Posted by BG Ramon M. Ong (Ret) on August 29, 2005:

Jose Rene N. Jarque, (Rene to his family and friends) was born an Army brat. His father graduated from the prestigious Philippine Military Academy in 1961 and became a bemedalled career officer who rose to the rank of Brigadier General before his retirement. In the typical lifestyle of a military dependent, Rene moved from school to school in various locations. Finally, he received word of a drastic move, travel orders to West Point, New York, USA with his appointment as a member of USMA Class of 1986. Cadet Jarque was consistently on the Dean's List as he majored in Management, with additional studies in Chinese history and the Mandarin language. After graduation, 2LT Jarque returned home to begin a stint with the 1st Scout Ranger Regiment, an elite unit of the Philippine Army. Rene would stay with the Scout Rangers for five years, in various positions at platoon, company and battalion staff levels. To be sure, he had his share of ups and downs as he learned each job the hard, harsh way in the boondocks. Here he would earn five medals for heroism in combat against various lawless elements and extremist groups. As he slowly yet steadily excelled in unit leadership and administrative efficiency, his most notable accomplishments lay in the field of civil-military operations, wherein Rene received even more awards, not only military medals but also commendations from the civilian government sectors where his troops were operating. Rene's exemplary field performance eventually attracted the attention of the Philippine Army Headquarters. In 1991, he was transferred to the Psychological Operations Group where his expertise in that field would be harnessed on a much greater scale. Soon he was formulating and finalizing plans for the community development programs of the Philippine Army to be implemented nationwide. In recognition of his efforts, this young officer received the Outstanding Achievement Medal, one of the highest decorations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. His seniors and peers soon noted his clear, concise and precise writing style. This discovery, plus his already proven managerial skills were combined and exploited by making him the Editorial Director of the Army News and the Editor-in-Chief of the Army Journal which are the official periodicals of the Philippine Army. His additional writing projects in the unit were the Psychological Operations Manual and the Scout Ranger Manual which he co-authored. In 1995, Rene was released by the Philippine Army and transferred to the General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines. As Chief of the Strategic Research Office, his work centered on national and regional security issues. On several occasions, he represented the Philippines and presented research papers during international conferences in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, North America and Europe. Rene's final year in the military was his assignment in 1997 as Special Assistant to the Secretary of National Defense. He was the policy adviser to the Defense Secretary on matters involving human resource development and reserve force development. He received yet another Outstanding Achievement Medal for his work in preparing the first Philippine National Defense Policy paper. In October 1998, Rene resigned his commission and put into storage his uniforms with the coveted Scout Ranger tab and Parachutist badge, his medals, ribbons and plaques to venture into the civilian world. He was confident that he had more than adequate preparation for a new career. He was an experienced manager, barely 34 years old, with a Master in Business Administration degree from the Ateneo de Manila University, one of the nation's top learning institutions. He had also finished several management courses in Australia and the Philippines, particularly the prestigious Asian Institute of Management. Rene found employment immediately as Assistant Vice President of the Negros Navigation Company, Inc., a firm engaged in shipping and cargo handling in 16 ports all over the Philippines. His first civilian job lasted less than 18 months because he was lured away by a more demanding challenge - his present and final job as Marine Logistics Manager of the LaFarge Corporation located in Medan, Indonesia. We of the West Point Society of the Philippines were shocked to learn of his sudden death after a massive heart attack. He left us all with a huge empty space in our own hearts, for he was one of us, body and soul, and we knew him and loved him from the moment he introduced himself to us with his Founders Day speech as the Youngest Grad. He impressed us immediately with his glib, flowing delivery, his articulate expression and most of all, his witty, brash sense of humor. Here was the quintessential emcee that we had been looking for, and we made sure that he performed that duty during our periodic WPSP socials. We have lost a valued member of our group and that loss will be felt for a long, long time. The Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986 adopted Rene as a bona fide classmate from the very start. He was a welcome member in all their meetings and socials. When they worked together in the same units, the mission was accomplished that much quicker because of their cooperation, coordination and united action. Rene's passing was a loss felt no less keenly by the PMA '86 Cavaliers because he was kindred spirit. But the greatest loss is experienced by his family - his wife Grace, also an Army brat, and their 3 children, Ryan 10, Marla 7 and Hannah 5. And we can offer only inadequate words and deeds to help them understand and accept their tragedy. We must also remember him for his principles, his steadfast adherence to the concept of "Duty, Honor, Country" in one's lifestyle. This is one West Pointer who set the example and we admire him most for that. Well done, Rene! Be thou at peace. Brigadier General Ramon M. Ong (Ret) Armed Forces of the Philippines

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