“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord : and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.”
Psalm 37:23-24 KJV
This is the guiding principle of P/CDT Desiderio quoted in the Bible where he anchored everything in the entirety of his cadetship.
Before he started his cadetship, P/CDT Desiderio was a faitfhul soul winner. He patiently traversed the streets of Pasay as he brought the gospel with his Bible in his hand. He has never been tired in reaching people, for the smiles on their faces brought joy and contentment in his life as he continued to share the good news to God’s people. He has never ashamed and discouraged in bringing God’s word to them.
It has been years since he took the leap of faith on the road less travelled. “I trusted God that everything will smoothly sail, but it was far from what I expected,” he said. “I was faced with challenges, hardships and trials that made me conquer greater heights and stretched me to become better,” he added.
“Some days were good, and some days were bad. Amidst the adversities, I realized that everything has a purpose and true enough that tough times never last, only tough people do.”
Inside the academy, he never stopped to become a channel of God’s sustaining grace. He became an active member of the Baptist Cadets as the Finance Officer. In leading the Cadet Corps, he excelled to be the First Battalion Cadet Conduct Policy Board.
“I learned the value of responsibility, accountability, privilege, and authority along the way. I met upperclassmen, classmates, and underclassmen from different walks of life. Their stories made me look at the bigger picture.”
As he embarks on the next chapter, he always go back to the core values that brought him through the final part of his cadetship — Waking up every day with a purpose to serve God, the country and the Filipino people.
“I will be a leader with a vision — a man with character and competence, has the capacity and capability to lead and serve others.”
He promised that as a young officer, he will be an influencer of Change, a Beacon of Hope, a Nation-Builder, and a Testimony of God’s Grace and Glory.
A man with character and competence,has the capacity and capability to lead and serve others – that is what P/CDT Desiderio is.
What he is today is a manifestation of the love, care and inspiration of the mentors in his life—his father, PCOL ROMEO DESIDERIO and his mother, PLTCOL CAROLINA SAN PEDRO.
“I may not be as half the person they are, but the least I could do is aspire and be the best I can be the way they taught me to be.”
In retrospect, all the challenges he faced in the training field and the tireless service for God, they now all made sense. It took him a brave heart to keep trusting him and putting him first to surpass his journey.
“Sometimes, it can be exhausting and can be feeling lost, but God calms the rough and rewards the tough.”
So, rest if you must, but don’t ever quit.
Source: Philippine National Police Academy
