The call of the military service takes on a different voice every time. For many, the voice speaks of patriotism, for others, it is the security of tenure. At times, the call speaks of kinship, and for some, it whispers destiny.

For then 17-year Leopoldo Laroya, the call to serve the country as a soldier was mainly driven by the men in his family. He came from a line of generals — his maternal grandfather was the late Brigadier General Nicanor Velarde Sr. of the Philippine Army and his father was the late Brigadier General Protacio Laroya of the Philippine Constabulary, now known as the Philippine National Police (PNP).