A career military officer turned gentleman farmer. Retired Brigadier General Marcelo C. Blando, graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1960. He commanded the Philippines’ famed 1st Scout Ranger Regiment and the Philippine Army's 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division. A classic "Arms-to-Farms" story, in the late 80's Blando was a leading Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) figure involved in the failed 1989 coup d'état that almost toppled the administration of then President Corazon Aquino. After 3 years of incarceration, Blando was granted amnesty by the Philippine government and officially retired from the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1991.