The Heartbeat of Service
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by Tina Clemente The heart of soldiering is found in the heart of the soldier. A woman of the Appalachian Mountains once said, that if her chest were opened and her heart observed, one would see a mountain. Her heart beats for the mountain and it became her life and song. This is true for a real soldier. It is not battle that beats inside a soldier’s heart. Nor war strategy, nor victory. Rather, it is simply service. Such was the heart of an army corporal named Adriano Regua. This is the ballad of his journey. The Soldier Dream Adriano was second among five siblings. As a child, Adriano has always loved working. He would always say that he would surely fall sick if he lazed around. He was a simple lad from Ilocos who grew up helping his family tend to their farm. But as far as he could remember, he has always dreamed of becoming a soldier. His oldest sibling went into the army and Adriano followed suit.
Adriano was part of the 59th Infantry Battalion, which carries the name, “Protector.” It is simply apt that Adriano carried this name in its full essence until his last hours. Cheryl Regua recounts their conversations about the calling of being a soldier. Whenever Cheryl would hear stories of conflicts that he would be involved with, she would admit that sometimes her apprehension would get the better of her. She would end up telling her husband that he might get hurt and worse, killed and perhaps a safer vocation would be better for him. But Adriano would always say that danger is part of the job and his serving as a soldier has always been his dream. Cheryl says that Adriano was always positive even amidst conflict. And there was never a time that he lamented. Instead, whenever he would share his sentiments with Cheryl, it would always be about the elation over of the opportunity of saving people in conflict. Serving Amidst Ondoy Ondoy came with a bang on September 26, and as the morning drew on, the response teams of the Philippine Army were deployed. Adriano took the helm of his team as detachment commander. Serving with him were eight militias under the CAFGU (Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit). Adriano was assigned to help residents in Laguna where floodwaters were rising fast.
Cheryl and their two children, on the other hand, were at home in Tanay, Rizal where floodwaters were likewise rising quickly. However, she did not want to divert Adriano’s attention from his immediate mission and decided to send the text message that the family is doing fine. In reality, the floodwaters in Rizal were chest deep already and Cheryl and the kids were already stranded. Neighbors helped one another until Cheryl and the two daughters were rescued and brought to a safe place nearby. Their earthly things were all submerged but they were thankful because there were now safe. Soldiers in the area were instrumental in rescuing them. Cheryl managed to send a text message to her husband saying that they were all safe. In Mabitac, Laguna, Adriano and his team were busy on a mission. It was to truly live out the “Protector” badge he carried on his uniform. They hurried to rescue the residents in Laguna and they were able to help 200 residents reach safety. In the thick of rescue efforts, Adriano and his team faced a very strong current. Adriano attempted to help one of his team mates but the current overcame them. The whole team was swept away. Three of the CAFGU militias fell into a canal and were pushed out by the strong current. They were able to hold on to a nearby tree. However, Adriano and the five other CAFGU militias were swept into another area and they did not make it.
Cheryl recounts that when she found out that Adriano’s efforts to rescue people meant that this privilege required his life, she immediately remembered the team of soldiers who helped her. She said to herself that it was really her husband’s heroism that saved her. The goodness that went around came around. The Man Behind the Uniform During Adriano’s wake, Cheryl was surprised to meet so many people who came to pay their last respects to her husband. Soldiers and militias came from the different locations where Adriano served. The CAFGU militias shared that they were sad to lose a leader like Adriano. Cheryl shares that they told her, “ngayon lang kami nagkaroon ng detachment commander na mabait.” What explains their regard for Adriano was the everyday expression of the soldier ideal—a heart of service. They felt that he was a leader who did not lord it over anyone. Even in seemingly little things, Adriano would try to serve them. He earned their respect.
