**April 7, 2024 – Induction of Members and Officers and Chartering of Clubs and Region of CLR-LXXX @ Royce Hotel and Casino, Clark Field Freeport Zone, Pampanga

Kuya Gov. Ramil De Vera’s Acceptance Speech

Introduction

Everyone deserves new beginnings. And, more often than not, new beginnings are not gifts given to us, but our own choices.

When we choose to start afresh and take hold of the direction of life, we create a new beginning.

Craig D. Lounsbrough (Author, Speaker, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Certified Professional Life Coach), said: “Starting over is an acceptance of a past we can’t change, an unrelenting conviction that the future can be different, and the stubborn wisdom to use the past to make the future what the past was not.”

My Journey as an Eagle

Before knowing the Philippine Eagles, I have been engaged with many socio-civic services, both church-based and NGOs. During high school and college days, I met various friends who are members of different fraternities, many have tried to invite me to be a frat member, but I have not seen myself becoming one…maybe because I have conceived in my mind that fraternities are adversarial… cause I have personally seen many frat wars and hostilities in my high school days and have experienced being bullied by some frat members. So, all my civic works were done mostly with a community of believers and with fellow riders and communicators.

One day, with Kuya Jay (Chartered Governor of CLR-17, TFOE-PE, Inc.), the Philippine Eagles were introduced to me. The concept of innovative humanitarian, the contagious influence of the fastest growing Philippine born socio-civic organization had caught my attention, and gave a turning point that changed my perspective on fraternities because the Fraternal Order of Eagles, aside from being an organization that fosters service through strong brotherhood I have loved the principle of becoming a God loving and a law-abiding organization, hence, such an organization that renders innovative humanitarian service “pro Deo et Patria!” Eagles serve for God and Country.

Thank you, Quezon City Sandigan Eagles Club, through Kuya Gov Don Rontas and Kuya Jeff Pecson, they then the leaders of the club, along with our PIEL Director Kuya Borj Borja, they molded us during the early stage of my life as Eagle.

Thank you, CLR 3, through Kuya Gov Edison Ramos, who has stood as a brother and father, whenever we are struggling as a club.

Thank you, Clark Sandigan Eco Eagles Club, for all the experiences that I have had…I have grown a lot with you…it was not easy loving you, but all those rough roads and turbulent waves that we have gone through made me love you more. From Clark Sandigan Eco Eagles Club, we gave birth to 6 other clubs, subsequently, we created the CLR-17, a region through which we made a stance… for what is right, for what is proper, based on the Eagles principles… more so, on the Eagles Delicadeza… yet we’ve lost it… but we have won the fight… because the Philippine Eagles won the fight over what has happened to us.

Sabi nila, ang pinakamagaling manalangin, sa pulitika man o sa iba’t-ibang organisasyon, tulad ng Agila, ay ang mga next in rank na posisyon. Ang vice president, vice governor, ang vice mayor, and the likes, lahat daw sila nananalangin hindi para maging maayos ang president, ang mayor o ang governor, kundi para makuha ang puwesto, sa kahit anong paraan! But not in my case as the Chartered Vice President and Chartered Vice Governor, of Clark Sandigan Eco Eagles Club and CLR-17, respectively.

Countless times, when I became the chartered Vice President of Clark Sandigan Eco Eagles Club, many have convinced me to unseat Kuya Jay. When he became the governor, and I was his vice governor, many approached me also to unseat him. I stood firm and remained respectful, not just to the person of Kuya Jay, but to his position that represents the whole organization.

I embraced the TFOE-PE, Inc., its entirety. I could have been a Club President and a Governor earlier on by unseating my predecessor through acts of rebellion. But I could not just imagine myself becoming a governor by taking the path of adversary. From what I know about the Eagles Delicadeza, no Eagle shall have a conflict with a fellow brother eagle. No eagle shall hate his fellow brother eagle… no eagle shall be insensitive that he would cause harm to a fellow eagle. Eagles are NOT adversarial… Eagles are reconciliatory.

