APSL esprit de corps at ANZAC Day march 2019
By Evelyn A. Opilas – PRO APSL
Liverpool-NSW-Australia
May 9, 2019
Dress code. Check. / Enthusiasm. Check. / Walking ability. Check.
With each item ticked off, the Australia Philippines Services League (APSL) contingent merged with the Allied Forces for the ANZAC Day March in Sydney 25 April, almost 15 years since their first march-off.
The Australia Philippines Services League contingent positions itself for the ANZAC Day March with banner and flag bearers Michelle Manodon, Robert Manodon Feed Boado and Mae Manodon at the lead. Behind: Nap Estrada, Mike Onate, Chris Pilao James Vargas, Ricky Lasmarias, Nhel Patricio
Led by their leader Col Chris Pilao (ret), the APSL men and women looked neat and smart in dark suits, white shirts and black shoes, representing with pride their links to the military tradition.
Among the APSL ladies at the ANZAC Day March were Rachel Raymundo, Eva Onate, Lorna Manodon, Mila Romerosa, Josie Pilao, Nida Boado and Bong Vargas.
“We will march for as long as we can, rain or shine,” Col Pilao reminded his team. “That’s little sacrifice when compared to what the original ANZACs went through in Gallipoli.”
ANZAC Day has since been expanded to recognise the men and women who fought for freedom and democracy in World War II and modern-day conflicts.
Onlookers lined the 1.8km march route as troops wound their way through Hunter and Elizabeth Streets onto Liverpool Street, where their formation was then ‘dis-missed’.
The APSL contingent marches along Elizabeth Street, Sydney on ANZAC Day 2019 .
Asst Defence Attache Col Nhel Patricio, his wife Pinky, and TSgt Ricardo Lasmarias of the Philippine Embassy arrived from Canberra the night before to be with the APSL contingent in Sydney for the March, a reminder that the Philippines too lost sons and daughters in the fight for freedom alongside Allied Forces in World War II and in post-WWII conflicts as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces.
Esprit de corps seemed palpable as the APSL troops cooperated on how they presented themselves during the March.
APSL members finish off the 2019 ANZAC Day march with a group photo.
Flag bearers Fred Boado and Robert Manodon ensured the Australian and the Philippine flags they held respectively unfurled proudly along the march route.
Banner bearers Mae and Michelle Manodon kept a reasonable distance from the Korean troops in front of the APSL contingent while the Polish flag bearers following APSL had an amusing exchange with PRO Evelyn Opilas when she requested them to observe suitable space.
James Vargas, Fred Boado, Nida Boado and Bong Vargas relax at the post-ANZAC Day APSL dinner at West HQ Rooty Hill RSL .
“Yeah, yeah, and you will be part of the Polish Troops,” laughed one of the Polish flag bearers.
“No, no, YOU will be part of the Filipino contingent,” Ms Opilas chuckled back.
The Polish flag bearers maintained appropriate distance from the APSL troops during the March.
When Great Britain declared war on Germany 4 August 1914, Australia pledged a force of 20,000 men to be placed at Great Britain’s disposal. Voluntary recruitment for the first Australian Imperial Force (AIF) began 10 Aug.
On 25 April 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops landed at Gallipoli, Turkey, with the acronym ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) coined in May to describe Australian and New Zealand positions in the peninsula.
By 20 December 1915, the last ANZAC troops were evacuated from Gallipoli, leaving behind some 8000 sons of Australia.
APSL members James Vargas, Chris & Josie Pilao, Mila & Rudy Romerosa, Bella Ignacio, Rey & Linda Caramacion; back Evelyn Opilas, Michelle Manodon, Nida Boado, Mae Manodon, Bong Vargas, Lorna Manodon, Fred Boado catch up at the West HQ coffee shop .
Acting Prime Minister Alexander Pearce officially named 25 April as ‘Anzac Day’ in 1916, the first time Australia marked the Gallipoli landing.
World War I hostilities ended on Armistice Day 11 November 1918 at 11am, referred to as 11/11/11 in commemorative rites.
The first ANZAC Dawn Service was held 25 April 1923 at Mt Clarence, overlooking King George’s Sound, at Albany, Western Australia.
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(Photos courtesy of Pinky Alayon and Evelyn Opilas)