Marcelo Blando

Marcelo C. Blando
Nickname	Mar
Born	Sta. Maria, Pangasinan, Philippines
Allegiance	Republic of the Philippines
Service/branch	Philippine Army Armed Forces of the Philippines
Years of service	1956-1991
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands held	First Scout Ranger Regiment, 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division

A career military officer turned gentleman farmer. Retired Brigadier General Marcelo C. Blando, graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1960. He commanded the Philippines’ famed 1st Scout Ranger Regiment and the Philippine Army's 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division. A classic "Arms-to-Farms" story, in the late 80's Blando was a leading Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) figure involved in the failed 1989 coup d'état that almost toppled the administration of then President Corazon Aquino. After 3 years of incarceration, Blando was granted amnesty by the Philippine government and officially retired from the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1991.

Background

After his military service, Blando ventured into farming and is now fostering a new revolutionary struggle, which he brands as the "Reform the Agriculture Movement." Its main agenda is to reduce poverty and eradicate hunger by advocating modern agricultural practice in the countryside and farmer empowerment thru institutional development.

Highlights of Gen. Blando's activities include Founding Chairman of the Paitan multi-purpose cooperative, and then later served as the Chairman of the much larger Pangasinan Farmers Cooperative. He was also Founding President of the Mango Industry Network. From 1996-2004, he served as Chairman of the Pangasinan Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Council and was later elected Chair of the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council in 2004 to present, representing Region 1, composed of 4 provinces (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan and La Union).

Other significant activities include: Selected as "Farmer Scientist" on mango by Philippine Council for Agriculture Research Resources Development (PCARRD), Department of Science and Technology (DOST); Active participant in Community Based Participatory Action Research under the Bureau of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture (Philippines); Agriculture Representative for Region I Association of Non-Government Organizations; Agriculture Representative (farmer) Region I Development Council - San Fernando, La Union; Co-operator in Field Trials of BT, RR and Stack Trait Corn conducted by Monsanto Company - Philippines; Member of National Biosafety Committee under Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI); Involved in the development of Information and Communication Technology (K-Agri Net) to be adapted by farmers.

Marcelo Blando is married to the former Nelia Tidor of Balungao, Pangasinan and a father of four children(Ogie,Nette,Nie,Yeng),with ten grandchildren (Katie, Jam, Marvin, Ian, Danisse, Nathan, Rouge, Ram, Rouxanne, And Drew)

See also

• Special Forces
• Scout Ranger
• 7th Infantry Division (Philippines)
• Corpo Dourado

References

• Coronel, Sheila "Coup Fails, Manila Says Amid Fighting" New York Times, December 4, 1989.
• "EX-GENERAL IN THICK OF FOOD REVOLUTION" Biotechnology Information Center News, January 2005 http://www.bic.searca.org/news/2005/jan/phi/07.html#
• Commanders, 7th Infantry (KAUGNAY) Division, Philippine Army http://www.army.mil.ph/Army_Sites/INFANTRY%20DIVISIONS/7ID%20Website/7ID_Website/lineage_of_command.htm

Persondata
Name	Blando, Marcelo
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth	Sta. Maria, Pangasinan, Philippines
Date of death
Place of death