AFTER signing up as an army reserve last April and undergoing scout ranger training in San Miguel, Bulacan last month, Matteo Guidicelli shared he actually lost 10 to 15 pounds during his 30-day stay at the camp.
“Basically the Scout Rangers are the elite force of our military so it’s the hardest training in the Philippine military. Not just physically but psychologically. Kasi from civilian life dumiretso ako sa military the next day. Sobrang supportive ng military meron silang counseling, may mga coaches sila dun na kinakausap ako. So naging okay naman ako,” he said during the Sunlife Kaakbay presscon held last July 6 in Pasay City.
During his first few days at the camp, Matteo revealed the experience really changed his views on life.
“Actually nung umpisa sinabi nilla na mahihirapan ito kasi hindi siya sanay sa hirap sa buhay. Hindi ko naintindihan. Pero nung nandun ako sabi ko hindi talaga ako sanay sa hirap sa buhay. Pero it humbled me so much. It made me realize the basics of life. Natutulog lang kami sa sahig, sa lupa. Yung liguan namin nasa river. Lumulublob kami sa mga kanal, mga ganyan (laughs). Talagang nag-humble sa akin. It gave me the basics of life and it made me appreciate life, to appreciate each and everyone of us kumbaga,” he admitted.
Among the many lessons he brought home from camp are things he would never have known if he didn’t push through with training.
“Yung pinaka-learnings ko dun yung ma-enjoy yung pinaka basic sa buhay. Kahit nasa bundok ka apat na araw or isang linggo, yung isang hangin lang na ganyan parang nasa heaven ka na, parang nasa hotel ka na five star. Second na natutunan ko, yung rumespeto sa mga sundalo natin. Bago ako pumasok nung civilian pa ako may respeto na ako pero ngayon na sundalo na rin ako, ang respeto ko sa kanila hindi ko ma-describe, yung sakripisyo nila para sa bayan, at para sa pamiya nila, to protect them, So grabe yung respeto ko sa kanila,” he explained.
Among his batch in the camp, Matteo garnered the highest marks. “Talagang gusto ko eh so tutok talaga ako sa mga activities,s a mga lessons at mga lectures. So natsambahan din (laughs). BUT Anybody can enlist if they go to the website ng philippine army, s aFacebook puwede kayo mag-enlist.They take this exam, they have to pass the physical test and then reserve ka. Kung gusto mo mag-actibe duty puwede ka rin magpa-active duty. Pag active duty ka, may sahod ka na,” he said.
As one of his advocacies, Matteo hopes other celebrities can follow suit and support the government in their own way as well. “Madami kaming projects. A few days ago pumunta kami sa Sulu dun sa may bombing. Kinausap namin yung mga sundalo dun. I will be doing the same activites and I encourage all our kababayans especially artistas to help out the country and join the reserve force,” he added. (Push)
