Much has been written about this honorable and patriotic man.  He is known as the man who is making the PCG radiate.  “R.A.D.I.A.T.E.S.” as an acronym for Responsible, Accountable, Disciplined, Inspired, Able, Team-spirited, Servant leaders, which he always reminds to the men and women of PCG, for them not to forget to pursue professional excellence, have commitment to public service, and be an inspiration to one another.

In an interview with members of the Maritime Review Magazine, the 29^th Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, ADM Artemio M Abu had expressed his intention that he will make the best representation to the PCG institution, and together with his men, he said they will bring the Philippine Coast Guard to the next level of success in doing public service.

Thus far, ADM Abu has been leading the PCG as one of most successful agencies in terms of Public Affairs, as they are the most visible and interesting agency to follow in social media, connecting many Filipinos. A very long list of PCG accomplishments  achieved in just merely 10 months upon his assumption is quite an incredible feat.

ADM Abu is a graduate of the prestigious Philippine Military Academy, and a proud member of PMA Tanglaw-Diwa Class of 1992, where his military leadership was honed.  Such leadership skills continued to develop as he handled a number of leadership assignments to include CG Provincial Head of the provinces of Camarines, Masbate, and Palawan.  He also was assigned as the Commander of CG Ready Force, overseeing career management of officers and men assigned aboard coast guard ships back then. His exceptional performance of duty, leadership excellence and organizational skills has earned him his worthiness to the PCG Command, where he got entrusted with higher responsibility to organize the CG District in Southern Visayas covering the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. He further served as the Commander CG District in Southern Tagalog covering the provinces of Batangas, Marinduque, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and Romblon.

This long and extensive leadership experience, excellent performance of duty, admirable work ethic, backed with a great mind being a valedictorian in both elementary and high school, higher and specialized education in Canada, Japan, U.S., and  the U.K., not to mention a CG Central Staff duty in Education and Training, has earned him the respect and loyalty of his men, that came seamlessly upon assuming the Commandant of the PCG.

Further in the interview, ADM Abu mentioned he deeply studied the art of leadership.

Maritime Review representative asked if he could discuss the strategic direction of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) under his leadership. He was also asked for some anecdotes of his childhood years and before entering the PMA to provide a snapshot of his younger days that we may fully understand how he came about to be the PCG Commandant in about 3 decades after his graduation from PMA.

ADM Abu is an officer and gentleman, and above all, he is well-known for his leadership style. He was very candid in sharing his humbling life story, which is the source of his successful leadership quality.

ADM Abu starts off by saying that he comes from a very poor family. His farmer parents came from destitute families that did not have the wherewithal to invest in their education. ADM Abu is one of 11 siblings. Early on, his parents put emphasis on learning how to work with others, called “pakikisama.” His parents stressed that they had to learn how to cooperate well, and be humane to their fellowmen. To his parents, having these characteristics were worth more than having a lot of money. In addition, his parents also instilled that their children must have a high level of honesty and truthfulness.

ADM Abu applied these learnings to the PCG. Additionally, he recalled his parents counseling him to look at the person in the eye when speaking. It shows a sign of respect and trustworthiness. In a deeper and sinister level, avoiding eye contact can mean betrayal.

Decision-making skills from farmer parents taught him timeliness is key. Any decision must be sound and correct, but no amount of perfection makes sense unless it is timely, crafted at the right time. When a farmer spreads fertilizer on the plants, it necessitates pre-preparation of the soil from weeds, before planting seeds and finally harvesting. Doing these prior steps without a clue of timing can ruin your crops, and all the hard work you put in. With the PCG officers, he coaches them to be unafraid of making a decision as it is part and parcel of the job. He would remind them that a good decision must have two factors: it must be sound and timely.

ADM Abut further explains that he prepared himself for the longest time to be a Coast Guard Commandant. It included his aspiration to shine. It was not enough for him just to be a member. He aspired for greater heights. He had self-imposed challenges and developed benchmarks for himself. But he did not compare himself with others for fear of becoming bitter and vain. He simply went about creating high standards for himself that he believed were right to follow.

In civil management, first, one learns from experience. We are all born on a level playing field. At birth, all we knew was to cry. But then why is it that some shine and excel? Why do some become experts? It is because these people learned from experience. ADM Abut was a class officer since grade 1 until he took his masters. In his masteral class, he was also voted class president. He did not aspire for this but he got it. He duly notes that people are always watching. He was class president from 1981 until he graduated in 1985 from high school. His classmates never voted for anyone else to replace him. He wanted others also to lead, but perhaps it had already been ingrained in his classmates that he was the best qualified to lead his class.

He says the first part of leadership is that all manifestations of leadership skills are based on actual experience. Second, one learns through formal training. This is the reason why we need to study, whether it is a workshop, training session –wherever it is that we will learn. In PMA, the best in academics are sent to the best schools in the world. Third, one learns through role modeling. Having a role model to emulate is key to moving forward.  One can set their own standards later. In becoming a commandant, he was a Rear Admiral at that time, and later became a 3-star but he believed his track record would speak for himself, and his colleagues who truly got to know him deeply would take him to the  highest post of the PCG. He said, “I feel I have the support of the rank and file as I made good relations with them. Sa matagal na panahon, pinag-igi ko ang aking  pakikitungo sa kapwa.” As a young man, ADM Abu learned this trait from his father.

Moreover, ADM Abu says that since he will be passing this way only once, he has promised the Coast Guard that he will make the best representation of the institution and take it to the next level. He said, “Kailangan makilala ang Coast Guard, maipakita natin that it is a credible, relevant, and reliable agency. Kaya sinabi ko sa kanila na samahan ako in bringing the Coast Guard to the next level of success in public service. We will make the Coast Guard a symbol of hope, and a source of national private discreet missions.”

Many people, however, will find this too ambitious. But ADM Abu said, “I have a proven formula for that. Other agencies call it internal cleansing. I call it proper housekeeping, which starts from within. Let us fix ourselves before we fix other people’s problems. I started with the transformation of my family, the Coast Guard. That is our metric now – there must be order, peace, and unity within the family to be able to give of oneself in service to the nation.”

ADM Abu said he would like the Coast Guard to have an identity based on culture –a culture of trust, discipline, respect, excellence, teamwork, and human relations. That culture would be the “voice” of the Coast Guard. Furthermore, he said the Coast Guard radiates because they are disciplined and inspiring. To radiate means to shine, to make a name for itself.

The PCG personnel has increased from 8,500 during PRRD’s regime to nearly 23,000 at present. It has modernized and now has brand new larger vessels. ADM Abu thanks his staff, whom he selected from different disciplines, for their belief in his mantra to radiate.

In the past, the PCG had a credibility issue. As a result, ADM Abu was summarily dismissed. He defended his innocence, stating he was never involved in the squabble. He fought for his reinstatement and benefits for his 32 years of service. The Monday morning ADM Abu visited his parents, his father asked why he was home. ADM Abu told his father that he had been dismissed from the service, without benefits and perpetual disqualification to all public office. ADM Abu will never forget that day because his father was about to punch him. But he calmed his father down by saying that he will not allow anyone to tarnish his name, particularly because he was an innocent party.

In final, CPCG Abu imparted that he wants the Coast Guard to become a champion in the exercise of leadership and public service. “Kailangan champion kami in exercise of leadership. Public service ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat,” CPCG Abu said.