LEAD BETTER, START YOUNGER

Leaders are the ones seriously tested in this trying times of COVID-19
pandemic and leading by example is operative for everyone. The onset of this
contagion had made a tremendous change in the lives of the people. A once
worry-free happy-go-lucky life has turned into a restricted way of living. But
leaders spend longer days and lesser nights to combat this dilemma for
leadership is a journey that never stops.
Firefighting is a task that needs to be done by an expert team who is
well-trained in fire suppression. And in order for a firefighting operation to be
successful, the teams need a good Fire Ground Commander who could lead,
guide and support the team all throughout the operation. A firefighter doesn’t
only play the leadership role in firefighting but also as servant leader of the
community. This sense of leadership start from the moment a Fire Officer
wears the uniform and become a public servant. Firefighting is a “people first”
job because of the oath to protect and serve even in exchange of life.
By then, it is expected that trust and confidence is earned and people’s safety
is entrusted.
The Bureau of Fire Protection is an agency who produces firefighters that
possess multitude of skills, talents and characters necessary to properly
represent the organization. These components are seen to be honed by training
and preparing Junior Officers through a new training program call the FIRE
JUNIOR LEADERSHIP COURSE (FJLC). Let me mused you over to what had
transpired in this new normal leadership course journey

The Course Description

The Fire Junior Leadership Course (FJLC) is a 2-month/320 hrs

mandatory training that is divided into Academic phase (256 hrs) and Non-
Academic Phase (64hrs). It supersedes the former Fire Arson Investigation and
Inspection Course (FAIIC) which now becomes a special course .The Academic
Phase which is 256 hours is composed of subjects in Good Governance (52
hrs), Law and Order (32 hrs), Peace and Progress (16 hrs) and National
Resilience (108 hrs). On the other hand, Non-academic Phase which is 64hrs is
comprised of activities such as Drills and Ceremonies, Physical Fitness Test
(PFT), Moral and Spriritual Enhancement, Self-Awareness and Value
Formation, Health and Welness Activities, Webinars and Sports Development.
This pandemic has modified the course delivery and adapted a Blended
Learning Modality that means lectures are done online via ZOOM application,
examinations that include Graded Tests and Comprehensive Exam are also
online utilizing Class Marker application and Non-academic activity like the
Physical Fitness Test (PFT) is evaluated online via running tracker applications.

The Recall

Last March 9, 2021 One Hundred Seven (107) firefighters had received
the Special Order Number TRN-2021-014 from the National Headquarters
directing the listed BFP personnel to undergo the Fire Junior Leadership
Course (FJLC) training hosted by BFP Regional Office R6 that will commence
on March 11, 2021. The participants are composed of personnel from Region 6,
7 & 8. Trainees from each region are pioneer groups of this training which is
represented by Thirty-seven BFP personnel (One applied for deferment) from
Region 6 -the host region, fifty-four (54) from Region 7 and Fourte (14) trainees
from Region 8. The journey started from the release of Bureau Order roll of
training participants, submission of pertinent documents, medical and dental
assessment, voting of class officers and the opening ceremony held last March
25,2021. Different places, language and culture combined under one goal.

The Class Proper Started

Access to education in this new normal is done through virtual class

engagement. Zoom had been a constant virtual classroom. Familiarization to it
is a must and muting and unmuting is the most important feature of it.
Unmuting with a noisy environment will disrupt the entire class. Permanent
Class Marchers assigned Daily Class Marchers to virtually roll call the
attendance, report and provide information to the classroom instructors.
Becoming a DCM was not easy for you have to provide the answers if no
response was received by the instructors.

Everyday we met different noteworthy instructors that fed us with the

knowledge we needed as a firefighter. To name a few, who would forget the
distressing “Stress Management” class of Sir Alba, the angelic voice and sweet
smile of Atty. Delis on her lawful classes and mind boggling tests on “RA
3019” and “Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS)”,
the perfect "engelz" for the ladies and lady at heart of Sir Dimaano on
“Advance Rope Rescue Techniques”, the Pambihirang Isang Ligtas na Araw
of Sir Ferriols on “High Rise and Vehicular Firefighting”, the "nakakaMIS
na “MIS (Management Information System)” of sir Pacatang, the nerve
wracking oral assessment of the FIRE Code expert-Sir Lunas on “RA 9514 and
its RIRR”, the mind blowing project-oriented class of Mam Gardose on “Fire
Safety Education Program”, the art class of Mam Sorronda on “Logistics
Management”, the “trigger finger licking good” on “Gun Safety” by the
legendary Sir Noriel Tan , the beautiful disaster caused by Sir Zabala on
“CBDRM” on his Kahot Quiz and the exciting adventure of the breakout gang
by Team Ms Dea Lamparas.
All of these contributed to the fun and unforgettable learning experiences
of the training.

Reunified in PFT

Wholistic Health approach that includes physical fitness is an impotant

component of health and wellness to uniformed personnel. As frontliners,
firefighters are required to be fit and healthy in order to perform the functions.
As to fitness, modified holistic approach is utilized in order to perform the
Physical Fitness Test (PFT). Small-group based approach, virtual monitoring
and running trackers are utilized following minimum health safety protocols.
Physical Fitness Test(PFT) as a part of the Non Academic grade was done
twice and an opportunity for us to associate with each other. We were
supervised and evaluated by the personnel on duty from the station we chose
to perform. And the best part of it was the post PFT food trip.

