23/10/2026
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗼𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 (𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻) 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻/𝗝𝗧𝗙 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹
“𝘒𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘨 𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘢 𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘰. 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘰 𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘺.”
From an early age, life had already been throwing stones at a young child. His youth was forged not in play but in relentless drills of hardship, obstacle after obstacle, trial after trial. Yet the barrage did not shatter his spirit. He endured by selling “tinape,” sustaining himself and his family with great discipline and resolve. What was meant to break him became the crucible that shaped him. This poor pandesal boy from Mexico, Pampanga, now stands as the new Commander of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division/Joint Task Force Central.
For fourteen years of his childhood, 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗥 𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗔𝗥 𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗨, 𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗬, 𝗣𝗵𝗗, sold pandesal or tinape (in Kapampangan) for 10 cents in the small town of Sto. Rosario, Mexico, Pampanga. Every day, he woke up at 3:00 AM and headed to a small bakery in town to fetch the bread he would sell that day. His mother, Apung Kiring, taught him and his elder sisters how to sell and attract customers. After securing the bread, he would start walking and shout, "Tinape…tinape…tinape…" His chant would echo and instantly awaken his sleeping neighbors, who would buy his fresh pandesal. For his suki (regular customers), he would leave a bag of pandesal on their gates and return in the afternoon to collect the payment. His word of honor and sense of time were shaped at a very young age. For instance, if a suki promised to pay at 5:00 in the afternoon, he would be there at that exact time in front of the suki’s house to collect the payment. His elder sisters fondly remember him for getting into small arguments when a customer broke the deal. She vividly remembers her brother saying, “Ikaw ang nagsabi at nag-set ng oras na ito na magbabayad ka…” He carries this virtue well in the military.
Despite their financial difficulties, Apung Ruming, a jeepney driver, and Apung Kiring, a pandesal seller, sent all seven (7) of their children to school and helped them become professionals in their respective fields. Some became bankers, engineers, medical technologists, and public servants. Although they attained only an elementary level of education, they ensured their legacy by having all their children complete college degrees. For him and his siblings, it was not only the jeepney or the pandesal that sustained them; it was God’s grace through and through that blessed and carried them. BGEN CATU is one of the two (2) boys among his seven (7) siblings. He is a full-blooded Kapampangan, born and raised in Sto. Rosario, Mexico, Pampanga, on 03 February 1972. The hardship of earning a living as early as six years old by selling pandesal (bread), tubo (sugarcane), binatog (boiled white corn kernels), ice candy, and ice drops, and by working as a car wash boy made him tenacious and always ready to face any challenges that life had in store for him. During the Christmas season, he and his siblings took orders for tasty bread from their neighbors. They even set up a food stall outside the church during Simbang Gabi. Despite his daily pursuit of making a living, his academic excellence was evident early. He finished his elementary education at Sto. Rosario Central School, graduating as the Class Salutatorian, and completed his secondary education as the Class Valedictorian at St. Joseph’s Academy (SJA), Mexico, Pampanga.
Initially discouraged from pursuing his childhood dream, he was led by divine providence to take the PMA Entrance Examination in 1990 while he was a Computer Engineering scholar at Mapua Institute of Technology in Intramuros, Manila. Unaware of his plans, his family learned only when they saw his name in the newspaper as someone who had passed the PMAEE. After being shortlisted, he left a letter for his uncle in Manila informing his parents that he would enter the Philippine Military Academy. At the time, his parents were deeply saddened by his decision. They were unwilling to see their son march into the battlefield.
