LIVED EXPERIENCES OF FORMER TRAINEES' OF PAMANTASAN NG CABUYAO IN

RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS TOWARDS THEIR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction (Mirafuentes)

       The Reserved Officer Training Corps is a government program for the youth is a

component of National Service Training Program (NSTP), it is a program that aims to train

the youth in preparation for battles and war and other natural disasters such as typhoon,

earthquake, tsunami, landslide, volcanic eruption and other more disaster that needs the

response and the help of those who is capable and skilled in terms of life-saving. This

program is implemented by the government before.( At 1912, is when the Reserved Officer

Training Corps started in University of the Philippines. At 1935, the Reserved Officer

Training Corps became mandatory in all school, and state university. But because of some

uncertainty in the year 2002, the mandatory Reserved Officer Training Corps was removed

from the curriculum.

A male student from the University of Sto. Tomas died after exposing the corruption,

bribery and extortion inside the camp. His corpse was found in the Pasig River where his

body was covered with blanket, his arms and feet are tied and his head was covered with

plastic last 2001. Chua's murderers are named Paul Tan and Michael Rainard Manangbao.

Michael Maynard Manangbao remained at large for more than 20 years later and Arnulfo

Aparri was sentenced to life imprisonment and Eduardo Tabrilla pleaded guilty to homicide

in 2006. Because of this, Reserved Officer Training Corps was abolished in 2002 but in
2016, Former President Rodrigo Duterte stated in his one State of the Nation Address that

he wants to revive again the Reserved Officer Training Corps. Unlike the last Reserve officer

training corps which happened in 2000, Rodrigo Duterte promised that there will be no

bloody events and corruption that will happen inside the camp. In present year (2022), the

newly elected Vice President of the Philippines and the daughter of the Former President

Rodrigo Duterte- Sarah Duterte said that she would like to implement again the Reserved

Officer Training Corps. Reserved Officer Training Corps was then approved by the congress

under the newly administration of the now President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. During his first

State of the Nation Address, Marcos said that the bill, which was among the 19 bills he

recommended for passage, would reinstate the ROTC program as a required component of

the senior high school curriculum in all public and private schools. “The aim is to motivate,

train, organize, and mobilize the students for national defense preparedness, including

disaster preparedness and capacity building for risk-related situations,” Marcos said. As

stated in the Republic Act 9163 or the National Service Training Program act of 2001, The

reserve officer training corps was remained optional in 2002 due to the death of Mark

Chua.) Pwede namn galing internet wag lng papahalata, sa case dto maski ako napansin ko

na halatang halata na galing sa internet. Introduction of the study, kung mag sesearch

kayo, wag nyong kunin mismo yung pinaka word or sentence. Paraphrase minsan kung

gusto nyo nga, gumamit kayo ng quillbot (pero mas mabuti word nyo para masanay kayo).

Alam ko nagtanong den tong panget na toh sa akin kung ano ginagawa ko sa rotc, mas

maganda kung nakalagay or maisingit nyo yung ganun topic instead na yung galing talaga

sa internet. Wag kayo mag alala, maski ako sa una nahirapan pero kung titignan nyo sa

ibang side madali lng tong thesis wag nyo ipressure sarili nyo kasi mas lalo kayong

mahihirapan at mas madali kayo mawalan ng idea about sa kung ano mang topic etong

ginagawa nyo. Pagdating sa defense, kapag alam nyo ng gisado kayo, wag kayong kabahan

kasi lalo lng kayong gigisahin nyan. Sa simula palang, be wise den sa mga isasagot nyo sa

panellist. Yun lng, wala na akong maisip na advice

This research aims to gather information that would help parents, teachers and youth that is

curious or wants to widen their knowledge about this. (To the parents who are worried

about their children, this research would actually help them to have an idea on what the

ROTC actually is. To the teachers who wants to clarify to their students the real intention of

ROTC program. To the youth who is worried, scared and having a second thought whether

they will join or not. Because in this research, questions are meant to be solved.) Rephrase

or mas maganda maghanap ng bagong idea na pwedeng idagdag sa na una

Background of the study (Mirafuentes)

It is important for a person to interact with another person. There's a quote that says

"No man is an island" by John Donnes. He wrote a famous prose work entitled "Devotions

upon Emergent Occasion" in 1624. The work is a series of reflections which he wrote as he

recovered from a serious illness. Each part of the work is divided into Mediation, a Prayer

and an Expostulation. Mediation XVII is a part of the entire prose work which contains the

quote; "No Man Is an Island". It was stated in his quote that there is no person that lives

alone or selfishly but rather we should not isolate ourselves and that we should not distance

ourselves to our fellow. He also said that all people are interconnected to each other and

there is no one who can live in an island that is surrounded by a large body of water and

there is no one capable of living in an island alone so we should unite to survive.

