ON June 13, 2025, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Education, Training, and Doctrine Command convened both an AFP Leadership Development Forum and the AFP Leadership Development Center Advisory Council meeting at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo.
Led by AFPETDC Commander Major General Francisco F. Lorenzo Jr. and AFPLDC Director Colonel Ronald Albert P. Genete, the leadership forum was conducted as part of the Command’s efforts to enhance collaboration among leadership centers. It aimed to foster the sharing of best practices, align initiatives with strategic objectives, and strengthen leadership development programs within the AFP. Heads of Major Service Leadership Development Centers and other educational training institutions attended the forum, and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. delivered the keynote message.
Following the forum, Galvez, chairman emeritus of the AFPLDC, presided over the Advisory Council meeting attended by Lorenzo, Genete, Lt. Col. Bernie Guerra, Advisory Council Chairman Ariel Hernandez, Dr. Jacinto Gavino, Prof. Roderick De Castro, Prof. Jennifer Santiago-Oreta, PhD, and myself, as members of the advisory council, and other stakeholders.
The council reviewed proposed amendments to the AFPLDC by-laws and recommended new members to fill vacancies. Among the recommendees, the first to confirm was my media friend, Al Jazeera’s veteran defense reporter Jamela Aisha Alindogan—recently appointed Foreign Affairs Editor at Bilyonaryo News Channel—whose frontline experience and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization or UNESCO-recognized journalism promise to enrich council discussions.
Guerra then unveiled an impressive roster of potential resource speakers for the November summit: former Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio of the Institute for Maritime and Ocean Affairs; the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs and Transportation; and other eminent figures from academia, government, and industry. Department of National Defense and other agency officials, AFP commanders, media representatives, and key stakeholders will discuss regional security dynamics, which have grown increasingly complex.
Thanks to AFPETDC’s collaborative model of leadership development—anchored in best practices, legal expertise, and real-world simulations—the summit will definitely be essential for the AFP’s readiness and the nation’s defense.
