“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and, loving fervor than silver and gold”, a proverb Colonel Querubin used in the sword when he graduated.
His career has had many ups and downs. Four years after his graduation from the PMA, he was meritoriously promoted to Captain, and 14 years later to Major.
Interestingly, he has practically earned all the awards the Armed Forces could give, including the coveted Medal of Valor, all except the Wounded Personnel Medal, an award he would have been given in Dec 1989, if he was on the government side.
During his career as a Marine, he has held command and staff positions in the field, and is one of the few who has fought in combat all the armed groups in the Philippines: the MNLF, CPP/NPA, ASG, MILF and, the AFP.
Some of his accomplishments were the neutralization of Jessie Rafael, Provincial Chair of the CPP/NPA in Dec 1981 in Abucay, Bataan, neutralization of 4 MNLF Cdrs in Southern Palawan in 1983, rescue of Swiss national Hans Kunsli in Luuk, Sulu in 1986, neutralization of the dreaded Cdr Racquel Carreon of the MNLF in Brooke’s Point, Palawan in 1988, neutralization of Ka Ninong, a CPP/NPA commander in Aborlan, Palawan in 1988, neutralization of Barahama Sali that led to the release of Father Nacorda in 1994, liberation of the Municipality of Kauswagan and the eventual release of more than a hundred hostages from the MILF in 2000, spearheaded the campaign to dismantle MILF Camps in Central Mindanao in 2000 and the neutralization of the notorious Abu Sayyaf spokesman, Abu Sabaya in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte in Jun 2002.
He has completed the Australian Command and Staff Course at the Australian Defense College, and earned his Master of Management in Defense Studies at the University of Canberra. Prior to his assignment as Commanding Officer of the 1st Marine Brigade, he was Superintendent of the Marine Corps Training Center in Ft Bonifacio.
30 years from graduation, Col. Querubin continues to live by his yearbook quote and the PMA motto of Courage, Loyalty and Integrity.
He is happily married to Maria Flor Palacio Azcarraga and they have seven children.