BAGUIO CITY March 14 – The son of a farmer and a housewife from Balabag, Pavia, Iloilo is this year’s topnotcher in the graduation rites of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) this coming Sunday.
Cadet first-class Jaywarden Galilea Hontoaria will be receiving from President Rodrigo Duterte the coveted Presidential Saber aside from the Humanities Plaque, Chief of Staff Saber, Natural Sciences Plaque, Philippine Navy Saber, Social Sciences Plaque, Academic Group Award, JUSMAG Award, Australian Best Overall Performance Award, Department of Leadership Plaque and Spanish Armed Forces Award.
Hontoria, 25, will be leading the 282-strong members of the Alagad ng Lahing Binigkis ng Tapang at Lakas (ALAB Tala) Class of 2018 wherein 207 of them are males and 75 are females.
Cadet first-class Ricardo Witawit Liwaden from Gawana, Barlig, Mountain Province landed as the class salutatorian and will be receiving from vice President Maria Leonor Robredo the Vice Presidential Saber apart from the Philippine Army Saber, Sports and Physical Development Plaque, Tactics Group Award and Athletic Saber while cadet first-class Jun-jay Malazzab Castro from Nangalasauan, Amulung, Cagayan placed third and will be receiving the Secretary of National Defense Saber.
Cadet first-class Leonore Andrea Cariño from Japitan, Ambago, Butuan City placed fourth and will receive the Management Plaque while cadet first-class Mark Jantzen Nono Dacillo from Tumaga, Zamboanga City landed in fifth place.
Cadet first-class Jezaira Laquinon Buenaventura from Bais City, Negros Oriental placed sixth and will receive the Department of Tactical Officers Plaque, Aguinaldo Saber, Distinguished Cadet Award (Starman) and Dean’s List for 2 terms during the year and Commandant’s List for 3 terms during the year while cadet first-class Jessie Antonio Laranang of San Clemente, Tarlac placed seventh and will be receiving the Philippine Air Force Saber.
Cadet first-class Paulo Balla Briones of Camp Allen, Baguio City landed in 8th place followed by cadet first-class Jayson Raymundo Cimatu from Casiguran, Aurora who placed ninth and cadet first-class Micah Quiambao Reynaldo from San Roque, Bamban, Tarlac who placed tenth and will be receiving the Australian Defense Best Overall Performance Award.
Of the graduating class, 143 will be joining the Philippine Army, 71 will be joining the Air Force and 68 will be joining the Philippine Navy.
President Duterte will be commissioning the members of the graduating class as 2nd Lieutenants and Ensigns of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during the ceremonies that will be held at the Borromeo field inside Fort del Pilar here.
Maj. Donato San Juan II, PMA Superintendent, said the graduating class owns the distinction of having the most number of females who are able to hurdle the rigid training inside the premier military school in the Asia-Pacific region.
Of those who will be joining the Philippine Army, 105 are males while 38 are females, 52 males and 19 females want to join the Philippine Air Force while 50 males and 18 females will be joining the Philippine Navy.
By Dexter A. See
