Meet the brave celebrities who readily signed up to be military reservists

We all are stirred with these artists’ exceptional performances onscreen or onstage, yet a number of them went beyond the calling of being actors or singers working in the entertainment industry and focused on literally serving the nation and its people.

In this gallery, we look at the superb artists exerting incredible effort, patriotism, and sacrifice by joining the Philippine military as reservists. These celebrities were bestowed special, honorary ranks by the different military branches.

Matteo Guidicelli

Fil-Italian actor-athlete Matteo Guidicelli, also a prominent Kapamilya actor who last appeared on the 2018 fantasy series Bagani, enlisted in the Army last year and took a month-long Scout Ranger course. He was subsequently commissioned and granted the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.

A Soldier’s Heart cast: Gerald Anderson, Elmo Magalona, and Yves Flores

A Soldier’s Heart has exposed us to the hardship and triumphs of the men in uniform.

We saw its lead stars not just playing their parts well, but actually personifying the ideals of the government combatants as real as it gets.

This is the reason why the main cast actually immersed themselves in rigid and strenuous military training to prepare for their difficult roles in the series.

In so doing, the lead actors who play the troopers in the show were granted real reservist ranks in the Philippine Army.

Last year, Gerald Anderson, Elmo Magalona, and Yves completed the 3-day Soldiers Skills Orientation Training and were all given the rank of Private in the Army Reserve Corps.

Pamilya Ko cast: JM de Guzman and Kiko Estrada

JM de Guzman also stated that he began training as a Philippine Air Force reservist. He was joined in his training by fellow Pamilya Ko cast member Kiko Estrada, who was with JM during the training and learned basic military courtesy and drills.

Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto

Multi-awarded showbiz luminary and Batangas congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto, who last appeared in a Kapamilya teleserye through a special role in 100 Days to Heaven in 2011, and in the Star Cinema film “Everything About Her” opposite Angel Locsin and Xian Lim in 2016, is a commissioned reservist, with rank of Lieutenant Colonel under the Philippine Air Force.

Christopher de Leon

Another widely acclaimed and multi-awarded actor, Christopher de Leon, who appeared in the recently concluded teleserye Huwag Kang Mangamba, is also a reservist under the Philippine Navy with the rank of Chief Petty Officer. In 2017, he celebrated his 61st birthday by paying tribute to the Navy and Marine officers who fought in the Marawi siege.

Diether Ocampo

Diether Ocampo emboldened himself with a mission to serve his countrymen by first honing his seafarer skills as he learned his way to become a pilot. Yet nothing is more honorable for Diether than joining the Philippine Coast Guard, wherein he was appointed Lieutenant Commander for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Diether had said that it is every Filipino’s responsibility to serve and protect the country, especially the coastal areas.

Surely, these artists have proven their wholehearted love for their fans, and their home country with their impeccable work they churn out.  But nothing could be more genuine about their patriotic love than actually enlisting in the Philippines’ military as reserve officers—how brave, gallant, and dedicated they are as Filipinos.

These Kapamilya celebrities would certainly inspire more citizens to follow their footsteps and volunteer to serve the country by enlisting as a military reserve.