 The fellowship or the connection between each other is really important especially when

you are inside the training camp of the Reserve officer training corps program that the

government established. In this program, we just don't learn how to fight but we should

also learn how to practice connection between people. We just don't train ourselves

physically but also our social skills. In 2019, a student from De La Salle university joined the

Reserve officer training corps (ROTC). A Reserve officer training corps (ROTC) cadet private
first-class Maxine Kepler says that she is glad to join ROTC or military training after she

discovered or see that she became responsible, well-disciplined and a great leader. She also

said that she wants to explore what the ROTC is and try new things. In addition, she also

said that she's looking up to the military so she joined the ROTC. "At first, I was honestly

afraid of what got to myself into. My while life as a civilian had to change the moment I

started training".

We can see in the statement of Maxine Kepler how big is the effect of ROTC to her. To how

it changed her life positively. "We trained in the Army reserve command (ARESSCOM) and

applied them in our FTX in Guam on ROTC cadets but we also shared our knowledge with

them" Kepler stated. In particular, she said that she felt grateful in joining ROTC and her

knowledge she gained while training. Her leadership improvement and teamwork in their

training with the Guam ROTC cadets.

This research study aims to gather information, insights, opinion and tips to the former

trainees that experienced the Reserved Officer Training Corps. Not only that, this study

would also help the youth, parents and teachers. To the youth that is scared of what could

possibly happen to them under the training of Reserve officer training corps and to the

youth who's having a second though whether they will join or not. To parents who's worried

and having a second thought whether they will let their children to join Reserve officer

training corps. To the teachers who wants to help their students but have no enough

information. This study would help them to have an answer to their questions.

Statement of the Problem

 This research will be conducted in order to determine the lived experiences of former

trainees of Pamantasan ng Cabuyao in reserve officer corps toward their social

development. Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions:

1. How did the ROTC help the former trainees in terms of leadership and discipline?

2. How beneficial ROTC is, to the people who experienced it?

3. How ROTC affects someone’s social development?

Assumption of the study

1. They will have an advancement in knowledge and development after they serve as a

trainee.

2. Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) develops strong personal traits which is a big

factor in social development.

3. Each trainee has a different way of learning in terms of social development.

4. Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) trainees have different characteristics that affect

the way they deal with others.

 

Theoretical Framework

Figure 1. Behavioral Theory (Watson 1913)

American psychologist John B. Watson came up with this notion. The exterior and outer

behaviors of humans were the main emphasis of Watson's behaviorist theory. This theory

focuses on how behavioral repercussions, both optimistic and pessimistic, alter people's

actions over time. As opposed to genetics, it also emphasizes Reinforcers and Punishers,

Observable Behavior, and Environment over genetics. This approach is sometimes criticized,

though, for the possibility that when rewards aren't accessible, learning interest may suffer.

According to the paradigm, most behaviors are taught. Typically, behaviors are stimulus-

dependent, teachable, modifiable, or changeable. Goals for behavior change should be

precise and well-defined. Individualized programs for behavior change are necessary.

Programs for changing behavior ought to concentrate on the present. Programs to modify

behavior should concentrate on the child's environment.

This theory tends to help on how to apply in terms of child development. According to

Watson, only behavior that could be observed, recorded and measured, trained and

changed. He also believes that children can expose certain environmental forces. So that,

the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) will help to gain or to develop their behavior

such as leadership, strong minded skills. Instead of being influenced by inherited elements

like genes, this learning theory contends that behaviors are learned from their environment.

The best illustration of this is when someone goes through military training; they carry that
attitude and behavior with them throughout their lives. They will have a certain amount of

strictness in them since that is how they were trained to be. Once we become accustomed

to something for a long period, our behavior and actions may alter. This aids also in

identifying a leader's leadership styles and how those styles impact their interactions with

the team and encourage dedication to objectives. All actions, according to strict

behaviorists, are products of experience. Given the proper training, everyone, regardless of

background, may be made to behave in a certain way. Great leaders are made, not born,

according to behavioral theories of leadership.

