The first signs of serious military dissatisfaction came only twelve months ago. The military promotion system, charged a report circulated anonymously by alumni of the Philippine Military Academy, "rewards boot-licking incompetence and banishes independent-minded professionals and achievers." At academy homecoming ceremonies a month later, 300 alumni from the 14 most recent graduating classes openly declared their feelings by hoisting a banner that read UNITY THROUGH REFORMS, with many sporting T shirts that proclaimed WE BELONG.
A rallying cry was born. Since then, the We Belong movement has gained varying degrees of support from as many as half of the Philippine military's...