How did it all Began?

          - My Life in the Coast Guard Auxiliary -

Hi, Everyone!  Being my first posting, I believe I need to give you a little bit of history about how I came to be involved in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA).

I received an invitation from an officer, a Cdr. Iggy Gelido, and have joined the scheduled Indoctrination / Orientation Seminar (05Feb2001) about the PCGA's History,Traditions, Missions and Visions.

My qualification was reviewed and I was commissioned to the PCGA 116th Squadron last 19th February 2001 with the rank of Lieut. Commander in accordance with the criteria set in the PCGA Regulations Manual and PCGA Table of Organization.

I took the training for Basic Sea Survival and Sea Rescue Training that ended last April 01, 2001 at the Philippine Marines Base Camp at Ternate, Cavite. This training was conducted by the Air Operations Wing of the PCGA.

The 116th Auxiliary Squadron has a series of missions lined up for the year with prior approval from the Commandant, PCG. The first one that I was able to join was the Anti-Marine Pollution Mission of cleaning up the polluted San Juan River, a tributary of the Pasig River last 21 April 2001. The Squadron set-off on the Pasig Wharf of the Malacanang Park.

For my effort, I was awarded the Anti-Marine Pollution Ribbon by the Squadron Commander, PCGA assisted by the Philippine Coast Guard 1st District-National Capital Region,Commo. Reuben Doria, PCG.