By first commanding the 543rd Engineer Constuction Battalion and the 19th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Division in Samar, Col. Gregorio Ramos has established a perecedent of sorts especially so because he excelled in both. He was credited to having undertaken on record time the construction and development of the facilities in Camp Bagacay, Hinabangan, Samar in 1986. Then he was adjudged as the Best Battalion Commander in 1989 in Region 8 for having recovered the most number of high-powered firearms and attracted the most number of CPP/NPA surrenderees. He occupied various positions of major responsibilities and demonstrated meritorious and valuable achievements, exemplary efficiency, loyalty and devotion to duty in the performance of his assigned tasks. He is a recipient of three Distinguished Service Star Medals, the third highest award in the AFP, two Military Merit Medals, Military Civic Action Medal, Long Service Medal, Anti-dissident Campaign Medal, Luzon/Visayas/Mindanao-Sulu Campaign Medals, Disaster/Relief/Rehabilitation Ribbon, Presidential Unit citation Badge, Martial Law Badge, February 86 EDSA Revolution Badge, Combat Commander Kagitingan Badge, Parachutist Badge, AFP Command and General Staff Corps Badge, AFP JCSC Badge, Australian Defense Pin and various Letters of Commendation.

BGen. Virgilio L. Florendo graduated with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1961. A year before he earned his degree, he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Force. He however reverted his reserved status for direct commission and was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the regular force of the Philippine Army in 1965, where his first assignment was as platoon leader at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. BGen. Florendo was one of the select few sent to Tay Ninh, Vietnam when the Philippines participated in the Vietnam campaign. There he earned his First Lieutenant rank and was assigned to command the Engineering Construction Battalion, 1st PHILCAGV as Company Executive Officer. After his 3-year assignment in Vietnam, he was awarded a Military Merit Medal for meritorious service in a foreign country.

In 1971, then a captain, he was assigned to command the 51st Engineering Brigade as Company Commander. In 1972, BGen. Florendo attended the Maintenance Management Course and thereafter the Engineering Equipment Course in the U.S., graduating in his class as the top allied student and receiving the coveted Distinguished Allied Graduate award. His exemplary academic performance earned him an appointment as an instructor at the Philippine Army School where he was promoted to Major. He earned Lieutenant Colonel rank and was assigned to the Training Command of the Philippine Army as army officer and instructor, until his assignment as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations at the 52nd Engineering Brigade. In 1981, he was assigned as the Battalion Commander of the Brigade and received his promotion as Colonel. In 1988, he completed his Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering at the National University. Two years later, he was assigned as the Chief Engineer of the Philippine Army and later, as Brigade Commander of the 54th Engineering Brigade at Camp Tito Abat, Manaog, Pangasinan. Retiring in 1995, BGen. Florendo turned to farming in his home province of Tarlac, but continues to share his knowledge and experience with his constituents as Vice President for Academics of the Interworld Colleges Foundation. He is also presently serving as Executive Officer and Consultant of the Province Disaster Coordinating Council for the Provincial Governor's Office of Tarlac City.

BGen. Cesar P. Gopilan graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971 from the Philippine Military Academy and went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering (1976) and in Environmental and Sanitary Engineering (1977) from the Mapua Institute of Technology. Not content with such academic achievements, he pursued post-graduate studies and completed his master's degrees in Business Administration from Xavier University in 1985 and in Management from the Philippine Christian University in 1989. BGen Gopilan combines deep devotion to duty and great personal charisma, which has served him in good stead in a military career which saw him rise from the rank of First Lieutenant to Brigadier General in a brief span of 27 years. He received the TOM Award in the specialized field of military service in 2002.

All throughout, BGen. Gopilan maintained an impeccable track record and several award worthy accomplishments, earning him two Distinguished Service Stars, one "Gawad sa Kaunlaran," 18 Military Merit Medals, 8 Military Commendation Medals, along with 24 other medals, badges, ribbons and 19 letters of commendation and appreciation. Just recently, he also received a plaque of recognition from the National Awards and Selection Committee for disaster preparedness mitigation and response, awarded by no less than Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last September 18, 2001. During his tenure as Commander of the 53rd Engineer Brigade, the Philippine Army completed 19 multi-million military and civil works projects, increased the serviceability profile of his engineers from 78% to 87%, and renovated his brigage facilities in record time. On account of his outstanding leadership, his brigade was adjudged "Best Brigade" among the five engineering brigades of the Philippine Army during the years 2000 and 2001 and the "Best OESPA" in the entire Philippine Army for the year 2000. BGen Gopilan's outstanding record and performance has culminated in his present assignment as Chief of Engineers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, where, as "proud", hard-working and highly-motivated Mapuan, he is again expected to excel.

Brig. General Montesa joined the military after graduating with a B.S. Mechanical Engineering degree from the Mapua Institute of Technology in 1962. He was also an advanced ROTC graduate of Class '59. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Philippine Army on March 1962. He later joined the Philippine Marines where he had 33 years of exemplary service. He retired from the service in March 1995. BGen. Montesa garnered several medals and decorations for meritorious and valuable service rendered in various positions and major responsibilities in the military. Some of his major awards/accomplishments are: Award of the Distinguished Service Star with 2nd Bronze Anahaw Leaf, for implementing Operation Plan "Tatsulok," aimed to dismantle the politico-military structure of the Communist Party of the Philippines; Award of the Gold Cross for gallantry in action; Award of the Bronze Cross for heroism involving risk of life during the negotiations for the surrender of rebel Commander Damit Dambong in Siasi, Sulu; and the Award of the Military Commendation Ribbon for Leadership as the Commanding Officer of the 1st Marine Company in neutralizing and stopping the nefarious activities of the NPA in Tarlac City.

BGen. Montesa's noncombat-related accomplishments include his campaign against illegal logging in Quezon province and civic activities including medical and dental missions benefiting about 600 persons in Quezon during his stint as Commanding General of the 1st Marine Brigade from January 1993 to June 1994. As a sportsman, then Col. Montesa was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Medal for his distinguished and extraordinary service rendered as Chairman of the Shooting Committee during the XVI Asian Games. All these accomplishments, and many more that could not be included in this limited space, are evidenced by medals, and commendations. He has earned all these together with an untainted reputation, both as a military officer and a civilian citizen, this makes BGen. Adolfo M. Montesa truly deserving as The Outstanding Mapuan (TOM) Awardee in Military Service for the year 2001.