BAGUIO CITY – The city government will institutionalize paying tribute to upcoming graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) who trace their origin from the city, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said here recently.
The local chief executive made the commitment after the city government paid tribute to 2Lt. Arwi Chiday Martinez, this year’s topnothcer of the Sundalong Isinilang na may Angking Galing at Lakas Handang Ipaglaban ang Bayan (Sinag Lahi) Class, 2Lt. John Klyde Blaire Danganan, the seventh overall of the class and 2Lt. Raymon Shall as well as the 12 other new military officers of the armed forces who trace their roots from the Cordillera.
Martinez is from Loakan while Dangaan is from Irisan and Shall is from Happy Hallow, all in the city.
Domogan said the tribute that the city government will be in recognition of the efforts of the young military officers to hurdle the stringent curriculum of the premier military institution in Asia in order to become future leaders of the armed forces.
From now on, the city government will be paying tribute to all PMA graduates from the city in order to inspire them to do their best upon their deployment to their respective assignments in the armed forces upon their being commissioned as 2Lts. And Ensigns.
“We salute our new military officers for being able to give honor and pride to our city, especially that 2Lt. Martinez was able to emerge as the class valedictorian. We wish them the best of luck as they will be leaving our city for their assignments,” Domogan stressed.
Martinez expressed his gratitude to the city’s officialdom for tendering them the tribute, saying that it is their first time to be given such treatment and that they are humbled by the warm welcome of the city officials and employees.
According to him, they were able to hurdle the challenges inside the Academy with the guidance of God and they will continue to seek his guidance as they are deployed to their assignments and in facing the realities of their chosen field of profession.
For her part, Lolita Martinez, Arwi’s mother who accompanied him to the tribute of the city, said they are elated that the achievement of their siblings as graduates of the PMA was given due recognition by the city officials, saying that the plan of the local government to institutionalize the tribute to all PMA graduates who trace their original from the city’s 128 barangays will be a program worth emulating by other local governments.
The younger Martinez disclosed paying tribute to the achievements of PMA graduates from the city could serve as an inspiration for today’s youth to enrol in PMA, be qualified and graduate from the institution with flying colors.
She cited that as parents they are proud over the achievements of their son but they are also empowered by the warm reception of city officials and employees on their presence.
Ms. Martinez challenged local youth to use the achievement of her son to convince them into joining the profession of arms that would help them to become responsible and dedicated citizens of the community in the future.
She said parents should allow their children to be the one to decide on their future profession so that they will not be the ones to be blamed for their failures once they embrace their desired professions. By Dexter A. See
