During the joint DND-AFP New Year’s Call this morning (04 January 2008) at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club, Camp Aguinaldo, I was introduced by the Secretary of National Defense, Hon Gilberto Teodoro, Jr, to his wife and to the members of the receiving line/hosts as “Vin Diesel”.

During the reception, I was again approached by the Secretary while I was talking with the members of the Defense Press Corps (Media Military beat) and introduced me again as “Vin Diesel” to them. The first time that the Secretary called me as such was after the 72nd Armed Forces of the Philippines Anniversary and Parade held at Camp Aguinaldo last 21 December 2007.

On my first meeting with the Secretary Teodoro, in person, on the third week of November last year in Iloilo City, he was a jolly, friendly and informal/casual in his conversation with me and to the rest of the commanders in my area of operations. He remembered me well as I was the one who introduced and accompanied him during his “courtesy call” to Bishop Angel Lagdameo in Jaro, Iloilo City plus the fact that I was the Host Commander during his brief visit in my Area of Operations.

I really did not know his first impression on me as I was trying to “adjust” to his “casual/informal” style of conversation. But I can see in him seriousness whenever we talk about our mission and concerns in the area. Sometimes, I became emphatic and aggressive on my statements (telling the group on the “realities” and “opportunities/challenges” the military had to take to solve the insurgency problem in the area/region) during our briefing/conference where he was as one of our guests with the Chief of Staff, AFP.

It seems my aggressiveness and being a “risk-taker” made the Secretary think of recalling the name of “Vin Diesel”.  Vin Diesel was first known as one of the lead actors of the movie “Fast and Furious” and later became the lead actor of the action-movie “XXX” and now the producer of the movie “Hitman”. I am glad the Secretary did not call me the “Hitman” or “Agent Number 47”.

It is a complement to be called as such from the incumbent Secretary of National Defense and I really like it. It is better than being called then by a former Secretary of National Defense as “Kojak”.

“Vin Diesel” or “Bald Runner”, both are great names for me!