To Cheryl’s surprise, this was the same story of the other people who came to the wake. She could ask them, where they met her husband because it was the first time that she met them. They said that they are neighbors in the area—some of them teenagers—that Adriano would reach out to whenever he would visit the family in Tanay. Cheryl was surprised to find out that Adriano would spend time playing basketball with these kids just to connect with them. Adriano seemed to know more people in the area than her who lived there all her life!
Cheryl shared that when Adriano was home with them, he would make sure that Cheryl would not work so she could rest. He would do all the work—from bathing the kids, changing the diapers of their younger daughter and cooking their meals. Adriano would often tell Cheryl, “Anong gusto mong pagkain, lulutuin ko.” And off he would go to the market to buy the ingredients. In tears, Cheryl shared that her husband was such a kind hearted man that he would even invite their neighbors to share a meal with them.
Continuing the Dream When Adriano was still alive, Cheryl shared that they would often discuss their plans. Part of their plan was for Adriano to continue his education in the military. He would take studies in basic engineering. Cheryl on the other hand would later take up her Masters degree in education management. She currently works as registrar in the University of Rizal System in Tanay. Slowly but surely, they dreamed of building their home and raising their two young daughters. At present, she continues her journey as a mother to their two daughters, drawing from the strength of Adriano. Through her grief and tears, she would catch herself sometimes saying that she wants to give up. The Brown Raise team then asked her the question, “If this tragedy happened to another family and your husband’s advice was sought, what do you think he would say?” A smile peeked through her tears and she said clearly, “My husband would say, don’t give up!” Having her own epiphany, she said, “it’s hard and it will take time… but I will try to be strong and not give up.” She is excited to finish her Masters degree especially that it was what Adriano would have wanted also.
Adriano was awarded the Bronze Cross Medal and was posthumously promoted to Sergeant. But the medal and the promotion are simply confirmations of the life he lived. During the hero’s burial, Cheryl took home the Philippine flag accorded to her by the Army. She said that it was a symbol of what her husband died for. Cheryl takes home the thought that her husband left the world while serving. This was how he wanted his life to be about. A wise person once said, if we have not discovered what to die for, then we have not discovered how to live. The future of the sons and daughters of the Philippines grew brighter because we have an Ondoy hero who lived to serve and who died that others may live. “Oh how beautiful to fall to give you flight, |
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October 30th, 2009 at 09:36 AM
Corporal Adriano Regua is a one of the greatest heroes of the Ondoy flood. What he only wants is to serve the people and to serve our country. He didn’t even want his photos taken and that just meant he doesn’t want fame – he didn’t want to be famous. Talagang ang nasa isip at puso niya ay ang paglilingkod. He does not only serve with his mind but he also serves with his heart.
“To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity” – Douglas Adams
Corporal Adriano Regua is a soldier who did not think of himself but he is a soldier that only thinks of the people around him and he serves them whether there are great opportunities to help them or even smaller opportunities.
“Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us daily.” – Sally Koch
October 30th, 2009 at 09:41 AM
*Corporal Adriano Regua is one of the greatest heroes of the Ondoy flood.
October 30th, 2009 at 10:48 AM
How I wish we could have a leader with the same Heartbeat of Service like Adrianos.
October 31st, 2009 at 06:28 PM
“The future of the sons and daughters of the Philippines grew brighter because we have an Ondoy hero who lived to serve and who died that others may live.”
Dapat silang tularan!
Raise yhe Brown Race!!
November 1st, 2009 at 06:28 PM
“if we have not discovered what to die for, then we have not discovered how to live.”
nawa na mangarap din tayong mga kabataan mamatay para sa bansa gaya ni Sir Adriano. :’)
liwanag sa dilim…
November 1st, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Grabe poh…. grabe po ang service ni Adriano…ung pagmamahal niya sa kanyang countrymen..that he would foreget himself even his family than the people whom he did notknoe but dedicate and offered his life to them…
I will Support po….
