Meet WAGA
CAPTAIN WINSTON G. ARPON PN (Ret)
Born in Cabalian, Leyte, now San Juan, Southern Leyte to Ruperto and Regina, teacher and housewife, respectively, Winston Atilano Godinez Arpon who goes by the initial WAGA after 5 decades of using the nom de guerre of Arf-Arf since a cadet at the Philippine Military Academy grew up in Minuhang, a barrio of Barugo, Leyte. Graduating elementary school valedictorian, he attended high school at St. Paul’s College in Tacloban City, also graduating valedictorian. He was editor of the school paper, the Hi-Power. His first job was Associate Editor of The Leyte News a tabloid in Tacloban City, but giving it up after summer in favor of the college of engineering in Cebu City: one semester each at San Carlos University and Cebu Institute of Technology before joining the PMA Class of 1964. On his senior year, he was on the Corps Regimental Staff, S2/3, Intelligence/Operations before he assumed as Commander of Bravo Company. He was the editor of The Corps on his senior year for which he received the Journalism Award, one of five awards – the most number – when he graduated third in his class.
A Distinguished PMA Graduate
- PC award, highest rating in social sciences subjects;
- General Services award, highest rating in humanities subjects;
- JUSMAG Saber, highest rating in military-professional field of study;
- US 13th Air Force award, highest rating in socio-humanities field of study; and,
- DND Press Club Journalistic award, rendering the most service in journalism.
WAGA's STORY
NAVAL OFFICER
He joined the Philippine Navy, joined Naval Intelligence after his shipboard assignments. At Naval Intelligence, he served in all branches – production, intelligence, counterintelligence. Finishing at the top of the first Project Officers course conducted by NICA, National Intelligence Coordination Agency, he was designated Commander of Field Station 3 in Cebu City, responsible for intelligence coverage of the whole Visayas. He was still a Lieutenant Junior Grade when he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Naval Intelligence and Executive Officer of its operating arm, NIOU, Naval Intelligence Operations Unit, the youngest naval officer to serve in the second highest position in Naval Intelligence, or, for that matter, intelligence staff/units in other branches, Army, Air Force, Constabulary.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
In 1972, he was awarded a scholarship abroad, earning in two years a degree of MS, CSM, Master of Science in Computer Systems Management at the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey California where he made the Dean’s List on his final term. Upon his return to the Philippines after graduation, he was assigned to the NMSO, Naval Management Services Office, the forerunner of the PNCC, PN Computer Center, in which he served as the Executive Officer. Reassigned to the South during the height of the MILF secessionist rebellion in Mindanao, he performed executive assistance function as Flag Secretary to the Commander, SOWESCOM, Southwest Command and SUSEFCOM, Sulu Sea Frontier Command, later Commander of SOUTHCOM, Southern Command. He held concurrent positions in civilian positions held by the COMSOUTHCOM: Governor of Tawi-Tawi; Governor of Basilan; Military Supervisor of the Sulu Archipelago; Commissioner, Region 9. In the latter, as holder of an MS degree in Computer Systems Management, he was designated and served as Director of MIO, Management Information Office. Thereafter, he was assigned to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, J2 preparatory to his projection as Military Attache to Saudi Arabia. He assumed as Chief, OCB, Operations Control Branch, J2.
AUTHOR
Drawing upon his five-year service in Mindanao during the height of the MNLF secessionist rebellion there, he authored and published a book, Laughter in the South/Footnotes to the Southern Philippines Conflict, for which he was one of the TOPs, Ten Outstanding Peemayers in the category of Creative Arts – the first time for such award in this category – during PMA’s golden jubilee in 1980, the first time where the Commander-in-Chief handed out the awards.
DIPLOMAT
WAGA served as an attaché, Special Assistant to the Philippine Ambassador in Washington, D.C., his last assignment when he opted for early retirement in 1986, a couple of months after EDSA I – the 1st of May, the day of his appointment in the Cadet Corps AFP exactly 26 years earlier. He was on the staff of the Philippine Ambassador who headed the RP Panel for the renegotiation of the RP-US MBA, Military Bases Agreement in 1983 and was responsible for the extensive research on US foreign assistance and the resulting compensation package that was approved by the President and adopted by the RP Panel in the negotiations.
IT PROFESSIONAL
Upon his retirement , he joined corporate America. Leveraging his MS in Computer Systems Management degree, he entered the IT field, starting as senior programmer, then lead programmer and programming manager, before retiring in 2007.
PMA ALUMNI AFFAIRS
With his fellow Cavaliers in the US, notably Voltaire Gazmin ’68, the Defense Attache and Admiral Brillante Ochoco ’55, WAGA was among the founders of what would be a fraternal chapter of the PMAAAI, PMA Alumni Association, Inc., the ECC, East Coast Chapter.
PHILANTHROPY
Along with former PMA cadets residing outside the Philippines, particularly the US and Canada, he founded DJLF Charity Foundation, a nonprofit advocating youth education and development in developing countries, the Philippines, in particular through a college scholarships under the umbrella of LEAP/Loakan Educational Assistance Project. He was the first Chair and President of DJLF Charity Foundation Inc. in the US and its Philippine counterpart, DJLF Charity Philippines Inc. When he turned over both positions in 2016, he was designated Chairman Emeritus and in that position chaired the Board of Governors by virtue of the MOA between DJLF Charity Foundation Inc and DJLF Charity Philippines Inc.
FAMILY
Married to his high school sweetheart, Pilar Zeta, with whom he had three children (Cybele Arpon-Suarez; Bismarck Arpon; Lavinia Arpon-Derr) and an extended family of three in-laws (Alan Suarez; Dia Newman; Michael Derr) and seven grandchildren (Nicolas and Lorenzo Suarez; Nasir, Aaliyah and Khayri Arpon; Sophia and Alyssa Derr).
A US resident for 28 years, he returned to the Philippines in 2019 and a year later married corporate executive Victoria P. Garchitorena two years after the passing of Pilar.
OTHER INTERESTS
With other PMAers, he organized and chaired The Corp, Cavaliers Five Portals Business Corp. He served on the board of PAROLA/PMAers Advocating Responsibility Order & Leadership in Action. He was the Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Maritime Review, a publication of the Maritime League. In 2015, he formed, along with fellow PMA alumni from various classes, the Cavaliers Five Portals Business Corp where he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Returning in 2009 to the game of bridge which was one of his many passions when he left for the US, he has served on the board of PTBA, Philippines.
