The Philippine Marine Corps Foundation launched a friendship shootfest with private organization at the Philippine Marine Headquarters in Taguig City in commemoration of the National Heroes Day last Monday (August 29).
The Stone of Hope Defense Foundation Inc. commemorated National Heroes Day with the Philippine Marine Corps Foundation Inc. (PMCFI) by holding Friends of Marines (FOM) Friendship Shoot at the Philippine Marines Corps headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Marine Corps Commandant Maj. Gen. Charlton Sean M. Gaerlan and Stone of Hope Defense Foundation Chairman Phebie Jame Dy, together with PMCFI President Lt. Gen. (ret.) Juancho M. Zaban, led the launch of the FOM Friendship Shoot at the Marine Corps Force Development Center's 50-meter firing range.
Last Monday's event was attended by about 100 participants from the private and public sector organizations supporting the PMCFI's Karangalan, Katungkulan at Kabayanihan program.
Other guests included Secretary of Justice Jesus Crispin Remulla, Stone of Hope Defense Foundation President Artemio Dy, Office of Participatory Governance Director Wendell Cabrera, PMCFI President Col. Romulo "Bim" Quemado II, Marine Captain Joseph Andrew Asuncion, Marine Corps Public Affairs Office Assistant Director Captain Orchie Bobis, and Marine Captain Jason Aguirre.
Various high-powered assault rifles being used by the Marine Corps in implementing anti-insurgency measures were also showcased in the event.
Marines officials briefed participants on the four rules of gun safety at the start of the event to prevent any untoward incident.
Gaerlan took the opportunity in recognizing the collective efforts and generosity of sponsors during the recent gift-giving program for Marine personnel and their dependents.
Among the sponsors were PMCFI, Stone of Hope Foundation, FOM, Marine Corps Force Development Center, Coastal Defense Regiment, and the Philippine Coast Guard.
For her part, Jame Dy reiterated her support for the Philippine Marine Corps and PMCFI's advocacies, saying, "As a daughter of a former soldier, it is my personal advocacy to help the wounded soldiers and their respective families and loved ones who lost their lives in the war to ensure that we can sleep soundly safe at night and to maintain the peace and order in the country."
She urged the private sector to help the government reach out to more poor families living in remote areas of the country to make them feel that both the government and the private sector are ready to help them so that they will not be deluded to join the communist rebels and terrorist groups.
The Stone of Hope Defense Foundation, she said, sees itself as "the protector of the protectors of the people" by using modern technology as ground support to the military frontliners, i.e., the soldiers.
"Our vision is to be the leading private organization in advocating the enhancement of the Philippines defense posture in establishing a peaceful, orderly and equitable society while with our mission is to help secure the Philippines through research and development, self resilience in software-based intelligence service through effective and reliable cyber security solutions, as well as the development of a reliable and effective defense manufacturing hub in the country," Dy said.
Tags: #marinecorps, #stoneofhope, #friendshipshoot, #advocatingenhancement