(NI LOURDES C. FABIAN)

AMINADO si Matteo Guidicelli na nagsimula lang ang lahat bilang pangarap.

Bagong misyon ang nakatakdang gawin ng Kapamilya star na puspusan ang ginagawang  paghahanda para sa kanyang 45-day training program bilang scout ranger ng Armed Forces of the Philippines. Matteo joined the Philippine Army last April 15 at sandali muna siyang magpapahinga sa showbiz to take part in a Scout Ranger orientation course.

The short course will take place from May 27 to July 1 and will be held in Camp Tecson in Bulacan. Matteo will be living in the camp full-time—and 45 days siyang hindi pwedeng gumamit ng cellphones, kaya’t nangangahulugan na mahigit isang buwan nilang mami-miss ng kanyang girlfriend na si Sarah Geronimo ang isa’t isa. Malaking sakripisyo sa parte nilang dalawa ni Sarah ang pagdaraanan niyang training.

“If you pass that 45-day course, you can take the six-month ranger course. Siyempre I cannot do six months because of my work, so I said baka 45 days is possible.”

Aminado si Matteo na ang kanyang mga kasamahang skydivers from the military inspired him to take the course, which is his way of showing his love for the country.

“These guys are heroes of our country. These guys served our country… sabi ko, a civilian like me, how can I help? How can I show importance to the Filipino soldiers?

“This is my advocacy on reminding the Filipino youth to be proud to be Filipino. To look at that flag and say ‘I’m Pinoy and proud to be Filipino.’ You know?

“Even though there’s so much happening in our country, people disagreeing, at the end of the day we look at the flag and we’re proud to be Pinoy.”