November 3rd, 2009 at 02:07 PM
ang ganda naman nung heart nung wife ni Corporal Adriano Regua. Kahit namatay na po yung husband niya, tuwang tuwa pa rin syang mag share ng mga stories. Nakakatuwa din si Corporal REgua. hindi lang po siya nagseserve para sa bayan, pati na rin po para sakanyang pamilya. Sana magkaroon pa po tayo ng mas maraming mga bayani hindi lamang sa mga unos at mga bagyong parating,kunghindi ay sa araw araw.
November 3rd, 2009 at 05:19 PM
“But Adriano would always say that danger is part of the job and his serving as a soldier has always been his dreaCheryl says that Adriano was always positive even amidst conflict.” these were some of the words that struck me. grabe po talaga ang mga soldiers… talagang SERVICE po ang nasa puso nila. palagi po silang handang tumulong kahit ano man ang sitwasyon: mahirap man o madali. hindi siya nakakapit sa sarili niya kundi sa ibang tao upang hindi sila mabitawan. sa bawat isa nga sa atin ay may sundalong puso. tayo na lang ang bahala kung papasukin natin ang pintong iyon o hindi. ngunit dahil sa puso niya ay pinasok niya ang pintong ito.
November 5th, 2009 at 07:56 PM
ang mga pilippino ay isa’t isang nakakrinig at nagigising sa bagong sigaw na pina hari sa atin ng diyos na sa bawat araw na tayo’y nakaring nang ganitong tanawin ang mga “ondoy heroes”
November 5th, 2009 at 09:10 PM
And ating mga sundalo po ay isang regalo sa atin. Kapag wala po tayong mga sundalo wala pong makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan na nasa panganib. Grabe po talaga ang ating mga sundalo, araw-araw po sila naglalaban para sa kaligtasan ng Pilipinas. Ang ating mga sundalo ay isang basbas.
Salamat po:)
November 5th, 2009 at 09:34 PM
Mr. Adriano Regua was a true hero. In his life, you would see the true meaning of love for the country and you will see what’s the true meaning of sacrifice. Mayroon po akong isang sentence dito na hindi ko po makakalimutan at iyon po ay ang, “if we have not discovered what to die for, then we have not discovered how to live”. May iba pa sa atin hindi alam ang gamit sa ating buhay kaya kapag hindi niyo pa po nahanap ang sagot, hanapin niyo na po mula ngayon.
♥Kayumanggi-MJ♥
HANAPIN NIYO NA ANG SAGOT…..
November 5th, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Maraming bagyong tumama saatin dating syeptembre … may bagyo na .. ondoy .. ondoy b4, i look at it as a disaster but now i see it as a promise, a rainbow and the most special occasion last september. Because it exposed the real hearts of our heartless leaders, opened the hearts of lots of filipinos.. some even became christians and it created new heroes. my prayer now is to have more ondoys to come…. if ondoy didn’t change the hearts of some i wish for another storm to change it. Some filipinos became leader but some leaders became heroes.. but this heroes are ordinary filipinos.
Sana lumakas ang sigaw ng kabataan … di lang kabataan peru katauhan.. magkaroon kayu ng BAGONG SIGAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 5th, 2009 at 10:52 PM
The story of Corporal Adriano Regua is very inspiring. I have learned another lesson from another Ondoy Hero, and that is SERVICE. When I read the part where he did not want his pictures taken, I was happy because he does not want fame, and fame really isn’t everything. Fame is okay, but make sure what other people will see “The Fame of Service.” Saving 200 residents was just amazing. Imagine 5 people saving 200 residents. It is just too many! Corporal Adriano died serving which was truly amazing. Service is putting your life on the line to help and save other people, and which includes SACRIFICE as well.
All the articles that I have read from the Ondoy Heroes section is like a puzzle. First, FAITH. Second, LOVE FOR COUNTRY. Lastly, SERVICE. Noticing this makes me excited and happy. Do you know why? It is because this is all like the traits of the REAL FILIPINOS.
