For high school in the Philippines almost all students will go through the CAT before graduating. You would probably wonder what is a CAT? CAT means Citizen Army Training. Just like the military. We have to go through the drill and formation. For most of the schools here private or public it’s really mandatory for a senior student to have the CAT. In my school, being just girls exclusively and not many senior students, that’s why the junior students were called to filled in. With the CAT it also had a band that played while we were in the formation.
Our CAT uniform was really like the military, and we had a rifle too. Were using the fatigue and the shoes has to be really shiny and the belt. Our Colonel really checked our belt if she could see herself, just like a mirror. If she could not, then it’s not shiny enough. You got punished for that. Also, there was a certain way to fold the handkerchief and the way to put the hat. If you had long hair you had to tie that and tuck it in inside the hat or use some hair clip that would hide your hair so that it wouldn’t go in your face . The clip to be used had to be black. They really were strict on that. Can you imagine the drill in the hot sunny day over 100 degrees. We got sunburned a lot. If there was a contest against all schoosl private and public school (GenSan and the neighboring provinces) we would really have the drill (practice) for a whole day with Saturday and Sunday whole day too. Sometimes one of the students would pass out being under the hot sun for hours. Try not to pass out because the punishment will await you. To be honest I passed out one time. I think if I remember before going to school that day I didn’t eat breakfast. Man I really suffered later. I just fainted while in the drill. When I felt better later I had to give 20 push ups. I’m not happy to give but had to do it. Luckily it doesn’t happen a lot. I think being an all girls school we wanted to prove to everyone that we can do it. To be honest we really got good marks during the contest. Scores for the contests were really for the formation, rifle assembly, the band and discipline of course for the Cadettes.
One thing too on the training, don’t be late on the drill because the punishment would really be more than the push ups. Honestly on the military thing like the CAT students were not late. If our Captain leader said be here at 15 hundred we would be there 10 minutes before the time. But if our class president say we have a meeting at the classroom by 9am most of the classmates would be late like 10 to 15 minutes. I think because no punishment. With the military right in front of everybody you get punished.
In all honesty I’m glad to have the training. Just didn’t want it to be 2 years. It’s harder if your the lower year because as if your the slave. You will serve the higher years. It’s like payback time. Since they were punished a lot in the junior years they will pay it back when time for them in the senior years. I guess I had resentment at that time. Looking back now its kind of funny and fun. It was fun though like all of us be punished and all of us do the push up or sitting in the air. Were so serious in the drill but when we get back to our classroom we would be bursting in laughter, but we would not let the officer know that we are laughing on that. We might get more punishment next time we have the drill.
One time during our junior years one of my classmates, she’s really the clown in the class. Right before our CAT time, my clown classmate made a fashion show in our classroom using her rifle. She’s really making all kind of tricks with her rifle. Of course we were all laughing at it. We didn’t realize that one of the officer passed by the corridor in the classroom and saw what my classmate did. The officer didn’t like it. We all got the punishment. She told us to give 50 push ups. She immediately said that it’s a fault for all. We didn’t say anything, we just followed because if you said something they would give us more punishment.
I will share next time our training its not an easy one especially if your aspiring to be in a higher officer and my best friend was the lucky one to be chosen as the Colonel.
Mabuhay!
I'm really surprised that students have to go through all of that in the philippines. If it wasnt for the punishments though, I probably wouldnt be too much against it. What's the purpose of getting them so exhausted that they pass out? (and then punish them for that)
We have mandatory conscription for all males above 18 years of age in Denmark. You recieve a letter where you fill in a lot of information about yourself (health, education, etc.). If you are currently studying, you can postpone this untill you have finished your education. Later on, you recieve a letter about having to meet up at a certain place, where they will perform a series of tests on you (IQ test, health check, test of hearing/sight, etc). At this point, you get to choose what part of the military you want to try (army, navy, airforce, etc.) and wether you'll voulenteer to enter military service or "take a chance at the lottery". By the end of the meeting, you enter a room with a military officer, the doctor and some other people. They have a quick chat with you and if you were declared "fit" for the military service, you will have to fish out a piece of paper from the "lottery bowl". The piece of paper has a number written on it, which will decide wether you will have to enter military service or not.
i think it made you a stronger and better person Feyma–and i think this is one of the best articles i have read here–thank you for this article
Hi Adamite – I know what you mean. Honestly just by talking to some of my nieces and friends kids the training now of the CAT I don't think its as rigid as what we went through before. They are more lenient now towards the Cadette than before.
