MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) paid tribute to two fallen heroes, Major Jude Salang-Oy and First Lieutenant April John Dadulla, during a solemn ceremony at Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

The remains of the FA-50 fighter pilots were greeted with full military honors, as their bravery and sacrifice were recognized by top government officials, including Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr., AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr., and PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura. Their families were also present for the emotional ceremony.

The pilots lost their lives on March 4 when their FA-50 jet crashed during a tactical night operation in support of ground troops in the mountains. The aircraft was initially reported missing, but a rescue team later recovered their bodies from Mount Kalatungan in Bukidnon the following day.

In recognition of their courage and exceptional service, both pilots were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Aviation Cross, the highest honor for valor in military aviation.

PAF Public Affairs Office chief Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo praised the pilots, saying, “Their heroism in the face of danger reflects the very best of the Air Force’s values.”

Vigil services will be held at Villamor Air Base and Basa Air Base in Pampanga, allowing colleagues to pay their respects as final interment details are arranged by the families.

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Globe recently held a successful pilot test of its 50GPON (50 Gigabit Passive Optical Network) technology, delivering faster, more reliable connectivity that supports seamless streaming, faster downloads, and uninterrupted online experiences.

The pilot, held at the Globe Valero Telepark in Makati City, demonstrated how the next-gen 50GPON technology enables data transmission at speeds of up to 50 Gbps, setting a new benchmark in broadband connectivity and laying the foundation for Globe’s vision to deliver multi-gigabit speeds.

By surpassing the capabilities of the current 10GPON technology, 50GPON promises improved efficiency, lower latency, and the capacity to address the diverse needs of both residential and business customers.

The pilot included comprehensive testing, such as throughput, end-to-end latency, and jitter, along with demonstrations of practical high-bandwidth yet practical applications such as 8K streaming, cloud gaming, augmented and virtual reality, fiber-to-the-room, and high-definition video conferencing. 

“Globe is committed to providing Filipinos with the best possible internet experience, and this breakthrough in 50GPON technology is a key component of our future-forward approach to broadband connectivity,” said James Lim, VP for Broadband Service Planning and Engineering at Globe Telecom. “With this milestone, we’re taking a giant step towards ensuring our network is ready to support the evolving needs of our customers, both now and in the years to come.”

50GPON technology may be used extensively, transforming digital experiences for users while driving innovation in areas like real-time cloud gaming, 8K video streaming, and enhanced smart home solutions. The technology also unlocks opportunities for smart cities, telemedicine, advanced manufacturing, e-learning, and secure enterprise connectivity.

Globe is in the process of identifying possible areas and early adopters of the technology solution in preparation for future deployment.

With this latest achievement, Globe continues to set the standard for innovation in telecom, bridging the digital divide and paving the way for a more connected and digitally empowered Philippines.

To learn more about Globe, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/.