Plebes’ recognition ushers PMA alumni homecoming

COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

James Patrick P. Aquino and Joyce Rhen de Guzman

BAGUIO CITY – Recognition of plebes of the Philippine Military Academy here at Fort Del Pilar ushered the homecoming of graduates of the premier military school of the country set Feb. 15-17. 

This, as Lt. Col. Harry Baliaga Jr. of the PMA public information office sent a warm message to PMA alumni a few weeks before their homecoming as Baguio City hit its coldest temperature on Jan. 28.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) recorded its lowest of temperature with 9.8 degrees Celsius in Baguio City around 5a.m.

“Most probably that the PMA Alumni who came from warm provinces or regions across the country will truly enjoy the cool breeze surrounding the city,” Baliaga added.

The PMA Alumni homecoming has been set to commence at PMA, Loakan Road on Feb. 15 to 17.

Activities include alumni parade, sports events such as golf tournaments, basketball games, soccer and the like.

The event aims to promote courage, integrity and loyalty among the alumni as they reminisce memories, meet old friends and classmates, and most especially recognize their true worth as protectors and servants of the country.

Baliaga said prominent guests are expected even as he welcomed families to the event.    

The PMA Alumni Homecoming is also part of the schedule of events for the 24th Panagbenga Flower festival 2019 with the theme “Blooming Forward” as competitions are simultaneously observed during the first two weeks of February such as the Baguio Blooms Exposition and Exhibition and school-based competition.

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Meanwhile, recognition rites took place Jan. 27 at the Academy's Borromeo Field, a PMA tradition and one of the most awaited moments of the 316 plebes who were officially recognized by their upper classes.

Before being recognized, the plebes were trained for less than two months as members of the new cadet battalion. The training started June 1, 2018. They were welcomed as unrecognized plebes August 2, 2018 which was the start of the Academy's school year.

Hard trainings and big sacrifices led them to learn and achieve the standards of being a cadet.

According to Baliaga Jr. this ceremony proved the first year of the plebes was worthy enough to be accepted as member of the cadet core.

“This event is important because we are awarding them for the hardships that they faced and did in order to show that they are willing to give everything to be a part of the core and to learn for them to be able to serve the country,” he said.

Parents and visitors from all over the country were present to witness the plebes’ milestone.

A total of 253 male and 62 female cadets were recognized by the PMA Corps of Cadets on Jan. 27, the academy’s chief information officer has said.

“Recognition rites signifies the acceptance of the fourth-class cadets by the upper-class corps, how these new cadets behave and act, including the posture of having a straight back, after being subjected to pressures from the upper-class corps, academics, military and physical aspect for more than six months,” Col. Harry Baliaga said Friday.

Class BAGSIK DIWA, which stands for “Bagong Sibol sa Kinabukasan Mandirigma Hanggang Wakas”, formally joined the military service during their reception as plebes in June 2018.

Prior to their acceptance, a total of 15,502 took the entrance exam on August 20, 2017. A total of 1,015 took the complete qualifying test and 450 reported during the reception. They will graduate in 2022, joining the three branches of service -- Army, Air Force or Navy.

Baliaga said that after being recognized, the plebes will no longer be subjected to rigid scrutiny and the rules will loosen up a little.

“They have been tested and have proven that they can be members of the cadet corps of the country’s premier military institution,” he said, adding that the cadet has understood and imbibed the PMA’s motto of “Courage, Integrity and Loyalty”.

As a tradition, the cadet is given stricter rules upon entering the academy, which they call the “reception”. Over three months, the plebe cadets go through a rigid process of adapting to the system and the life of a cadet and a military, including changing their posture from slouching to having a good “bearing” (cadet term for having a straight back) to look more dignified.

They will then be incorporated as members of the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines (CCAFP) in rites called “incorporation”.

Six months after comes “recognition”, the conferment of them having adapted to the life, allowing them to go through the four years of rigorous training to complete their military studies. With a report from PNA