By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) has recently inaugurated three new
and rehabilitated infrastructures inside its headquarters.
Colonel Rodrigo T. Gregorio, Command
Public Information Officer said in a press release that the Chief of
Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Gen. Emmanuel T Bautista arrived
at the headquarters last June 20 to visit field units and to personally lead
and grace the inauguration and blessing of three projects inside Camp Navarro this city.
Under the leadership of LT.GEN. REY C ARDO, WESMINCOM
undertook the major renovation and rehabilitation of the Flamingo, a
multi-purpose hall, the La Solidaridad, a function area with swimming
pool, and the construction of the Brigadier General Teodulfo Bautista Lounge,
a function room intended as reception hall for VIP guests.
Col. Gregorio said that among the three newly
renovated and constructed facilities, the Flamingo is probably the most
significant and most memorable to most retired and senior officers who are
still in the active service.
“Flamingo has in one way or another become part of
their lives and career. No less our honoree, the present Chief of Staff, AFP,
Gen BAUTISTA and Cmdr, WestMinCom LtGen Ardo were once billeted in this
facility 32 years ago when they reported here in Mindanao for their first
assignment as new 2nd Lieutenants in 1981,” Gregorio said.
He added that Flamingo is derived
from latin word flamma which means flame. The original Flamingo
Officers’ clubhouse traces its root in the 1970s during the height of the
Muslim rebellion in western Mindanao. The then ‘flamboyant’ Commanding General
of the 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army BGen Alfonso Alcoseba
was responsible in conceiving the construction of the said facility and
named it Flamingo, accordingly after the famous Flamingo in Las Vegas in order
to serve as venue for unwinding and relaxation of the Officers from the stress
and fatigue of the intense fighting in Mindanao during that time.
Since then, Flamingo has evolved to
serve for other purposes and functions to include: as an EP Clubhouse in the
1990s and as Female Officers Quarters renaming it to Patio de la Mujeres
in 2000s.
Today, Flamingo is still situated in its original location
and retains most of its original architectural designs after undergoing another
major renovation in the hope to bringing back its former glory, fame and
memories. (FPG/RVC/WESMINCOM/PIA9)