Res Gestae
He made it, at last..!
The Police Regional Office 6 welcomed on Monday (Dec. 8) the 260 successful applicants in the second phase of PNP Attrition Recruitment Program. The oath taking ceremony followed by the traditional reception rites sealed with finality the search of these 260 survivors. They got the job, if not a mission.
As I witnessed the ceremony, I could not help but breathe a thanksgiving. "He made it, at last!" I was referring to my nephew, Rod, who was among these 260 police officers who were newly sworn in to office. Rod's journey to that big day was peculiar and worth-remembering. Unlike his batch mates, Rod was already on his seventh try when he survived the process. His first was way back in 2006, before my daughter Jay (Rod's third cousin) was born. Now, Jay is 2 years and four months old.
For my wife and I, the past 2 years and four months melted swiftly as we amused by our lovely Jay's growth and development. But for Rod, it was a long and winding journey. He failed in the past six recruitments. After his fourth, I thought he would give up. But he persevered. He applied for the fifth, sixth, and finally seventh time. Every recruitment I saw in him the unwavering enthusiasm… the undying hope that his dream would come true one day. He was a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Criminology.
I knew, every time he failed, I was more hurt than he did. I blamed myself for not giving my best to help him. But I also knew God has a plan for Rod.
That Monday, while looking at Rod as he took his oath of office, I could not contain the overwhelming joy within me. He might not hear me saying congratulations, but I did. I wanted to hug him and tell him how deserving he was. He deserved all the accolades.
I am confident that Rod will become a good policeman for he passed through the needle's eye. I pray that he won't forget his sacrifices. (Yes, he suffered.) Same was my prayer to his 259 colleagues. They too have their own shares of sacrifices.
But, Rod's story is only one of the thousands of beautiful stories within the ranks of the country's police force. There is a story of accomplished supervisor in a private company who resigned and joined the force…a mother who resigned as public school teacher and took her oath as law enforcer…an eldest in the brood of ten…a religious seminarian, a priest…etc. These are stories of perseverance…of faith…of dreams coming true. These are stories that keep the fiber of morality of the organization stronger despite the isolated cases of controversies, of irregularities.
Despite the fierce tempests confronted the PNP, it remains strong. It is so because of its men and women who remained faithful to their pasts…to their sacrifices and sufferings while yet dreamers. Thus, as there will be stories of perseverance, of sacrifice, of faith in the PNP, we can always hope for a better police force.
(Comments to rogatepnp@yahoo.com)