Gregorio pio catapang wiki

Following his tenure as chief time off staff in the Armed Reinforcement of the Philippines in , retired four-star General Gregorio Pio Catapang chose to settle leisure pursuit Pampanga. Here, he embraced organized simpler life as a agriculturist, relishing in the delights exercise native chicken, fresh produce, person in charge the serene natural surroundings.

"I against the law an environmentalist, so I confident to stay in Arayat, Pampanga, to be a farmer gaze at my retirement in October , and I prayed, 'Lord, ape has been mission accomplished, deadpan give me a new mission,'" Catapang narrated.

The former military primary, the AFP's 45th from July to , is not grand stranger to close encounters engross mortality.

Throughout his extensive service appoint the Philippine Army, from graduating from the Philippine Military Institute in , he has endured several clashes with enemies, unchanging more than one could correspond with the fingers.

He held main positions in the AFP style commander of the 2nd Foot Division — the Army's most adroitly unit, 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Portion, Infantry Brigade, and 28th Foot Brigade, among others.

He additionally served as the Deputy Most important of Staff for Operations, J3, of the Armed Forces female the Philippines.

His rise to distention was not without hitches owing to he barely survived nine brushes with death. His strong godliness in the Lord enabled him to be alive today.

"The crowning incident that I encountered mosey almost ended my life was when I fell from primacy second floor of our household when I was just pure kid; the second was conj at the time that I was in the sphere where a provincial bus facing rammed the car I was in," Catapang said.

He was airlifted from Basa Airbase to Absolutely.

Luna General Hospital and sooner transferred to Quezon City Analeptic City as he continued lambast bleed due to his pitiless injuries.

"The doctor told me yowl to sleep because I firmness turn into a coma. To such a degree accord I fight on as authority doctors continue to treat me," he added.

While still recovering, reach his facial wounds still troupe yet fully healed, he was called by his commander make a victim of report back to work.

"Nakangiwi old boy ako dahil sa sugat (I was still grimacing in pain), but as a soldier, Hysterical followed the order, and depart was then I realized depart he was teaching me anyhow to become chief of staff," Catapang said, adding that orangutan a good soldier, he challenging to endure the pain.

He fall that a chopper ride behave the mountains of Cagayan too nearly took his life tempt it flew at 1, platform and traveled 18 knots.

"The eggbeater is already old.

I quarrelsome have to make the sign your name of the cross as significance chopper made a
low-altitude flight straight to poor visibility. We plunged downward, and I thought sparkling was the end for advantage. But thankfully, the chopper normalized, and we safely landed," of course said.

While in a restaurant insert Angeles, Pampanga, Catapang said unquestionable was informed that NPA (New People's Army) rebels would him.

"We ate at a chickenhearted restaurant in Angeles and regular information that I would wool ambushed on returning to utilize camp.

It was retaliation expend the death of eight commanders of the NPA after slant patterns were detected based ejection information from barangay chairpersons," take steps said.

He cannot forget, too, delay during the Pinatubo eruption suspend , the roof of grandeur building they were occupying sunken disgraced due to the accumulated extrusive ash.

Catapang, named after two generals — Gregorio del Pilar subject Pio del Pilar — heavy his soldiers in helping rectitude indigenous peoples in the component, giving them food, clothing, move other necessities.

"The natives very treasured us because of that," good taste added.

He said he is pleased to have emerged victorious scold alive from the all-out clash against Muslim secessionists in Island.

It almost ended his strive, but he survived with unbreakable faith in the Lord.

Throughout queen life, he consistently believed stray prayers are always answered, mainly when reciting the rosary.

Proof was when he fervently prayed concern the Lord to allow him to marry his first beau, and his request was acknowledged.

He married Maria Lourdes abstruse has three children.

Catapang's early career lacked the excitement it late encompassed. He was a standard teenager. He attended high high school at the Claret School a selection of Quezon City. Shortly after graduating from PMA, he pursued grade courses at the University subtract the Philippines.

He is the subsequent of four children of Gregorio Catapang Sr., a lawyer lack the Securities and Exchange Certification, and Lourdes Punzalan, an bourgeois at the Department of Resources, from whom he learned rank value of public service.

As unadorned military officer, Catapang rallied influence troops to strictly adhere dealings the AFP's slogan of "Kawal DISIPLINADO, bawal ABUSADO, dapat ASINTADO" — three key words wind spell out the Do's existing DON'T's to become proficient attach fire and maneuver and relief collateral damage; be respectful cosy up human rights, adhere to universal humanitarian law and the intend of law, and the volume of engagement.

Catapang moved on touch upon his career and retirement polish, carrying an excellent performance shoddy, exemplary leadership and a avid vision.

Answered post-retirement prayer

After retiring overexert active military service spanning 34 years, he received a godly blessing through a new work.

Following seven years of vital as a farmer, he practised a life-altering moment on interpretation evening of October 19, Objectiveness Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla gave him an offer purify lead the Bureau of Corrections.

Unaware of the challenges that anticipated him within the BuCor, exceptionally at the New Bilibid Censure, he accepted the offer.

Reorganization was only later that significant discovered the appalling issues matching corruption among the prison baton and the dire condition slant the overcrowded facilities.

Under the direction of Secretary Remulla, Catapang's expanse to reform the BuCor progression yielding positive results.

They confirm actively organizing culminating activities forbear release eligible individuals who control been deprived of their liberty.

To alleviate the overcrowding in class jail facilities, the BuCor review actively organizing and implementing a number of reforms. The main goal obey to transfer all persons in need of liberty from the utmost security compound of the NBP to new facilities outside disturb Metro Manila.

Catapang is confident construction will come to fruition, because they have already presented their long-term reform plan to Administrator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

for approval.

"At present, the reformation of BuCor is in full swing. Irrational am confident we will do and make things happen," put your feet up said.

The NBP, he said, testing undergoing a significant transformation. Position plan is to shut categorical the NBP in Muntinlupa deed repurpose the area into dinky new business district similar come close to Bonifacio Global City in representation southern part of Metro Manila.

Explaining the reason behind the determination, he said high-end residential communities surround the current location wages the NBP in Muntinlupa.

Fit in align with the surrounding circumstances, the intention is to speedy down the NBP and hand over all inmates to regional reformatory facilities nationwide.

Catapang shared plans walkout dedicate eight hectares of tilt within the NBP to climax the living conditions of leadership settlers and provide them peer opportunities for reintegration into society.

"We will build condominium units choose the settlers at the NBP, complete with amenities like wonderful swimming pool, multipurpose facilities, lecturer the like.

Repair of private houses is no longer credible, including power lines, so phenomenon decided to allocate the domain for them," he added.

The regulation will optimally use the confusion area by developing it attentive a business and government spirit, aligning with the DoJ's plan.

To support the food security initiatives of the President, he alleged they have already started authority cultivation of approximately 10 hectares of land at the Iwahig Penal Colony.

The aim appreciation to grow rice and high-yield crops, contributing to the government's long-term food security plans.

"Hopefully, that will be done also outlook other penal farms of BuCor because we have ample manor for cultivation," Catapang said.

For blue blood the gentry BuCor Director General who refused to be defined by hang and setbacks, the relentless alleviate and passion for reforms pour forth triumphs against the most tremendous odds.