This theory contends that teaching and observation are two effective ways for people to

learn how to lead. When it comes to appropriate behavior, young people must be taught;

it's crucial to teach them things like discipline, leadership, and to not be oblivious to

anything. This is what the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, which we previously had,

propagated. The program's primary goals are leadership and discipline, hence it has a

strong connection to behavioral theory.

Conceptual Framework 

Figure 2. Conception Paradigm of the Study

This framework guides the researchers to determine the certain direction by which the study

will undergo. It describes the whole process of the study. The first box is the input wherein

the statement of the problem is shown, this is the most questions from teens and us,

researchers. Next frame is the process that will be done in study such as conducting
interviews to the participants by distributing questionnaires, interpretation of data collected,

analysis of data collected and focus group discussion. Last one, this frame shows a

phenomenon, that the ROTC program provides world-class leadership development, as well

as valuable team building and networking opportunities. It also opens the door to

specialized training with your local unit, which could include airborne, air assault, medical

training, and other Technical skills

Significance of the Study

Students - as the one who will experience the new Reserve Officer Training Corps

 (ROTC). This research would help the youth to understand and learn the importance of

joining Reserve Officers' Training Corps and also this will help them enhance their capacity

and capabilities in terms of physical strength. This will also help them to adjust and get

through to the new environment if ever they will join the program.

 Parents - This study will give parents of children who might participate in the

aforementioned Mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps information they can use to help

their kids become ready at home. The main point is that parents still have the chance to

learn what happened to the former trainees and they will not be terrified of what may

happen to their children if our government has already adopted this and there is nothing

that can be done. On the other side, parents of children who have previously participated in

the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) will at least hear about what their child went

through and be able to observe any changes, good or bad.

                                                           
• School Administrators

        The data gathered by the researchers can be used as a reference for making an

unbiased judgment on how the ROTC may affect their students. (example lng toh)

• Researchers

      They will gather new data that they can use or apply through their daily lives.

Through researching they can share what they understand or learned about the study that

they conducted, and researchers can expand their knowledge.

• Future Researchers

        This research can be the basis for future researchers on improving the study. This

will be their foundation for conducting new studies. It also helps develop new tests that

could help the future generations.

Definition of Terms:

Mobilize - prepare and organize the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) trainees.

Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) - a program that trains students for future

service in the Army, Navy, or Air Force.

Vindictive - strong desire for revenge.

Stimulus - events in the environment that influence behavior.

Reinforce - action or process of reinforcing or strengthening

National Service Training Program or NSTP- a program that boost and awaken the

consciousness of the youth when it comes to unforeseen events, It is divided into three:

Civic Welfare Training Service, Literacy Training Service, and Reserve Officer Training Corps

Extortion - the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force, threats or

blackmails.

Repercussions - An action or effect given or exerted in return : a reciprocal action or effect.

A widespread, indirect, or unforeseen effect of an act, action, or event—usually used in

plural. Despite the fact that it is the same as the word "consequence," it is utilized in the

study. The only difference is that the effects and results of an action are more widespread,

which we can compare with the profound transformation that a person can undergo if they

have participated in or will participate in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps because it is

stated that in this context, the word is typically used in the plural.

Alter - To change something, usually slightly, or to cause the characteristics of something

to change. So this word was used in the study by us researchers because it elaborates the

meaning of a change when it comes to the characteristics of a person.

Optimistic - Hoping or believing that good things will happen in the future. In contrast to

the similar-sounding term "positive," optimism refers to a person's propensity to recognize

the beauty of something in the future. It is applicable to the study because it is stated in

behavior theory that optimism alters a person’s behavior.

Pessimistic - When a person is pessimistic, as opposed to the word "negative," which is

comparable to this, they believe that terrible things are more likely to happen or they

emphasize the negative aspects of a situation. Because it is stated in behavior theory that
being pessimistic impacts a person's behavior, undoubtedly in a negative way, this can be

employed in the study.

Oblivious - Being oblivious or not noticing things, particularly what is going on around you,

is what this is. Many people in this day and age are oblivious of discipline and leadership.

Behavior Theory claims that theory can aid in overcoming an individual's lack of

understanding.