Thank You!:3
More Power to you all,
Chanta
November 5th, 2009 at 11:27 PM
God gave the Philippines amazing heroes like Corporal Adriano Regua. The Lord gave us heroes like him so that we, Filipinos, can learn many life lessons from him. In the middle of a crisis, Adriano did not give up. As a soldier, even though he has many missions, he perseveres and that did not stop him from helping others. He is a real hero because he rescued more than 200 residents in Laguna and in the end sacrificed his life. I hope that more of our countrymen will be like Adriano.
November 6th, 2009 at 04:43 PM
Panalo po ang storya ng katulad kay Sir Adriano Regua!
Salamat talaga po sa Diyos at binayaan tayo ng storyang pakamatay para sa bansa! Tunay nga po akong naliwanagan bilang isang estudyante na hindi lamang sa isang pagkakataon dapat magkaroon ng pusong sumeserbisyo para sa bansa, ngunit araw-araw!
Ako pa po’y umaasang dadami pa ang ganitong mga storya sa ating bansa. At sana’y kahit din sa sarili kong buhay, magsilbi din akong inspirasyon!
November 7th, 2009 at 01:02 PM
Heroes like him are among us waiting to be brought to life. A lot of people do want to help but hesitate for many reasons. Men like him inspire more heroes into the call to serve.
November 7th, 2009 at 08:17 PM
Corporal Adriano Regua and his men had saved 200 residents without giving up even if the mission is really dangerous. He saved those 200 lives rather than himself first. He served both in and outside of the military because he also served his family and the neighborhood. If we don’t know what to die for, then there’s no use of living.I hope Filipinos know what to die for and how to live as Filipinos like Corporal Adriano. God has a purpose on why He made Filipinos because His creations are considered a masterpiece.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Ang ondoy ay isang pagsubok sa atin namakakabuti sa bawat isa dahil lumalabas dito ang pag tutulungan ng mga pilipino
November 9th, 2009 at 09:52 AM
How I wish we could have a leader with the same Heartbeat of Service like Adrianos.
Dito kasi sa atin everybody wants to lead. No body wants to serve.
November 10th, 2009 at 08:26 AM
Marami pong salamat sa bumasa ng storya ng husband ko, gusto q lang po i-share kung ano ang nagiging buhay ng sundalo,
November 12th, 2009 at 01:53 PM
Salamat sa Ondoy para sa pagkabuhay ng mga istoryang tulad nito. : )
November 17th, 2009 at 04:47 PM
Everything has a purpose. For us , who left by Sir Adriano, may we never forget this kind of sacrifice for our fellow Filipino. May this be a reminder/warning for us to do our part in our environment and amidst of tragedy, our part to serve out nation.
November 19th, 2009 at 02:35 PM
I’m so proud of Sir Adriano’s heroic acts during the Ondoy’s. He is truly a soldier with selfless ideals. Meron pang mga pilipinong na tunay na nagmamahal sa ating sariling bansa na kayang ibuwis ang sariling buhay.
November 23rd, 2009 at 09:27 PM
truly inspiring! (wala talaga akong masabi) may we all discover what truly to die for.
“unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single seed…”
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:48 PM
i’m touched and enlightened reading the stories behind Ondoy.
December 15th, 2009 at 06:39 PM
napakagaling talaga ni rizal, nasabog nya ang kanyang kabayanihan at si Sir Adriano ang isa sa mga nakakuha nito.. were proud of you sir.. you are a true FILIPINO! ryan de leon, bataan
April 14th, 2010 at 09:07 PM
As an educator, I always believe that teaching and soldiering are the two most NOBLE PROFESSION. It not only showing the care and service but sharing the UNFATHOMABLE LOVE FOR OTHERS.
To SIR ADRIANO, I SALUTE TO YOU & PRAYING THAT WHAT YOU’VE DONW WOULD ALWAYS BE A LIVING TESTIMONY OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE:)