RAdm Dorvin Jose Legaspi PN
MGen Aldwine Almase PA BGen Manolito F Montiel PA
General Andres C Centino PA. RAdm Jaime S Bernardino PN
PNP:
PGen Rodolfo Azurin PMGen Albert Ignatius Ferro
PMGen Bartolome Bustamante PLTGen Benjamin Magalong
PMGen Ronaldo Olay PMGen Alex Sintin
PMGen Joseph Ulysses Gohel PBGen Roque Eduardo Vega
PBGen Sterling Raymund Blanco PMGen Belli Tamayo
PMGen Eric Noble
PCG:
Adm Damian Carlos PCG
BJMP:
JCSupt joel Superficial
JDir Rosendo Dial
JCSupt Romeo Ogoy
JCSupt Rebecca Pawid
For this year, 18 of our members have joined our Creator:
RAdm Rudyard Somera BGen Telesforo Tayko Jr.
Commo Plaridel Garcia PGen Oscar Calderon
PBGen Merardo Abaya RAdm Antonio Siapno
BGen Remy Tigulo MGen Joel Marayag
BGen Ernesto Dauz BGen Andrew Regacho
BGen Ismael Musico BGen Isidro Fajardo
MGen Reynaldo Rivera BGen Francisco Jucutan Jr.
BGen Lamberto Sillona Commo Miguel Tabares
LTGen Eduardo Ermita. Commo Alfredo T Romualdez
Welfare of Members and Dependents
The welfare of our members is at the forefront of the Association’s priorities.
To facilitate the issuance of entry cards of authorized vehicles, the Camp Commander conducted a decal caravan in the AGFO Center on February 20, 2025. The caravan screening staff issued entry cards owned by 70 members and their authorized dependents.
LTOPF Caravan on 28 May 2025 at AGFO Center, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City with 28 members and dependents as beneficiaries.
PTCFOR Caravan on 08 Oct 2025 at AGFO Center, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City with 41 members and dependents as beneficiaries.
In partnership with the AGFO Foundation and VMMC, 70 members and their dependents received their anti-flu and anti-pneumonia vaccine shots on October 7, 2025 at the AGFO Center.
Our limited admin staff personnel continue to assist our members visiting the Center in various concerns and ensure the upkeep of the compound, including the social hall where many of our members conduct their social gatherings.
Activities for CY 2025
On core activities, in addition to the mandatory annual membership meeting and election, the Board of Trustees conducted a total of ten (10) regular and one (1) organizational meeting. In these meetings the Board approved a total of fifteen (15) resolutions, subject to ratification by the general membership.
I am happy to report that all plans and program for CY 2025 were successfully conducted. Other unprogrammed activities were also successfully conducted.
Special Projects Update
Report of VAdm Emilio C Marayag Jr, Chairman of the AGFO Registry Committee.
On AGFO’s Registry Book, the Committee reports that the actual release of the publication maybe delayed by few weeks due to the untimely illness of the contracting partner. The Committee has been doubling its efforts for the past 2 weeks to finalize the layout for printing and eventual publication. The project started 4 years ago but the digital copies of the previous editions were unavailable and the Committee had to start from the scratch. In summary, only 585 individual entries have been submitted out of the 950 members. This latest edition features limited data about the members, a complete list of current and departed members, inclusion of the AGFO Foundation, a description of the AGFO logo, and other information that portray the history of the association. For the first time the President and Commander-in-Chief conveys his special message, and so with the Secretary of National Defense. I wish to lift a part of the President’s message and I quote: “Within the 5th Edition of the AGFO Registry Book, we find a noteworthy list of those who stood for a life given to the preservation of public order, carried through the temper of discipline and the precision of thought.”
Summary of Financial Status
From January 1 to October 31, 2025, our gross revenues coming from Membership Dues & Fees, Dividend Income, Interest Income, Fund Raising Activity, Rentals and Others is P3,772,430 while our expenses for the same period totaled to P2,861,667 giving us a net income of P910,763.
