January - February 1998

1998-PARA BOARD - International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region III Chairman, Fred Johnson, inducts the new PARA officers headed by Bob Garcia, DU6BG; elected President for the 3rd and final term,; Lito Rotor, DU1LIB; Corporate Secretary, Alvin Caoile, DU8VRC; Rene Rodriguez, DU6RCR; Corky Lim, 4F1IX; Sonny Sibala, DU7RV; Vice President for Visayas; Captain Ed Reyes, DU1ERV; Secretary General; Winky Guingona, DU9DWV, Vice-President for Mindanao; Alexander Bolisay, DU3XAN, Vice-President for Luzon and Robert del Rosario, DU3BBY, Treasurer.

Usually, National Field Day serves as a simulated emergency communication training where individual hams setup their own ham radio communication equipments outdoors, establishing contacts among fellow hams and various sectors involved in emergency situation using whatever meager resources available to an individual ham in a simulated emergency situation such as batteries, solar panels, hand motor for power supply of radio transceivers. This amateur radio activity is very commonly done in disaster prone areas of highly developed countries such as in the United States and Japan.

However, the proposed National Field Day in the country has adopted a unique proposal to coincide with the Centennial Day celebration to attain an encompassing and simultaneous objectives with a rare occasion of having His Excellency convey his greetings and wellwishes through interactive Ham Radio transmitted nationwide. Likewise, selected local government officials may also convey their greetings and wellwishes to the President through Ham Radio communications, setup in strategically located areas manned by Filipino Amatores.

The concept and objectives of the proposed field day was presented by the Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA) president Roberto "Bob" Garcia Jr. DU6BG, during the inauguration of the new National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) building on January 6, 1998 along BIR Road in Quezon City and anchored on the following context :

Participating amateurs are advised to make representations with local officials regarding their intent of participation during Centennial day ceremony in their locality and setup their equipments and paraphernalias in a conductive area within the public places where Centennial Day celebrated.

Invite national and local officials to convey greetings, wellwishes, and short messages among other government during and after a ceremonial Centennial netcall.

Conduct brief orientation and hands-on operation of ham radio to all interested parties. As a matter of policy, National Field Day in commemoration with Centennial Day imbibes a jovial and festive mood characterized with a sense of community service in the spirit of volunteerism.

The endorsement was personally penned by President Ramos in the covering letter addressed to him and copies were furnished to the National Centennial Commission thru Acting Secretary Josefina Lichauco of the Department of Transportation and Communications, who is also the president of the NCC, Commissioner Simeon Kintanar of the Telecommunications Commission and the Presidential Security Command for further coordination with the PARA.

Likewise, newly appointed Secretary Lichauco who once headed NTC hails the initiative taken by PARA even as she urged all amateurs to rally behind this patriotic cause.

"Seldom do you get the preferential attention of the President and your initiative to participate and drumbeat the historical significance of the Centennial Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence through your year-long amateur activities to dramatize the need for scientific and technical development has clearly gained the support of the President."

Lichauco said as he encourages all Filipino Amateurs not to miss this rare opportunity to deliver Amateur Radio services and be properly recognized as partners in community services and nation building.