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By Harley F. Palangchao Correspondent
FORT DEL Pilar, Baguio: A
26-year-old cadet from Zamboanga City will
graduate as valedictorian of the
220-strong members of the Philippine Military Academy Baghawi (Bagong
Halaw ng Lahi) Class of 2008.
Navy Cadet Ariel G. Rallos of
Limon Drive, Canelar Triplett, Zamboanga City, the topnotcher, will
also receive the Presidential Saber and the PGMA Achievement Award
for Excellence from President Gloria Arroyo. The President will be
the guest of honor and speaker during the ceremony to be held at the
Borromeo Field on March 18.
Rallos will also receive the
Philippine Navy Sword, the JUSMAG (Joint United States Military
Advisory Group) Award, the Aguinaldo Saber, the Academic Group
Award, the Mathematics and Natural Sciences plaques and the
Department of Tactical Officers plaque.
Air Force cadet Bernard Roderick
A. Joaquin, 22-year-old from Aguilar, Pangasinan, is class
salutatorian and he will received the Vice Presidential Saber, the
Philippine Air Force Saber, Tactics Group and JUSMAG Awards.
It was only late after the press
conference Wednesday that some journalists learned that Joaquin is
the younger brother of now Army 1st Lt. Rolly Joaquin, the
valedictorian of PMA Class 2004.
Filipino women have all reasons
to be happy this Women’s Month celebration as one of the 23
graduating cadettes, Air Force cadette Me-ann P. Sinson of
Bagumbayan, Ligao City, Albay is third in the over all roll of
merits.
Sinson, the only female in the
top 10 list, will also receive the Secretary of National Defense
Saber and Air Force Professional Courses plaque.
The graduation will be one of the
happiest moments in the life of Army cadet Dennis T. Legaspi of Ipil,
Zamboanga City, who ranked fourth in the over all roll of merits, if
his separated parents will reunite on March 18.
“My parents are separated and
how I wish both of them attend the graduation. It would be one of
the happiest moments in my life,” said Legaspi, who abandoned his
civil engineering course at the Mindanao State University in Iligan
when he entered PMA four years ago.
Legaspi, the youngest of three
siblings, shared that his parents had separated as soon as he
entered PMA. He said his older brother, now currently a security
guard in Legaspi, dropped his schooling due to financial constraints
while his older sister is now married.
PMA superintendent, M/Gen.
Leopoldo Maligalig, told reporters that each of the cadets have
compelling stories and anecdotes to share, experiences that inspired
and challenged them to finished their rigid military training.
Named fifth in the class is Army
cadet Vergel U. Lacambra of Pagadian City, who will also receive the
Humanities, Management, Social Sciences and Army Professional
Courses plaques. Above that, he is also the recepient of the PMA
Journalism Award.
Ranked sixth is Army Cadet Carlo
L. Catalan of Dumaquete City while the Army Cadet Francisco B.
Pondoyo Jr. of Zamboanga del Sur ranked seventh and he will received
the Association of Generals and Flag Officer (AGFO) award.
Army cadet Marc Louie Parado of
Sta. Barbara, Baliuag, Bulacan ranked eighth in the class while
Dennis Moreno of Banga, South Cotabato ranked ninth, with Army cadet
Vay L. Caballero of Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City completing the top
10.
Out of the 220-strong members of
the PMA Class 2008, 119 will join the Army service, 57 in the Navy
and 44 in the Air Force.
Some 11,064 applicants across the
country’s archipelago took the PMA entrance examination four years
ago but only 197 made it to PMA Class 2008.
--Harley F. Palangchao
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