The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recently named The Outstanding Philippines Soldiers (TOPS) for 2013 by the Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of Makati Metro.

Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto “Chito” Sobrepeña said that the presentation of the ten of the most dedicated and accomplished modern day heroes of the AFP coincided with the 115th year of our country’s independence.

TOPS is an annual recognition program of the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. and the Rotary Club of Makati Metro that honors and recognizes the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their dedication, bravery, professionalism, and sacrifices in the military service and where the winners undergo a multi-sectoral selection process facilitated by a Preliminary and Final Board of Judges.

Colonel Romeo Brawner Jr. is one of the The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS). Brawner is member of Philippine Military Academy “Makatao” Class of 1989. He graduated number 2 in the class.

Brawner started his career in the military as a platoon leader in Nueva Ecija. He trained in the Special Forces and was assigned in various areas in Mindanao such as Agusan Norte, Agusan Sur, Surigao Sur, and Davao provinces.

He became battalion commander of the 2nd Special Forces “Sabertooth” Battalion that operated in Samar, Leyte, Bohol, and Cebu in the Visayas.

Brawner, during his stint in Bohol, took part in creating and implementing the “Prosperity Program” along with Governor Edgar Chatto. The program is a peace and development strategy for the province that brought down to the purok levels the various programs of the government throughout the province. This included other development programs while coordinating a peace and security program with the province’s security forces.

The success of the program led to Bohol being declared insurgency-free and the model of the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan being implemented today.

Brawner holds two Master’s degrees, a Master of Science degree in Information Management from the Ateneo de Manila University and a Master of Business Administration with focus on Management of Technology from the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand. He was also an exchange student to the European School of Management in Oxford, United Kingdom.

Brawner is married to Melody Valeros, his classmate in UP Baguio High School, also from Baguio City. They have three children, Kiele, 19; Romeo III, 18; and Zuri, 6.

The other TOPS 2013 Winners:

From the Philippine Army: CMS Rogelio J. Mendoza

From the Philippine Navy : Captain Vicente L. Cejoco,  TSg Dante P. Bergani, and H3C Sergs E. Estropigan

From the Philippine Air Force : LTC Moises L. Micor, MSg Alberta A. Pasebre, and TSg Nolito G. Tumesa

From the Technical and Administrative Services of the AFP : Major Daneck E. Dang-awan