It’s been almost six years since actor and athlete Matteo Guidicelli officially joined the Philippine Army Reserve after being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 2019. Since then, he has undergone several rigorous trainings as a reservist. He is also active in helping promote service to the country through his presence in peace-building projects and through supporting the military's peace-building initiatives.
Last October 6, Matteo shared his experience after attending the Stop and Salute Flag Raising Ceremony held last October 4 in Rizal Park in Luneta, Manila. It was organized by the non-government organization Salute to a Clean Flag, a non-political citizen-led initiative that aims to reignite love for country through the abundant and proper display of the Philippine Flag.
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In his Instagram post, Matteo wrote, “Under one flag, we are reminded of who we are, FILIPINO! 🇵🇭 6th Anniversary of the Salute to a Clean Flag (@salutetoacleanflag) movement at Rizal Park, Luneta, where I was invited to recite ‘Pagpupugay sa Busilak na Bandila’ written by Divine Gil Rey. Every line she wrote strikes straight to the heart. A beautiful reminder of what our flag truly stands for: purity, dignity, and pride. One line that deeply moved me reads: “Kinabukasang walang karalitaan, walang katiwalian, walang digmaan.” (A tomorrow without poverty, corruption, or war.) It makes us ask ourselves and our leaders: Are we truly hungry for this kind of tomorrow? A tomorrow without poverty, without corruption, without war. Do we still crave it or have we forgotten how?”
He went on: “Thank you, @pronovemonique for inviting me and for leading this movement with so much heart. What you’ve built goes beyond ceremony, it’s a legacy that inspires others to do their part. We don’t do this for ourselves but for the youth and the next generations to come. We lead by example. We lead the way. And thank you, Monique Cornelio Pronove, for mentioning the relief efforts in Cebu. It’s the least we can do for our kababayans, a simple act of service and compassion that reflects what our flag truly represents.“
Matteo stressed the value of the Philippine flag, of what it stand for.
“Because the flag represents us all. If we truly want change, if we want to fight corruption and make a difference we must stand as one. One movement. One fight. One heart for the Philippines. Let’s continue to lead with purpose, humility, and love for our country. 🇵🇭,” he wrote.
READ: Matteo Guidicelli is now a marketing student at the Harvard Business School in the US
In another post, Matteo shares his experience being shown an flag that symbolized the liberation of Marawi.
He wrote, “What does freedom truly mean, when corrupt leaders steal opportunities and suppress real progress? When they build wealth for themselves while leaving the Filipino people with less than a handful of chances? Freedom is worth fighting for but only if we REFUSE TO FORGET, REFUSE TO STAY SILENT, and stand together for the Philippines we deserve. 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭”
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Aside from being a proud Philippine army reservist, Matteo also went through elite training to become a Scout Ranger. He shared his experience in 2019, “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 said.
Matteo also became busy earlier this year after being enrolled as a marketing student at the Harvard University’s Executive Education program in Boston, Massachusetts.