President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday encouraged more women to join the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), as he lauded the 54 female graduates of the PMA Siklab-Laya Class of 2025.

During the graduation rites at Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City, President Marcos said he was elated that 54 of the 266 graduates are women.

“Ang mga kababaihang kadete ng PMA ang patunay na ang tapang, talino, at galing ay hindi nakaaayon sa kasarian,” the President said.

“Nawa’y magsilbi kayong inspirasyon sa bawat batang babae nangangarap na magkaroon ng mahalagang papel sa ating bansa,” he added.

This year’s 266 graduates will be deployed across the three major branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): 137 will join the Philippine Army, 71 will serve in the Philippine Navy, and 58 will become part of the Philippine Air Force.

In March 2025, the AFP joined the nation in celebrating National Women’s Month and underscored the AFP’s renewed commitment to gender advocacy and its dedication to sustaining the progress made in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment within the organization and beyond. | PND