Further, our Balance Sheet as of October 31, 2025 reveals the Association has a total asset amounting to P37,098,197 with P2,147,478 as current and P34,950,719 as non-Current assets and a net worth of P36,611,275 after the deduction of our liability in the amount of P486,922.
From the non-current assets, P31,185,614 was invested in AFP-accredited financial institutions and one private financial institution earning us P2,252,270 as of October 31, 2025.
The Association maintains savings account in the Philippine Veterans Bank for routine and other expenses.
To note, our fund raising activity for this year’s golf tournament has a gross of only P860,000.00 as compared to last year with an amount of P1,125,000. More AGFO Golf enthusiast and aspirants are encouraged to join.
Lastly, this financial data reflects only for the period stated and will be completed by December 31, 2025 following our fiscal year.
Conclusion
For 2025, activities fostering fellowship and camaraderie among members were successfully carried out. Combined fellowship-advocacy activities and service caravans were conducted each quarter. Several public statements were released by AGFO on prevailing relevant issues such as anti-corruption drive, AFP's non-partisan stance, Constitutional order, the Arbitral ruling on the WPS and call for a fair, orderly and reliable mid-term elections. AGFO’s position on important national issues were heard and the message effectively conveyed not only to our internal audience but to the external audience as well. On welfare, several equipment were donated to VMMC and in tandem with AFI, anti-flu and anti-pneumonia vaccination were given to our members and dependents. As listed in previous paragraphs, our calendar was full of activities. Significantly, our AGFO Center has been repaired and given a major facelift, a priority at the start of this year.
After six decades, the AGFO that our Founding Fathers have envisioned has grown a lot, not just in the number of members but importantly on the services and benefits it has provided to the members and dependents. AGFO works for the welfare not only of its members and dependents but for the entire members of the MUP both active and retired. This is evidenced by AGFO’s initiative together with other MUPs for the MUP pay adjustment for 2024-2027. Through the years, as we grow in membership, we become more united and strong. AGFO has become relevant, we must be proud of our organization.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a meaningful commemoration of our 60th founding anniversary! Mabuhay!
This year marks a milestone as we celebrate sixty (60) long years of the Association of General and Flag Officers (AGFO) Inc. which is considered a significant event to celebrate and remember with prayers and thanksgiving.
In this journey of sixty (60) years, we may still recall memories of the past, although may not be vividly, memories of the past. We cannot simply ignore but look back to where we started. The road to our journey may not all the way smooth sailing as trials and challenges served as experience factors. Opportunities and difficulties were part of the strife that shaped us to better choices and decisions. Just like any business enterprise, organization and association, the start was very challenging, seemingly hard and yet satisfying. It was our resolve to achieve what we desired and aimed for the Association that helped us hurdle the test of time.
Looking back at this journey of sixty (60) years of AGFO, we acknowledge with pride and distinction, the encouragement and support given us in all our efforts and undertakings. With strong faith and determination, we had metamorphosed into what AGFO stands for; to work for and defend, as we had done in the past, the preservation of the Republic of the Philippines so that justice, liberty and democracy shall always prevail, to advance the welfare and protect the interests of its members, including the veterans and retired officers and serviceman and to help maintain the high state of morale, esprit de corps and discipline in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
Let us consider this 60th Milestone Anniversary of AGFO an occasion not only to reckon for ourselves what we had achieved in life but also more importantly on AGFO relevance to country and people, its members and other stakeholders. We at AGFO, seek to implore the noble purpose in life as in PMA Cadet Prayer “which seek fair deal with everyone, spurns all form of pretense, subscribe to the principle that places general interests over personal interests and finally to trail the difficult paths righteously than stray on the easier ways.”
This AGFO souvenir newsletter/magazine is dedicated to all members, our families, love ones and friends who are close to our hearts to include those who supported us in our 60 years of challenge and struggles. . . . . for we are all well aware that our growth and success are due in large part to your support and trust on us. We do not want to miss this opportunity to convey our sincerest appreciation in this regard.
