GOVERNOR RUPERTO A. AMBIL, JR—IN
MEMORIAM.
by Yelina Pinarok, Private Secretary
of Governor Ruperto A. Ambil, Jr
Regarded by many as THE BEST
GOVERNOR Eastern Samar ever had, honored by the Diocese of Borongan—and
the only government leader so distinguished during its 50th year
anniversary–with the “Bishop Reyes Leadership Award” in recognition of his
exemplary leadership (“zero corruption, and honest, transparent and
sincere leadership”), and known as the first Estehanon to earn the rank of
3-star lieutenant general in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),
former Eastern Samar Governor Ruperto Ambil, Jr joined his Creator to
receive his eternal reward on July 21, 2012 at the age of 71.
A product of military institutions of excellence (including OCS Portsea,
Australia and USACGSC, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, US), Ambil rose from the
ranks of Master Sergeant to Lieutenant General. During his 35 years in the
military service, he earned numerous medals and awards of recognition, the
highest of which were the Philippine Legion of Honor, 4 Distinguished
Service Stars and 2 Gold Cross medals. But his formation was not purely
military; he also prepared for peace through formal courses in Foreign
Service, and earned AB degree and MA in National Security Administration.
He received specialized training on the problems and politics of
developing countries and management consultancy for small and medium
industries at the University of the Philippines Institute of Small Scale
Industries.
As a military man, he served as [1] Battalion Commander of the 9th
Infantry (Sandigan) Battalion, which he organized, trained and commanded
in the fiercest battle in Jolo, Basilan, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga
de Norte from 1974 and 1979; [2] Deputy Commander for Civil-Military
Operations of Regional Unified Command 8; [3] Faculty Member at the AFP
Command and General Staff College; [4] Brigade Commander of the 802nd
Infantry Brigade, earning his 1st Star; [5] Deputy Chief of Staff for
Reserved Affairs and Retirees at GHQ; [6] Commanding General of the 8th
Infantry Division, introducing the persuasive approach to the insurgency
problem; [7] Commander of the AFP Forces in the Visayas (Regions 6,7 and
8) or VISCOM, earning his 2nd Star; and [8] Commander of the Southern
Command, the most sensitive and biggest command of the AFP which consisted
of air, naval, ground and police forces in the whole Mindanao (Regions 9,
10, 11, 12, ARRM, CARAGA), during which tenure he was promoted to Lt.
General.
Governor Ambil was a man of faith. He was a regular Sunday Mass
churchgoer. When he was governor, he used to lead the provincial
government heads in coming to the Borongan Cathedral for Sunday Mass,
after which they had breakfast and held informal meeting at the
Merchweiler Hall. While he was serving the AFP, he built chapels, raised
crosses and, being a Marian devotee, pursued the grotto project in honor
of the Blessed Virgin Mary in every patron base in Samar island, and in
the Visayas and Mindanao.
That he was aware of his civic duties could be seen in his membership in
several organizations, including the UP Vanguard Incorporated, Beta Sigma
Alumni Association, Knights of Rizal, Rotary Club, Philippine Eagles,
Association of Generals and Flag Officers, Alumni of Royal Military
Schools (ARMS), Boy Scout of the Philippines, Veterans Federation of the
Philippines, Sandigan Battalion Brotherhood, and Fraternal Organization of
ROTC, Reservists and Veterans.
LGen Ruperto Ambil served as the 4th Governor of Eastern Samar from 1998
to 2001. As chief executive, he improved the provincial government
organization and emphasized workable Development Plans and Empowerment of
the Barangay. Provincial government employees used to recall that when he
descended from his office as governor, Lt Gen Ambil, in a manner without
precedent, left about P70 million at the coffers for the use of the
incoming set of provincial officials. At the time of his demise, he was
Chair, UP-UP Samar Island Movement, Inc.; Chair, BSP Eastern Samar
Council; Post Commander, Borongan Veterans Post; District Commander,
Eastern Samar Veterans District; Chapter Commander, Knights of Rizal
Borongan; and National Chair, Fraternal Organization of ROTC, Reservists
and Veterans (FORVETS).
Ruperto Ambil, Jr was born on January 18, 1941 in Cagayan de Oro City to
Dr Ruperto Ambil and Sabina Asis of Borongan. He is survived by his wife,
Anna Dilao Langomes, with whom he had 5 children.
May he rest in peace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Ret.) Lt Gen
Ruperto Ambil (left) District Commander, Eastern Samar Chapter and
Vice-President, VFP Region 8 and Brig Gen Joel Joseph Cabides (right)
Regional President, VFP-SDAI Region 8 Chapter light the Veterans Torch for
Peace during the Commemorative Program in connection with the 63rd Leyte
Landing Gulf Landings celebration at the MacArthur Memorial National Park
in Candahug, Palo, Leyte , October 20, 2007. (Photo by Vino R. Cuayzon,
Philippine Information Agency)
Eulogy for Retired Lt. General
Ruperto A. Ambil, Jr.
Former South Commander in Chief
by Anggie Angliongto
Dear Sis Anna and Children,
It is with deep sadness that I share with you today, the remarkable
passion of my brod, Gen. Pert Ambil, Jr. being one of the few public
servants who are close to Mindanaoans. He served as a South Commander in
Chief at the time of President Fidel V. Ramos. It was during his stint as
South Com Chief that he did a good job by contributing to the realization
of University of the Philippines in Mindanao on February 21, 1995.
Included in the 204 hectares of land, now owned by the UP Mindanao system,
is the Camp Gabriel where the 55th Brigade was stationed, which has been
there since the time of President Marcos as a living testament of the
critical chaos situation during the martial law. It was during his
leadership that the peace and order was contained.
The 55th Brigade through him during our initial discussion saw forth the
beginning of partnership for the turnover of the dilapidated campsite and
transferred it for the use of the University of the Philippines for
Mindanao.
In 2006, with the help of our fraternity brothers from the Federation of
Beta Sigma Chapters of North America, one of the dilapidated buildings was
repaired and restored. Thus, the establishment of the UP Mindanao
Infirmary, better known as the Betan Clinic.
It is in this light that I thought of sharing this story of him as former
South Com Chief, and his contribution to the UPMin community. As for me,
he will always be a part of the history of the University of the
Philippines – Mindanao.
We know that in this kind of gathering, there is a saying that “everyone
will go” one day and that there is a heavenly world waiting for us up
there. And we find comfort in knowing that he is now at peace with our
Almighty Creator.
Thank you Brod Pert and we bid you farewell for now, until we meet again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MESSAGES
To all brods,
It is with deep regrets to announce that a great UP Betan passed away at
1am today. Brod General Ruperto Ambil, Jr., Batch '59, age 71, succumbed
to a heart attack this morning. Let us give our condolences and prayers to
the Ambil family. Their grief is shared by our brotherhood.
Salamat po.
Rolly Reyes'66, 7-21-12
*************************
Just opened my e-mail today and heard the sad news of Brod Rupert Ambil
Jr.'s passing away. He was my ROTC commander during my ROTC years in UP.
May his soul rest in peace and my condolences to the family.
Leo Acosta'66, 7-30-12
*************************
(Back ---> In Memoriam)