I won’t go into details about what happened between the clubs who retained as CLR-17 and those clubs who stood and fought with us and won the prize of becoming CLR-80. Thanks to the Mandaluyong Eco Eagles Club, the Clark Sandigan Eco Eagles Club, and the Sambigkis Eco Eagles Club, for believing in us.

Thanks to the Malatarlak Pines Eagles Club for joining and trusting us, you have done a favor worthy of exemplary recognition.

Thanks to Kuya Gov. Lad Agustin of East Rizal Region-1, for providing a home for us when we were wandering during our fight for our region.

Thanks to Kuya Gov. Pons Pascual of Cordillera Eagles Region-3 for always tapping our shoulders and inspiring us to fight on and move forward…thank you for your lifting hands.

Thanks to Kuya Gov Bong Salvador and Kuya Gov Norman, to the rest of the governors na nakakakuwentuhan ko, who have in one way or another, given words of wisdom during the turbulent days of our leadership…you inspired us, Kuya Jay and I, would always be thankful for all your beads of wisdom. You made us stronger all the time.

To kuya Mayor Romeo Capitulo, my boss, and my brother, who respected my silence when I opted not to talk about the rebellion that happened in our former region. However, from this day on, should anyone wish to hear my side, our side…the truth of everything, I am ever ready to speak up.

To our dear Kuya SecGen Eagle Allan Corpuz, thank you so much. I have made my unbreakable stance but your humility and your sincerity of pleading for the good of the brotherhood, I have brought down all my defenses and yielded to your counsel. The analogy that you made about the evil and good and your recognition of our sacrifices for the protection of the organization, changed a wooden heart ready to fight to the end. I chatted with you after the dialogue. I even had it screenshot and kept it as a commitment that if by any chance, the rebellion tends to unseat anyone, including you and the NP, if, without due cause, I would always do what I have done for Kuya Jay, my predecessor, I will always protect the organization and would always stand against adversaries that would topple down the structure of our organization.

Tor our dear Kuya NP Ronald Delos Santos, I thank you for heeding us. Without any grudge, I would say, the past leadership did not even dare to lift a finger to help us out. Wrong timing, according to some, because it was election time. With humility, we have exhausted all legal and technical remedies to resolve our issues and concerns, but to no avail. But, thank you, because you resolved by awarding CLR 80 to us.

Kuya Jay, thank you for your unrelenting dedication and service to the region. Your sacrifices and your efforts have paid off. It is your time to regain your name…CLR-80 will pave for us to a better region, a brand-new start.

CLR-LXXX is a precious gift, a significant reward

It is not an accident that CLR 80 was awarded to us. For me, it is a trophy. For the victory that we have gained. After all the sacrifices, we are awarded a region that we deserve.

By significance, 80 is very symbolic. For Israelites, 80 represents prayer, Peh. Based on numerology, 80 means a new beginning, prosperity, influence, power, authority, etc.

In the entire history of the TFOE-PE, you can’t see a club composed of all pastors, in CLR-80 we made it. We have the Alab Sigla United Leaders Eco Supreme Eagles Club. (Please Stand)

The other new club, Nobilis Eco Supreme Eagles Club, is also composed of diverse vocations – pastors, businessmen, military, lawyers, farmers, politicians, OFWs, etc…all walks of life are represented – something that gives the advantage to the region. (Please stand)

May I also request all members of the clubs of CLR-80 to stand? (Please stand)

Standing before all of you, mga kuya, mga ate, mga bunso, friends of Eagles, the CLR-80… is a gift…not just to us…but to the whole fraternity. We accept all the duty of becoming a region and we commit ourselves to yield to The Fraternal Order of Eagles – Philippine Eagles, Inc.

Altogether, we thank all of you. Mabuhay ang Agila!!!