 He fought against government insurgents in the south of the Philippines in the 1970s.He was a member of the Blue Diamonds Aerial Demonstration Team from 1964 to 1966 (with the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron), the team leader of the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron Aerobatic team "Golden Sabres" in 1972, and the team leader of the "Sabres", the combined 7th TFS "Red Aces" and 9th TFS "Golden Sabres" aerobatic teams in 1973.Antonio Bautista graduated from The University of the Philippines in Los Baños in 1957 with a degree in Agriculture.