NEW PNP CHIEF: TOP COP'S FIRST CHRISTMAS AT CAMP CRAME
MANILA, DECEMBER 18, 2010 (BULLETIN) When Director General Raul M. Bacalzo earned his first star rank in 2004, the first thing he did right after the ceremony was to drive straight to his hometown in Tuy, Batangas, and show his parents how snappy he looked in a police uniform with a star on each shoulder.
If only they were alive today, it would certainly be the merriest season of Advent for Bacalzo, as he is about to celebrate his first Christmas as chief of the Philippine National Police.
Gone were the days when Bacalzo would receive a pat in the back from his father and mother to express how proud they were of what their son had accomplished, from having been a consistent honor student in both local and foreign schoolings, including a scholarship at the Philippine Military Academy, to winning 12th place in the 1987 Bar examinations.
Those were what the top cop would miss a lot, and of course, his favorite childhood Christmas treats of homemade bibingka (rice cake) courtesy of his mother and native, creamy tsokolate (chocolate) specially made by his father from the cacao fruits in their backyard.
"As a child, it amazed me on how bibingka was prepared with fire on top and the bottom. My father would also personally prepare native chocolate, which we called tablea, made from cacao," said Bacalzo.
"It was unfortunate that we're not able to learn how to prepare them from our parents. So that's what I would really miss this Christmas," he added.
As such, Bacalzo said they would just be contented with what they could prepare and buy this Christmas, especially lechon and chocolate cake, which he said, are always present in their dining table during the traditional noche buena.
"We normally serve those (lechon and chocolate cake) because they were what my brother would always request," Bacalzo said., disclosing that he will serve as host in this year's Christmas gathering of their family.
Family reunion
The absence of his parents, however, has always been compensated by the presence of children and relatives, and even additional members of the family, making Bacalzo feels excited about playing Santa Claus for his grandchildren, courtesy of his nephews and nieces.
"I will be spending my Christmas here in Camp Crame... I will be the host this year," said Bacalzo when asked if he would prefer to celebrate Christmas in his hometown.
As PNP Chief, he and his family has a designated house inside Camp Crame in Quezon City, more popularly known among policemen as the "White House."
Bacalzo said that he is actually excited this Christmas since he is expecting family members to go home from abroad. In fact, he disclosed that it was actually his brother from the United States who insisted that he prepares lechon and chocolate cake.
"I am sure that this will indeed be a merry Christmas for me because I will spend it with my children whom I have not been with for a long time now, one of them had already arrived from abroad," said Bacalzo.
Holiday truce
Bacalzo said another reason why he opts to spend Christmas in Camp Crame is to be with his men, being the father of the 132,000-strong PNP organization.
"I would like to spend my Christmas here with my men here in Camp Crame, I will be even attending their Christmas parties here," he said.
And as head of the top law enforcement agency, Bacalzo said he was the first to be elated by the gesture from both the national leadership and the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) to declare suspension of tactical offensives.
The official said that such a move would be a good gesture reflecting the true meaning of Christmas as they would not worry that rebels would attack far-flung areas.
"This is good for our policemen because they would be given a much-deserved break this Christmas, this is also a good gesture of unity," said Bacalzo.
Bacalzo, however, assured the public that they will not lower their guards against street criminals and even ragtag bandits and members of terrorist groups like the Abu Sayyaf who are expected to prowl the streets this Christmas season
----------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright, 2010 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
----------------------------------------------------------
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------