Right now the boys here above 18 years of age are not force to joined up anything as far as I know. They are required though to joint the training again during college. Not sure how many units they need for that.
Thank you for your comment. I hope to see you more here. Take care!
Hi james – Yes I really learned a lot from that training. The disciplined for myself especially.
I'm glad you liked the article. Thank you for stopping by. Keep reading and browsing here.
Take care!
Juramie was tell me about her CAT experience in secondary school and one time they were punished for being late. I didn't realize that CAT was mandatory. USA students are spoiled. I can't imagine ROTC training being required in US schools (even though it would help with discipline.)
Hi Jack – Yes being late will be punished.
Here in the Philippines I think its mandatory for the male student to take up ROTC during college especially if the student taking up 4 year course. Just maybe a few students in the States would want the training though. MAYBE.
Good to see you again Jack. Take care!
Feyma: Rebecca has a picture from her CAT time, in her uniform. She tells me that she really liked it since it got them outside and not in the classroom. She was the squad leader, but she told me they also took citizenship tests during her training (Learning the constitution, little history, and so on). I believe that the CAT is as much about being a good citizen as any real military training.
Wouldn't your eldest son be starting soon?
Oh! CAT days, if it wasn’t mandatory I would not attend… I remember when I arrived late, our captain (which was my crush) was screaming at me in front of everyone, I was so embarrassed; I had to do push ups. ha!ha! ha! Oh! High school life…
Take care,
Ann
CAT??? Oh yes, I remember my poor classmates under the scorching sun, marching and doing all the drills. I was exempted because of "Asthma" and was assigned as a librarian aide during CAT times. Back in high school, our library was in the third floor overlooking the oval ground. It used to be my co-librarian's hobby to count how many would pass out while in the line. Sorry, I know it was mean, but I was in high school!
HI annm, your not excemted your are just doing your punishment by your general commandant officer. if you are real cta,ltc.you know what am saying and am cadeth 2nd leutenant sanjuan cat nagpayong high school
Hi John – Good for Rebecca. Thinking back the old days time. 😉 That's right we have examinations about the Philippines constitution and the drill formations. Yeah, its really a good training for us too.
Our oldest didn't go through that. He is a home school kid with special needs.
Thanks for stopping by John!
Take care!
Hi annm – Lucky you that you were exempted. You can't be under the hot sun for a long time though with your asthma. But you missed out the fun being with the classmates in training. Really when we get high points from the contest its really a nice feeling too.
Oh well, that's part of our high school life that we never forget.
Good to see you here. Keep reading. Take care!
During my college days we have ROTC ( Reserve Officers Training Corp). and physical education in high school (PE). Do you Know when C.A.T started? Is PE still in high school curriculum? Are there still ROTC classes in college? Good post. Feyma! Cheers!
Kamusta ka Feyma,
I talk to Rose the other day about her time in C.A.T. She just rolled her eyes, and smiled. She said back then, she hated it, the long hours in the sun, the heavy gun, the hot khaki uniforms. But now looking back on it, she say it was a lot of fun also…BUT…wouldn't want to go through it again. She had it in her fourth year.
She informed me that the schools there in Maasin City, don't have the C.A.T. training anymore..she not sure what happened about that.
Mabuhay,
Danny 🙂
I wanted to share somethign regarding my CAT days. during my junior year, I enlisted myself voluntarily to undergo the whole entrance exam, madical, physical exam and well the training to become a CAT officer. We learned a lot. the reasons why there are ROTC and CAT Programs, the AFP History and Organization, Courtesy and Disclipline, Leadership and Command (which we are able to use up to now that i am owrking in abank, one would be surprised that if you were not used to such pressure you cant battlwe it out fairly in the industry) to a more advanced Land Navigation, Military Map reading, Military Drills and Ceremonies…I remember how porud my parents are when we peformed opur Silent Drill Exhibition (a rifle drill where we form different formations and rifle drills in a precise manner).
Soon during my senior year, I was lucky enough to become the Corps Commander (wing Commander or Cadet 1st captain in other schools) I have more than a thousand 4th year students under my command, so all the knowledge that we learned during training are put into a test, but luckily we all survivied the whole academic year obtaining the objective of our class “to educate and further instill the spirit of nationality patriotism and discipline among the graduating class of 2001.” We won several tactical CAT Competitions battling it out with other schools both public and private.
