The BKK, FLP and NDCP

T hese letters stand for different words in my 80's world. I spent a couple of years as a government worker with the Civil Service Commission. I remember Commissioners Jacobo Clave and Albina Manalo Dans. I remember how it was to deal with the bureaucracy and the different personae i have to hobnob with.
The BKK - Buklod Ng mga Kabataang Kawani was an organization of the 30's and below kawani ng gobyerno. The Commission was very proactive with the young workers. The ability to participate in government-sponsored trainings was endless together with the chance to climb the ladder of seniority.
The FLP - Future Leaders Program was one of the elite programs for the young. The BKK members compete to be awarded one of the slots to this particular program. Eventually, the training was held at the NDCP- National Defense College Of The
Philippines. It was a 3 month long live in program ( I am not sure now of the duration - i could be wrong). All of the different regions in the country from the North to the South are well represented.
The whole NDCP program was conducted and controlled by the military personnel ( how close was NDCP to Fort Bonifacio actually). I should caution myself from saying that it was shear military indoctrination of the young - to each his own outlook.
The speakers and lecturers were all well learned men and women. The participants were all eager to learn and assimilate - hopefully able to separate the chaff from the grain.
There were the Ilocano, Visayan,Bicolano and Tagalog participants. There were also the participants from the South. Initially regionalism prevailed - why not diba? What have you in common - your place of origin and the language you spoke.
As the training got underway it really did not matter anymore if one was Ilocano or Visayan. One transcended language and origin.
Participants were all up at the crack of dawn to participate in the calisthenics. The "sound mind-sound body" logic was strictly adhered to. Kaya ang yosi was bawal. The smokers were relegated to carry out their vice in the comfort of the bathroom.
Such were other strict rules that were to be followed - Sa ikauunlad Ng bayan, Disiplina ang Kailangan - need I say more?
Should one opt to or unknowingly break any rule,demerits are handed out. I remember one particular demerit that affected me - the luxury of making phone calls. This was the era that cell phones were non existent. Ergo,we have our weekend phonecall privileges. I probably lost my privilege a couple of times for so many reasons. I eventually found ways and means to circumvent the punishment.
Why am I looking back at this point of my life? I was young then. Na-indoctrinate nga ba ako? Au contraire, it was a very productive learning experience to compare and contrast. Dinibdib ko ba ang mga natutunan ko sa lectures? Sa tutoo, hindi. The
human interaction made more of an impact to me.
The virtues of patience and tenacity were well learned. Inis na inis ka na sa kahirapan umintindi ng iba kahit na anong hirap ipadikdik sa kanila ang tutuo. Pero one learned the ability to "hold back".
Kahit iyon man lang ang matutunan ko, kahit na kagalitan na ako ng mga militar at tanggalan na ng lahat na privileges, I was okay. I survived - no, I lived.