We thank all of you for being part of our Journey! To all of you who had inspired us, this is our Journey of 60 years and beyond . . .
This shall serve as our Memorabilia as we continue our Journey.
RADM EDGARDO D TAMAYO AFP Ret MBA MNSA
Chairman Publications Committee and Membership Committee
Defense Modernization and National Security
LtGen. Edilberto P. Adan AFP (Ret)
(A Presentation to Pres. Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. in Malacanang by the Military Uniformed Personnel Groups on Sept. 19, 2025)
Dear Mr. President,
Your avowed policy of strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces in order to be able to fulfill its mission to defend our territory and national sovereignty is praised by the Filipino people and truly reflects their will. Investments in our nation’s defense is a hallmark of patriotism and commitment to preserve our values as a people: freedom and democracy, adherence to the rule of law, citizens’ welfare and human rights.
As former servicemen our hearts continue to beat with our soldiers and security frontliners. Your pledge to “do our best to provide you with the resources and benefits so that you can do your duty” resonates among all of us and extends to the farthest detachments of our Armed Forces.
We eagerly watch and feel the sense of danger of our coast guardians, sailors and marines whenever our ships and aircraft on patrol or resupply missions are harassed, bullied and intimidated by Chinese patrols now normalizing their illegal presence in our EEZ.
Our strong economic ties with China , with at least 30% of our imports coming from that country alone, is both beneficial to our people and at the same time poses the risk of dependency. Chinese investments in the manufacturing, infrastructure and technology are significant including in sectors that have national security implications. Ensuring that these investments align with national interest and security is a continuing task requiring focus and resolve.
We watched with admiration your bold decision to close the POGOs that had the net effect pf polluting the moral values of our citizens and promoted international crime. Your decision hit badly certain sectors of our economy such as the labor and housing markets but is seen by the world as wise leadership and moral ascendancy for not sacrificing the long-term welfare of our people for short-term but pernicious gains. The unearthing of the Bamban complex ran by Chinese syndicates exposed the extent to which China applies its asymmetric operations to undermine our political and economic structure.
The Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept launched by the DND brilliantly captures the imperative need to secure our EEZ rights, sea lanes of communication and maritime territories beyond the mainland, including the untapped resources of the Benham Rise. Their security secures the future of many generations of Filipinos.
The factual reporting of our government spokesmen on China activities in the West Philippine Sea and the consistent and sustained messaging that DND and the Office of the President provides the world and our allies the true situation, and corrects the lies peddled by China. We suggest that this effort be sustained, coherently, as one national voice despite the involvement of several agencies in public information such as the NMC, The TF WPS, the NSA, the DND. One coherent national voice.
The National Security Strategy you approved Mr. President in 2024, described the National interests we should defend, protect, preserve. All are important but for purposes of developing the national strategy and allocating resources it is important that prioritization be established as to what are our core or top priority national interest. There is a saying that if everything is important then nothing is important.
Defense alliances and partnerships
We believe and support your policy of bolstering our existing defense partnerships and creating new allies. As we continue to enhance and fortify our military bases with some assistance from our allies, let us also be mindful that when we relocate soldiers, their family, social and community life are affected and potentially disrupted . Adequate plans must be incorporated in the relocation plans to address this morale concern.
We are also aware that China-connected entities are acquiring real estate near our military bases, a practice which China supports and undertakes even in the United States.
With the abundance of asymmetric threats such as persistent cyber attacks and disinformation, we urge that priority be given to the passage of a new Ant-Espionage Law such as the one filed by Sen. Lacson. These hybrid threats, we know, are no less harmful and damaging than conventional attacks.
We also observed the enthusiasm of our reservists in fulfilling their role in protecting our nation from all kinds of threats including natural calamities and disasters. An enhanced and revitalized ROTC or reservist training program needs to be facilitated.
The Defense Budget
In a recent briefing given to us in a major service headquarters, we were impressed by our smart and brilliant senior officers as they portrayed to us their vision and plans to modernize and upgrade their capabilities which include not just procurement of advanced technology equipment but also training and education.
