I am currently here in the tropical paradise of Boracay Philippines! We were flown here yesterday afternoon together with other media friends for a Familiarization Tour of the Alta Vista de Boracay Hotel facilities.
So far so good! I am sharing room with Marc. I love our room! The view from the veranda is lovely. We just had a 90-minute Palassa Signature Massage. Nakatulog ako sa sobrang relaxed!
Today,well be touring the whole facilities, then head to Puka Beach for a short talk with the Department of Tourism and the local Ati community, then enjoy an afternoon of island hopping and watersports!
Capt. Langkit read the comments here and he sent a message.Check out below.
From his detention cell, Army Captain Dante Langkit is running for governor of Kalinga challenging well-entrenched politicians in the province.
A native of Kalinga Province, Langkit grew up in Poblacion Taga in the municipality of Pinukpuk. Born on October 1, 1971, Dante is the eldest among the four sons and three daughters of Esteban Linggayo Langkit and Gennette Balicao Dasayon.
Because of the then prevailing insurgency and tribal wars, Captain Langkit spent his elementary and high school studies in several government and private schools. He took his preparatory and elementary education at Bulanao Northern Elementary School and Pinukpuk Central School where he graduated Valedictorian. His high school days were spent at St. Williams Academy and St Theresita’s High School where he graduated with honors.
While taking up BS Civil Engineering in St. Louis College in Tuguegarao City (1988-91), Captain Langkit entered the Philippine Military Academy in 1991 and graduated as a member of the Marilag Class of 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Management degree. He is presently taking his Masters in Public Management at the University of the Philippines Open University while being detained at Fort Bonifacio.
As a well-rounded Philippine Army officer, Captain Langkit has undertaken various trainings. After his Infantry Officers Basic course, he completed the Scout Ranger and Basic Airborne courses, and then undertook Psychological Operations and Community Organizing related trainings. He is also a graduate of the Intelligence Basic Correspondence Course. His Scuba Training’s final test was interrupted due to his alleged involvement in a coup d’état case against him in 2006.
Captain Langkit has been an advocate of military professionalism. Assigned to 7th Infantry Division and to Special Operations Command, he was designated to various sensitive positions while spending most of his service in the field. As a platoon leader, executive officer, company commander and operations and intelligence staff officer, he persistently imparted to his troops the core values of military professionalism in dealing with the civilians while performing their duties and accomplishing their missions. He emphasized the respect for human rights and avoidance of military atrocities.
As a tactician who believes in the nobility of a soldier, he was able to successfully lead several combat exploits in the field. Believing “truth” as the most potent weapon against people’s apathy and lack of support, he was also able to cause the surrender of many armed terrorist dissidents and gained back many enemy mass bases’ sympathy towards the military and the government.
Aside from his successes in combat and civil military operations, Captain Langkit has been an environmentalist who involved himself in many anti-illegal logging operations while engaged in several reforestation activities. He has also initiated search and rescue operations as well as food distribution activities in the lahar-stricken and flooded areas of Central Luzon during several onslaughts of strong typhoons and heavy rains as well as spearheading medical and dental missions, and literacy patrols among the Aetas in Central Luzon. These, he believes, are among the inherent duty of a Filipino soldier – to protect the environment and to be actively involved in the communities.
Captain Dante Langkit’s modest accomplishments made him a recipient of some significant awards and commendations, both from the military and the civilian sector. Notable among his awards are several Gold Cross and Military Merit medals for gallantry in combat. He was also a recipient of the Best Junior Officer of the Year from the 7th Infantry Division and the Outstanding Philippine Army Junior Officer of the Year.
With these accomplishments and awards, Dante has persistently walked the talk in his advocacy for military professionalism, particularly the Respect of Human rights and sincere community involvement, as essential to the military organization’s success in its role in the pursuit for peace and development.
At 37, Captain Langkit is still a bachelor who, with his twin brother Danzel, helps his mother send his siblings to school. He is also a member of the Rotary Club and the Knight of Columbus.
Captain Dante Langkit is presently detained at the Custodial Management Unit of the Intelligence Service Group of the Philippine Army for more than four years now. He is being detained because he is a known member of the Magdalo Group and is charged with facilitating and conspiring with the Magdalo in destabilizing the government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
