Jose “Sonny” Sioco Cariño, a proud Igorot from the Ibaloi tribe, has been recently promoted to Captain in the Australian Army.
Sonny was born and raised in Baguio City but later moved to Australia. He is the first Igorot immigrant to graduate from the Royal Military College (RMC) and serve in the Australian Army as an infantry officer.
The Royal Military College, Duntroon, also known simply as Duntroon, is the Australian Army’s officer training establishment. It is equivalent to the United Kingdom’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Sonny is a direct descendant of Mateo Cariño, a centennial hero. Mateo was an Ibaloi chieftain who was among several “headmen” of what is now Benguet province. Mateo was married to Bayosa Ortega with whom he had nine children.
Sioco, born in 1877, is the eldest of 9 siblings and is the great grandfather of Sonny. Baguio’s Campo Sioco was named after him.
Congratulations, Sonny! You bring pride to your kin and the entire Igorot community! The Ibaloi’s hero-blood truly runs in your veins! We are proud of you! Salute!
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