• Female cadet among top ten graduates of Philippine Military Academy this year
• President Aquino inaugurates Philippine Military Academy Sports Complex
• President Aquino awards 2nd Lieutenant who defeated Communist rebels
• President Aquino hosts ‘merienda cena’ for graduates of Philippine Military Academy
• President Aquino challenges new military officers from Sinaglahi Class 2015 to live up to its name

Cadet First Class Caroline Jhoy Nacional will be graduating fifth of the 171 members of the Sinag-Lahi Class of 2015 on Sunday at the PMA, Fort General Gregorio del Pilar, Baguio City.

She is one of 16 female cadets graduating this year.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, during an interview aired over DZRB on Saturday, praised Nacional.

“Coming off from our continued celebration of National Women’s Month, maganda naman po ‘yan. At parang since 2010, consistently merong female cadet na nagla-land doon sa top honors ng PMA doon sa mga graduating class,” Valte said.

Nacional, 21, hails from the town of Maitum in Sarangani and is the daughter of a police investigator. She will join the Philippine Army.

As of 2014, 306 female cadets have graduated from the country’s military school. The academy began accepting women in 1993 following the passing of Republic Act No. 7192, or the Women in Development and Nation Building Act. PND (ag)

The President arrived at 9:36 a.m., where he was received by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, PMA Superintendent Lt. General Oscar Lopez, and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Chair Cristino Naguiat, Jr.

President Aquino and PAGCOR Chair Naguiat unveiled the marker of the newly-completed PMA Sports Complex with a 3,320 square meters floor area.

The PAGCOR is the source of fund for the complex that has a contract amount of 89.9 million pesos.

The Chief Executive conducted an inspection of the venue as he was being briefed by the PMA Superintendent.

The Jurado Hall is divided into two zones: the sports zone composed of a basketball and volleyball courts, a gymnastics floor, with provisions for combative sports and two badminton courts; and the support facility zone, a low bay area with a main lobby, office spaces and storage facilities.

After his inspection, the President proceeded to the PMA commencement exercises of the PMA Sinag Lahi Class. PND (ag)

Second Lieutenant Jerson Sanchez received his award during the commencement exercises of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Sinaglahi Class at Fort General Gregorio del Pilar, in Baguio City.

During his speech in the PMA graduation rites, President Aquino said the new graduates or mistah should follow the footsteps of Lt. Sanchez.

“Sana ay matumbasan o mahigitan ninyo ang ipinamalas ng inyong upperclassman na si 2nd Lieutenant Jerson Sanchez,” President Aquino told the new graduates who will also have the rank of Second Lieutenant.

“Bibigyan ko ng diin: Bagitong sundalo si 2nd Lieutenant Sanchez, at hindi pa siya miyembro ng isang elite unit. Pero sa maikling panahon pa lamang nang inilagi niya sa serbisyo, nagpakita na siya ng ibayong tapang at epektibong pamumuno.”

“Malinaw sa kanya: Habang nagpupursige siyang tugisin ang mga kalaban, lalo silang magdadalawang-isip na magsagawa ng operasyon dahil alam nilang de-kalibre ang mga sundalong nakabantay,” he added.

Last February 16, Lt. Sanchez and his troops conducted a surveillance and follow up operation against more than 30 members of the New Peoples Army in Barangay Datal Anggas, Alabel, Sarangani Province.

Lt. Sanchez even with an inferior force against the enemy managed to device a strategy that led to the scattering of the opponent’s force.

This operation resulted to the capture of nine high-powered firearms, five explosive device, death of seven rebels and surrender of 11 others.

“Sa Sinaglahi Class of 2015: Hindi naman kayo nagpakahirap at nagpakasakit sa PMA para sa huli ay mabalewala at masayang lamang ito. Pinatunayan ni Lt. Sanchez at ng kanyang mga kasamahan ang positibong bunga ng kanilang mahusay at tapat na pagtupad sa tungkulin.”

“At kung ang bawat isa sa inyo sa Sinaglahi Class ay maninindigan at gagamitin ang inyong angking galing at lakas upang tumbasan o higitan ang nagawa ng mga nauna sa inyo, maipapamana natin sa susunod na henerasyon ang isang bayang di hamak na mas maganda kaysa ating dinatnan,” said the President. PND (ag)

The traditional afternoon high tea took place around 2:00 p.m. at The Mansion along Leonard Wood Road, the official summer residence of the Chief Executive.

The affair also served as an opportunity for the President to hear the concerns of some of the newly commissioned members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as he gamely entertained some of their questions on a variety of topics.

An estimated number of 650 guests were present at the merienda cena including the parents and relatives of the graduates besides the top officials of the PMA and the AFP. PND (hdc)

“Sa paglabas ninyo sa akademyang ito, at sa pagsisimula ng bagong yugto ng inyong buhay bilang mga kawal, aasahan kong paninindigan niyo ang pakilala ninyo sa inyong sarili,” said President Aquino.

Every PMA class selects a name for their batch.

For the class of 2015, they have chosen Sinaglahi: “Sundalong May Angking Galing at Lakas, Handang Ipaglaban ang Bayan.”

“Sa Sinaglahi Class of 2015, the President continued. “Hindi naman kayo nagpakahirap at nagpakasakit sa PMA para sa huli ay mabalewala at masayang lamang ito… At kung ang bawat isa sa inyo sa Sinaglahi ay maninindigan at gagamitin ang inyong angking galing at lakas upang tumbasan o higitan ang nagawa ng mga nauna sa inyo, maipapamana natin sa susunod na henerasyon ang isang bayang di hamak na mas maganda kaysa sa ating dinatnan.”

Graduating cum laude this year is Cadet First Class Arwi Martinez from Baguio City.

In his valedictory address, Martinez said that in his years spent at the academy he had learned that constant mistake should not let anyone down to attain they goal.

“Failure is a common ingredient that seems to add flavor in our journey as cadets…these failures make us stronger,” Martinez said reminding his fellow mistahs to “keep the faith.”

There were 19,365 aspirants who applied for PMA entrance examination, however only 207 were admitted in the academy. 172 cadets graduated this Sunday, which is composed of 156 male and 16 female mistahs. PND (ag)