BAGUIO CITY -- Arwi C. Martinez, the Philippine Military Academy’s top graduate this year who was conferred the rank of second lieutenant, is proud to be an Igorot.
“Agkakdebdebkan kultura tan ugadin iIgorot angken tuway divan ko. Ipaulig ko son sikaran
am-in jen Igorotak.” (I will not forget the culture and tradition
of the Igorot anywhere I go. I will show them that I am truly an Igorot),
Martinez said in Ibaloi dialect.
“Ituloy tayo adi ay ipaila nu sino tako,
nu sino di Igorot ay kankanan da.” ( Let us continue to
show who we are, who the real Igorots are), he added in Kankanaey in his
valedictory address here at Fort Del Pilar during recent 110th PMA
commencement rites at the Borromeo Field.
Martinez, of Barangay Loakan here,
whose home is just a stone’s throw away from the premier military
institution, is a son of a Kankanaey father from Buguias, Benguet and an
Ibaloi mother from Loakan.
Proud of and as a sign of his love for
his parents, Dancio, a forester and his mother Lolita, Martinez
presented his medal to them at Fajardo Grandstand. He graduated cum
laude.
“The real Mc Coy is about to
begin,”Martinez said as their batch embarked on their
journey as new officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He is
joining the Philippine Army.
“The challenge that we face right now will
effectively put into reality the lessons that we have learned here in the
academy to become good leaders espousing the values of courage, integrity and
loyalty and selfless service towards achieving a long lasting peace
and prosperity for our country,” he said
He reminded his mistahs the idealism
and promises they avowed in serving the nation with honesty, respect and care
for others . “As our class
name Sinaglahi (Sundalong Isinilang na
may Angking Galing at Lakas Handang Ipaglaban ang Bayan) implies, let us commit
ourselves to offer all our strength and wit to protect and uphold the
sovereignty of our country”.
The newly commissioned officers
will have a month vacation to spend with their families and friends before reporting
to their respective branches of service.-- PIA
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