To those who have known 25-year-old Vincent Diesta for years, his commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in the Philippine Army came as no surprise.
For Roy Javilla, one of Diesta’s closest friends, the newly commissioned officer has always been someone people could count on.
“More than a friend, Vincent is a brother. When life gets rough, he’s someone who stays,” Javilla said.
He described Diesta as the kind of friend who would unexpectedly drop by their house and even spend the night without prior notice, a gesture that reflected the closeness of their friendship.
“He maintained a strong aura while keeping his soft side,” Javilla recalled.
According to him, Diesta was also a man of his word, whether it meant showing up for community work, sharing a simple cup of coffee with friends, or keeping plans they had made together.
“I personally couldn’t be prouder of his achievement because I know this has always been his dream. I trust that he will serve the nation with full integrity and become a brother to every Filipino,” he added.
Reymund Titong, who leads the Hope Builders Organization Negros Island Inc.’s (HBONI) Project Tikang, said Diesta’s commitment to service was evident long before he entered military training.
Titong recalled that Diesta was among the pioneering volunteers of Project Tikang when it began its community development work in 2022 in Sitio Madaja, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City.
Even while still a student, Diesta joined outreach activities for the Indigenous Peoples community and never hesitated to volunteer whenever help was needed, Titong said.
He added that Diesta’s desire to become a soldier was further strengthened after working alongside Major Eduardo Rarugal Jr., then the Civil-Military Operations Officer of the 94th Infantry Battalion, whose community-centered approach to military service inspired many young volunteers.
Rarugal now heads the Public Affairs Division of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division in Isabela province.
“Even during our earliest activities in Sitio Madaja, Vincent already showed a genuine heart for public service,” Titong said.
“Seeing him achieve his dream of becoming a Philippine Army officer is a proud moment for everyone who has worked alongside him. I believe he will carry the same compassion, integrity, and commitment to the communities he now serves in uniform. As a friend, I only asked him to always respect human rights,” he added.
Diesta, a resident of Barangay Manalad, Ilog, Negros Occidental, graduated from Central Philippines State University (CPSU) in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness.
While in college, he also served as a volunteer rescuer of the Community Rescue and Disaster Emergency Services (COMRADES) of CPSU, and as an officer of the university’s Supreme Student Government (SSG).
Twists and turns
After graduating, Diesta applied for the Philippine Army’s Officer Candidate Course (OCC) in the middle of 2023 but failed to make the list of successful applicants.
Instead of giving up, he spent six months in 2024 working at a supermarket in Kabankalan City while preparing for another application.
His persistence paid off in 2025 when he was accepted into the OCC as a member of Class Gundayaw.
He completed the rigorous military training and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant during the graduation rites of the Philippine Army Officer Candidate School (OCS).
Diesta’s achievement also drew praise from his alma mater, Juan Gequillana National High School Batch 2 Senior High School–AgriCrop Strand.
In a congratulatory message, the school described his journey from an AgriCrop student to a Philippine Army officer as an inspiration to young people, saying his hard work, discipline, and heart for service transformed him from someone who once planted seeds in the field into a leader ready to plant courage, honor, and service for the Filipino people.*