The discipline at home and Apung Ruming's upbringing helped him survive the rigors and rudiments of regimented cadet life inside the Academy. As a testament to his pursuit of academic excellence and dedication to every task given to him, he was the first “Star Man” awardee of his class, graduated Magna Cum Laude, and ranked fifth in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Marilag Class of 1995. Shortly thereafter, he contributed to government campaigns against armed lawless elements in Central Mindanao and in Panay and Negros Island in the Visayas region. To sharpen and further advance his leadership and management acumen, he pursued a series of military career and specialization courses, complemented by civilian studies both locally and abroad. Among his military schooling were the Infantry Officer Basic Course, where he graduated and ranked third; the Intelligence Officer Basic Course, where he also graduated and ranked third; Military Scuba Diving; Site and Document Exploitation Course; Defense Intelligence and Research Course; Civil-Military Operations Course; Psychological Operations Course; United Nations Observer Course; and the Infantry Officer Advance Course, where he distinguished himself as number one. He also completed the International Intelligence Officer Advanced Course at the United States Intelligence Center, Fort Huachuca, Arizona, graduating first among the international students. He furthered his academic pursuits by taking civilian schooling such as a Master's in Public Administration at Mindanao State University, a Master's in Peace and Conflict Studies at Sydney University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Peace and Development at Cotabato State University, where he was one of the recipients of the Best Dissertation award. His training encompassed intelligence, civil-military operations, psychological operations, scuba diving, and United Nations observer duties.
He also held several positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, focusing on intelligence, operations, and administrative functions. Some of his key designations are as follows: Platoon Leader, Charlie Company, 11th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, PA; Commander ITU SK, ITG 12, AFP Joint Intelligence Committee; Senior Tactical Officer, Headquarters Tactics Group, Philippine Military Academy; Commanding Officer, 40th Infantry Battalion, 6th Infantry Division, PA; Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, G3, 6th Infantry Division, PA; Chief of Staff, 6th Infantry Division, PA; Brigade Commander, 601st Infantry Brigade, 6th Infantry Division, PA; and Assistant Division Commander, 6th Infantry Division, PA. Notably, all of his command positions were based in Mindanao. For more than three (3) years as Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, G3, he led the planning of various focused military operations, including twenty (20) Division operations and thousands of minor and major operations within Joint Task Force Central. Serving seven (7) commanders as Chief of Staff of 6ID for two years and nine months added insight and adaptability to his leadership skills. As the Chief of Staff, he was also the driving force behind numerous CONPLANS, Campaign Plans/IMPLANS, OPORDs and OPLANS, and SECPLANS in the joint area of operations, as well as other initiatives that were instrumental in the command’s accomplishments, which hailed the 6ID as the Best Division of the Philippine Army for eight consecutive years. Certainly, BGEN CATU’s decades of operational experience across various areas of operations in Mindanao will prove invaluable as he assumes his new role. In recognition of his hard work and dedication to duty, he received numerous awards and decorations, as well as several commendations and recognitions from military and civilian organizations. These include the Distinguished Service Star, Gold Cross Medal, Bronze Cross Medals, Gawad sa Kaunlaran, Silver Wing Medals, Long Service Medals, Military Merit Medals, and numerous Military Commendation Medals. He was also chosen as one of the Outstanding Mexicanos in his hometown.
Furthermore, he is athletic and deeply involved in sports such as basketball, golf, and long-distance running. While very much engaged in extracurriculars, he was also involved in various sociological endeavors. He and his wife were lifetime members of The Gideons International and are both volunteer teachers of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) in Mindanao.
BRIGADIER GENERAL CATU is happily married to Nova Nyx Ecstasy “Ging” Gumana, a daughter of the former governor of Sultan Kudarat Province. They are blessed with two children, Biboy and Bubbles. A proud son of Apung Ruming and Apung Kiring, his Kapampangan heritage and upbringing instilled values of resilience and devotion that continue to echo in his work.
The adventures of the poor Pandesal boy continue.
But now, with a greater mission, he is the new Commander of the 6th Infantry Division.
Life will not stop tossing stones, but God’s bread and mercy will always abound.
To God be the Highest Glory!
𝗕𝗚𝗘𝗡 𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗔𝗥 𝗟 𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗨 𝗣𝗔, 𝗣𝗛𝗗
Commander, 6th Infantry Division
