In a world full of treacherous events, where brutality invades peace and tranquility, one must rise, one must fight, and one must lead in uplifting the spirits of every individual who is losing strength and faith in navigating life’s unstructured ways.
In our history, many have tried to resurrect the indulgent way Filipinos practiced their rights. Some use their bare hands and their will as fuel to combat the oppressors, and some use their words channeled like a sharp knife, piercing the ego and the hearts of those who abuse power. These people may have different ways of creating difference, but all of them were considered heroes for standing by what they believed.
In modern times, there is still the presence of those groups who chose to go beyond borders to make a stand for what they believe in and brave men who vowed to serve their lives to stand for what is right and to let peace triumph against all the negativities that accompany life.
Col. Jo-ar A. Herrera is a living testament that one should stand and be the start of change. At a young age, Herrera undoubtedly showed the exemplary characteristics of a young leader. This started in 1993 when Herrera graduated as class valedictorian of Caggay-Tanza Elementary School, which is now known as Tuguegarao North Central School. He also graduated with honors and was named Scientist of the Year from the formerly St.Louis College of Tuguegarao, now known as the University of Saint Louis. These achievements are undoubtedly hard to achieve for many, but Herrera proved that with passion and determination, everything will go as planned.
His journey toward successful leadership did not stop there; hence, it was ignited when he pursued his dream of joining the military. Col. Herrera was a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy “MASIKHAY” Class of 1999 and took his Command and Staff Course (CSC) at Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College, Singapore, in 2019. He first became the Deputy Director of the Joint Doctrine Development Center, AFP Education, Training, and Doctrine Command. He also became the first director of the Operations Research Center, Philippine Army (ORCPA), which aims to explore new methods for promoting development, reintroducing government services, and bridging the gap between remote communities and local governments in conflict-affected areas. The Community Support Program is one of the strategies used to win back the public’s support for the government and stop the infiltration of neighborhood Communist terrorists that prey on every neighborhood.
And just like how we should maintain the sharpness of our blades, Col. Herrera continued to flourish in his field by attending a series of career-oriented education, specializations, and training programs at various military schools not only in the Philippines but also abroad. Also, he recently won a silver award for best thesis in the Prestigious Master in National Security Administration for his work entitled “Psychology of Defeat: Advancing Theory and Strategy to Protect the State Against the Cognitive Warfare of the Communist Terrorist Group,” which investigates the impact of terrorist defeat on the recruitment and radicalization of the CPP-NPA-NDF in Mindanao.
With his efforts and unbendable will to succeed in protecting lives, Col. Herrera, who is currently the 16th Commanding Officer of the 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (531B) Philippine Army, continues to lead and be an instrument of hope not only to his soldiers but mostly to his fellow Filipinos.
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