Losing a Brother

We started 106 and graduated 105. We mourn for the loss of a brother
and a comrade Mate Jody Magallanes of Mahaplag Fire Station, Northern Leyte
Region 8. We offer our prayers and success to you mate! Thank you for being a
part of this FJLC training. And thank you for the opportunity of knowing you
virtually. Rest in Peace. You will always be remembered.

The Last Thing to Do- SURVIVE

Surviving in this training, albeit sound easy, was not that really. In this
kind of platform (virtual), your internet connection is the key. Strong internet
connection will make you more focus and stress-free while poor internet
connection will let you experience otherwise. Because trainees are in Detailed
Service status, we are relieved from duties and responsibilities respective in our
respective unit. Consequently, we did manage the training and family duties.

Bringing Home the Bacon

And at last, there came June 8, 2021, our graduation day. All of our efforts
have not gone into vain. We graduated with pride and honor because we,
Region 6 participants, all successfully graduated with nothing left behind.
Moreover, we were able to reap our sows when eight (8) of us were placed on
the Top 10, namely:

1. FO3 Joenel B Cortez, Roxas City Fire Station – Top 1, Highest in

Academic Proficiency, Highest in Subject Proficiency and Highest in
Aptitude - Alpha Company
2. FO3 Ma. Tricila G Basco, Guimbal Fire Station - Top 2
3. FO3 Loriebelle G Gengoni, OPFD Iloilo – Top 3
4. FO3 Anna Joy C Agripan, Sara Fire Station – Top 4 and Highest in Agility
- Female
5. FO3 Quinn Elvin D Suelo, Nueva Valencia Fire Station – Top 5
6. FO3 Jessieca S Hum, Maasin Fire Station – Top 7
7. FO3 John Michael P Laňa, Iloilo City Fire Station – Top 8
8. FO3 Anne O Tuvillo, Tigbauan Fire Station – Top 10

Other awards were also garnered by the batch such as Leadership

Awards given to the following: FO3 Anna Joy C Agripan, Class MASIGAB-ALAB
President, FO3 Joenel B Cortez, Permanent Class Marcher, Alpha Company
and FO3 Quinn Elvin D Suelo, Permanent Class Marcher, Bravo Company.
FO3 Imee Joy V Barrera received Service Award for being the Daily Health
Check Monitor of Alpha Company. Devotion to Duty Awards were also received
by the following for being a Class Officer, viz: FO3 Loriebelle G Gengoni (Vice-
President), FO3 Freedalyn D Docdocil (Secretary), FO3 Sherree Ann L Moya
(Treasurer), FO3 Carlo Vincent L Mallari (Public Relations Officer), FO3
Jessieca S Hum (Class Historian) and FO3 Ma. Tricila G Basco (Region 6
Representative).
We are privileged to have as our Guest of Honor and Speaker our upbeat
but tough motivator, Regional Director, SSUPT JERRY D CANDIDO. It was
indeed a pride and honor to be graced by him during our graduation for his
words are powerful and his leadership is exemplary. His notable theory of
leadership is highlighted with this “When you are a leader, First, you should
know your role as a leader. Second teach yourself how to be a leader.
Third, do not be afraid to give order. Learn to give order whether it is
good or bad, give order. Because all of your subordinates are waiting for
your order. and last,whenever you give an order, you must see to it that
your order is being followed even if time has passed.” This lines, although
not copied in toto were stressed by him during his speech. All were indeed,
inspired by his strong will and dedication to public service.

Reveiling the Story of Success

“I will transfer you to other Regions if you don’t get the top”, powerful
words coming from our Regional Director that we (R6 trainees) carried with us
before we start the training. The line that we considered a threat rather than a
motivation that doubled the effort and increased the fighting spirit. We will not
get it if we will not work us one, we will WORK and WIN as ONE and the spirit
of camaraderie animates our systems. We started the attack by dominating the
officership. We encouraged, helped and supported each other. We see to it that
everyone complied with the requirements and provided learning materials for
the examinations. We want all ilonggos to rise above everyone.

Beyond the Virtual Classroom

Constructive Innovative Productive Creative Inspirational Parental

(CIPCIP)- these words are more than just adjectives but characters lived by a
class whose friendship has been tested by time and failure to success tales
have loss its count . The class name itself had already been a challenge. The
negative connotation of the word even differently spelled but sounded so alike
with the term”SIPSIP” (Socially Insecure Person Seeking Instant Promotion)
have inversely demonstrated by the class and reverse it to class promotion and
class success. We may start things wrong ten (10) years ago but we make sure
to do things right before we retire. We govern the top because we develop not
only friendship but brotherhood that multiplies the good and divides the grief.
We embraced individual differences and acknowledged everyone’s flaws and
considered them as uniqueness. We make fun of each other, we discuss, we
argue but at the end of the day we make peace, we give love, continue the
brotherhood and REPEAT. It is a combination of trust, respect, love and
emotional support. It is a bond that transcend all barriers. A bond that will left
no one behind.

All our hard works to survive the training are all dedicated to the Bureau
in order for us to deliver more effective and efficient services to the public. And
to strengthen the bond and camaraderie among brothers and sisters in the Fire
Service. Let’s all remember the quote from Don Yaeger ,“Camaraderie doesn't
happen by accident; developing a strong sense of trust, accountability,
and togetherness around team goals requires intentional effort”.
Congratulations every one. To God be the glory!