Philippine Cadet on Japanese Soil (Part 5)

"Taiban"
It's but natural to be at a loss when you enter a new environment. And at those times, you wish that there's someone who would guide you thru everything. That is a "Taiban".

To someone familiar with the cadet's lingo in PMA, a taiban would correspond to a Buddy, a second year who teaches the basics of cadet life to a first year.



"Tai" means "corresponding" and "Ban" means "number". This seems senseless but when you take a quick look at the history of my Academy, there was a time when all the cadets of a company stays in the same room. On the rightmost part of the room, aligned are the desks of the fourth years and going to the left, the desks of the third years, second years and the freshmen. These desks are numbered and the upperclass with the number "1" in their desks are in charge of the underclassmen which has the same corresponding number "1". Hence the word "Taiban" or "corresponding number.



The Taiban system does not only apply inside the Academy but also after graduation. The taiban tree is one of the bonds that are formed during your stay here. And I may say, a strong bond.

To my upperclass taiban, Lt. Maeno, my underclass taibans, Cadet Yamamoto and former Cadet Kawasaki, to Cdt Yamamoto's underclass taiban, Cadet Kugimiya, and his taiban, let the legacy of our taiban tree live for as long as eternity.