After I graduated, i decided to volunteer as a Tactical Instructor for the incoming set of officers, there I had the chance to impart all the knowledge that i gained from my experience, luckily i was able to produce 4 Academic Classes with more than 50 Officers per class. The unexplained feeling of seeing a student taking the entarnce exam without knowing anything about Military and the Phil Govt and just in a few months you can see the same person receiving awards for being the top examiner for Military Courtesy and Discpline, and seeing young kids marching in precision during drills that you can compare fairly with the regular force.
Another good feeling is that some of our students decided to enter the military after their college, and among them, I can say that I am a successful instructor after one of our students Graduated Number 1 when he undergo the Philippine Air Force Regular Officer Procurement Program, and now he is already a lieutenant, a regular officer in the Philippine Air Force.
There are just too many things that these program can do if only properly implemented and eradicating power tripping upperclassmen.
just shared my experience that I hope can change the perpective of other people regarding the ROTC and CAT program, i hope that in sometime the program can be revived, still, I will not hesitate to come back to my alma mater to volunteer myself to teach CAT.
I remember CAT in HS but unfortunately i didnt get to wear the uniform because during the pass and review (i think that’s what they call it) i was the date of one of the officers (LOL!) so i got to wear a dress instead of the cool military uniform. I am still thankful for that training because it taught me discipline, being on time and following rules. I sometimes wish these young kids here in the US would undergo trainings like that too. smh!
Hi marsxp – It is mandatory for us, I was in my junior year when I started joining the CAT. Being in the all girls school, the senior students are not enough to make to the whole battalion. I remember the tactical inspection, some of the military officers in our area South Cotabato and General Santos City would be there to questions almost all of us. It was tiring but fun.
I’m like you CAT really taught me a lot in life.
Good to see you here. Keep reading and sharing your thoughts.
Cheers!
hello to all.nice article;)
haha relate much because now i am a c.a.t.. officer and i experience all the training and drills that my senior officer gave us under the intense heat of sun.if you would take a look at my pic you would see that my skin was dark because of training and drills since the start of class in my junior class.the training was very difficult. but i was enjoying it much cause i am with my friends and i experience lot like eating extraordinary fods and passed a lot of test before i become a c.a.t officer. now, im teaching my co-students in 4th year and at the end of the month we will be training junior students to be a cat officer after one year of training.
share.hope everyone can enjoy their cat life;)
haha hi im a C A T officer to i really enjoy it im glad that their are still others that like CAT but now is just Citizen Advancement Training
I remember CAT back there, forget the push ups as punishment, the worst was the squat punishment!
you’re right bro…I will never forget the time when we were punished to squat with a rifle on our arms, just because we were not able to get a haircut.
Can i ask how long the trainings go? And does the trainees really pass out??
If u can answer earlier pls because they started asking for students hu r aspiring officers.. Tnx
Hello mam Feyma,I was appointed as an assistant commander of the CAT way back 1990 – 1991 during my high school life. I enjoyed the discipline,the punishment that I encountered. Before I was appointed,I went through a series of difficult trainings but I don’t regret because this gave me knowledge in military training and helped me of become a good citizen.I made this as a stepping stone in my political vision.
I don’t know how CAT is being conducted nowadays, but during my time it’s definitely drill & ceremonies. However, one thing that’s missing in our days is actual physical training (exercise) on consistent basis. Why am I emphasizing this? Is because physical fitness really sets the tone on everything especially self and unit discipline. Unfortunately, cadets do all these out of fear & obligation rather than true patriotism. I hope that the training concepts in today’s CAT training evolves less on punishment & more on appropriate disciplinary training. More on taking care of your cadets than training them to the point of exhaustion. A simple concept of leadership is if you train your Soldiers on mastery of skill & discipline & most of all take care of them they will go thru hell or high water to accomplish a goal or mission.
Actually, discipline goes hand-in-hand with punishment. Usually, punishments are given to discourage bad behavior and instill discipline. For example, CAT cadets won’t laugh while standing at attention because they know they’ll recieve punishment from their officer if they did.
Hi! Thank you, Mrs. Feyma! Your article would be a great source for my thesis. I am a CAT-officer of our school. I am the only officer that gave “duck walk” as a punishment. Sometimes cadets doesn’t see what you really want them to attain. They just attend CAT just for them to graduate. I really like this, other articles are just the same. Esprit de corps!
CAT means Citizen Advancement Training, not Army. 🙂
I wish our school had a CAT program??
May I ask what is the CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS of a CAT??
What does C.O.L.T. means in CAT?