The oldest NGO dedicated to the welfare of the enlisted soldier is now on the Web:
http://help4ask.wordpress.com/
Who they are helping
http://help4ask.wordpress.com/category/abo...-beneficiaries/
The Philippines has been at war with itself for over 40 years. Since American recognition of Philippine independence in 1946, the government has been grappling with various groups which sought regional or national control through extra-judicial means. The rationale for this fight lies within a socio-political labyrinth that is beyond the scope of this blog. The question “who drew first blood” is a field of study in itself.
For our purposes, it is enough to say that on one side of the conflict are the state and the rule of law, while on the other are those who seek to wrest power from the state. When political leaders of either side decide to resort to force . . . soldiers march . . . bleed . . . and die.
The Filipino soldier (“Kawal”) is a volunteer. He or she joins the profession of arms by choice. Motivations for enlistment are mixed; ranging from vocation and family tradition, to economic hardship. In many instances, they turn to military life to make ends meet, as shown by the number of soldiers, especially “enlisted personnel” (EP), that come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
They begin their enlistments at the start of their adult lives, between 18 and 23 years of age. All too often, they die young, leaving behind wives and young children who’ve had to contend with basic salaries of $10 a day for the lowest ranks. The ability of these families to cope with death or incapacitation is, therefore, very limited.