Matteo Guidicelli explores heroism of soldiers in 'Philippine Defenders'

Ever since Matteo Guidicelli joined the Philippine Army Reservists in 2019, it has become among his goals to be involved in a project that will give a peek into the lives of the country's soldiers.

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"I've always told myself and the soldiers that have already become family, I'll never be like one of them, but my dedication and my vow to them is: I will always tell their story," he said during a virtual interview ahead of today's 3:15 premiere of "Philippine Defenders", a GMA Public Affairs documentary that spotlights the courage of Filipinos who risk their lives in the name of duty, honor, and country.

In what promises to be a compelling docu, Guidicelli, a second lieutenant reservist, explores the sacrifices of Filipino soldiers through his first hand experiences and gripping encounters.

Among other things, he boards a military aircraft for a high-risk aerial patrol mission with the AFP, surveying the presence of Chinese vessels within Philippine territory.

At Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, home of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), he undergoes intense military training, including a challenging live parachute jump from an aircraft.

Guidicelli, who's so far done five civilian skydives and six military jumps, says being airborne is an

"amazing feeling that I don't take for granted."