However, we were dismayed to learn that Horizon 3 of the AFP Modernization Law which is supposed to end by 2028 has been pushed back, by as much as 12 years or until 2040 (!) due to limitations in the budget allocation. In 2024, The 50 billion Modernization fund was reduced to 35 billion. At the moment , to pursue the acquisition of items according to the program, the DND needs a new MYCA amounting to 95 billion . For 2025 the AFP can tap 35B only or only one half of its 75B budget for Modernization based on actual funds available in the GAA. The amount of 40B was lodged under unprogrammed appropriations.
For some years now, we have advocated in tandem with DND among others, that the defense budget be increased to at least 2% of the GDP from its present 1 or1.1 %. Our neighbors like Japan who are facing similar actions from China are allocating more. We recommend that this matter be given very serious consideration.
The best instrument to raise the morale of our nation’s defenders is by providing them with the equipment and systems to prevail over their adversary and survive the battle.
CONCLUSION
The wise use of finite government funds will bolster national security. Thus, we strongly support your war against corruption as this will make more funds available for national defense.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Greetings to all our members!
As we publish the First Semester AGFO Newsletter, halfway through my term as President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, I am happy to report to the Association that all the plans and programs set for the first six months of the year have been accomplished. During the first quarter, the AGFO Decal Caravan was conducted on 20 February 2025 at the AGFO Center with seventy (70) member beneficiaries. The First Quarter Fellowship was held on 25 March 2025 with two of our Trustees as Speakers, Trustee Edilberto P Adan discussed “China-Philippine – National Security” while Trustee Rolando G Jungco talked on “China and Taiwan Views Across the Strait”. The topics discussed are very timely, considering that the WPS issue is at the forefront of the country’s national security concerns. After the discussion and open forum, the birthday celebrants for the first quarter present were recognized and blew their birthday cake: LTGen Edilberto Adan, BGen Ramona Go and BGen Alexis Tamondong.
For the second quarter, a fellowship was held on 15 May 2025 with Retired Senior Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio as Guest of Honor and Speaker. The former Justice discussed the West Philippine Sea issue and the role of the Philippine Government in the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Justice Carpio’s expert knowledge on the WPS and the Arbitral Ruling was indeed very enlightening to the members who attended and participated in the question and answer. Just like in the first Quarter Fellowship, the birthday celebrants for 2nd Quarter who were present were recognized and blew their birthday cake: VAdm Emilio Marayag Jr., Commo Amado Sanglay and MGen Raul Perez. As a service to the members during the second quarter, the LTOPF and Firearms License Renewal Caravan was held on 28 May 2025 at the AGFO Center with 28 members and dependents as beneficiaries.
As an added significant activity for the second quarter, the President and members of the Board of Trustees paid a courtesy call on the CG PA, LTGen Roy M Galido PA on 11 June 2025 at the Headquarters, Philippine Army. A briefing was presented by the G-staff on the current status and way forward of the PA’s modernization as well as the actions done by the Philippine Army on its shift from internal security operations to external defense mode.
I am also happy to report that the programmed repair of the roof and ceiling of the AGFO Center which was started on the 1st week of March was completed on 09 June 2025. In addition to the repairs, the entire facelift of the AGFO Center was also completed, the interior and exterior of the building were repainted and improvements on the electrical system and lighting fixtures was done.
In addition, the defective split type aircon at the AGFO Suite in VMMC was replaced with a new one.
The AGFO Registry Book Project which was initiated by the immediate past president of AGFO, VAdm Emilio C Marayag Jr is now on its final phase. This was made possible thru the dedication and hard work of VAdm Marayag during his three year term as President. The Association owes a lot to VAdm Marayag for this outstanding project. Indeed, he deserves the admiration and appreciation of all our members.
As we enter the final half of this year, I enjoin all members to support the realization of the remaining programs for the next six months especially the publication of the AGFO Registry Book, our fund raising project and the celebration of our 60th Founding Anniversary in December.
