FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III will be commissioning some 171 members of the Sundalong Isinilang na may Angking Galing at Lakas na Handang Ipaglaban ang Bayan (Sinag Lahi) Class 2015 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) as new 2nd Leiutenants and Ensigns of the Armed Roces of the Philippines (AFP) during the Academy;s graduation rites Sunday at the Borromeo grounds.
Lt. Gen. Oscar Lopez, PMA Superintendent, said this year’s graduating class is composed of 155 males and 16 females with 82 males and 7 females joining the Philippine Army, 39 males and 6 females joining the Philippine Navy and 31 males and 3 females joining the Philippine Air Force.
The Commander-In-Chief will be accorded the traditional arrival honors at the Sun Dial area which will be immediately followed by the inauguration of the P105 million PM sports facility that was funded by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
President Aquino, together with other dignitaries, will proceed to the Borromeo grandstand for the formal graduation rites.
The members of the graduating class will be given a one month break by the AFP before they will be required to report to the national headquarters for their assignments on the field.
Cadet first-class Arwi Chiday Martinez, 21, who will be also graduating as cum laude of his class, will be receiving the Presidential Saber from President Aquino being the topnotcher of his class.
Cadet first-class Genesis Salvador Dizon of Sta. Maria, Zambooanga City placed second and will be receiving the Vice Presidential Saber from Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, Sr. while cadet first-class John Paul Atanacio Bacsain of Pili, Camarines Sur placed third and will be receiving the Secretary of National Defense Saber. Both cadets will be joining the Philippine Army.
Cadet first-calls Paolo Dominic Mantaring Regis of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, who will be joining the Philippine Navy, placed fourth whilecCadet Caroline Jhoy Ramirez Nacional of Maltum, Sarangani Province, who will be joining the Philippine Army, and the lone female cadet in the honor roll, placed fifth.
Cadet John Denver Salinto Bambico of Naguilian, La Union, who will be joining the Philippine Army, placed sixth; cadet first-class Jan Klyde Blair Tendero Danganan of Irisan, Baguio City, who will be joining the Philippine Navy, placed seventh while cadet first-class Steven Gabica Tali of Calarian, Zamboanga City, who will be joining the Philippine Navy, placed eight.
Rounding up the top ten honor roll are cadet first-class Brian Salise Villanueva of Lagao, General Santos city, who will be joining the Philippine Army, placed ninth and cadet first-class Regeric Rex Rivas Fuentes of Mlang, North Cotabato, who will be joining the Philippine Army, placed tenth.
By Dexter A. See
