Baguio families help PMA cadets' formation as leaders

By Pamela Mariz Geminiano

BAGUIO CITY-- They say the family is the foundation of a person's character but several families in Baguio do not only mold cadets at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) but they also heal homesickness.

Through the PMA's host parents program, cadets from various parts of the country are provided with a home during weekend breaks to stay with and be part of a household in the city.

Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, one of the first beneficiaries of the program, said the PMA program contributes to cadets who are away from their own families while studying and training at the military school.

"Let us continue our partnership in strengthening the PMA host parent program which is our contribution to our foster children, not only in becoming officials of the Armed forces of the Philippines but also to become the brightest, most responsible and model citizens of the country," Magalong, a retired police general, said during the 40th anniversary of the PMA host parents association.

He recalled his "mistahs" (classmates) who came from as far as Visayas and Mindanao were provided a home during weekend breaks and privileges.

"May nauuwiian silang bahay dito sa Baguio na maituturing na pamilya habang malayo sa mga mahal sa buhay at malaking bagay yung sa isang kadete (They have a home to go to in Baguio whom they can consider as family while their real families are away, which is important to a cadet)," said Magalong, who comes from PMA class of 1982.

As the host parents are considered families- "mama" and "papa" in Baguio-- they do not just provide a home and a family but also guides the future military officers to study well and push cadets to graduate at PMA.

"To us working hand in hand, no dream is impossible," he said.

Cadets get their families on their second year at PMA. They do not choose their foster parents to "adopt" them.

Both Brigadier Generals Ronnie Evangelista and Bartolome Bacarro, PMA Superintendent and Commandant of cadets, respectively, said one of the greatest challenges that cadets face while completing their education at PMA is distance and separation from their families.

Both officers, who have their foster families in Baguio since their cadet years, which they keep until now, underscoring the program's importance to the life of a PMA cadet.

"You do not only help us in serving the cadets but help the institution on forming responsible and future leaders of our nation. Continue to help us in shaping the cadets to cherish the values of courage, integrity, and loyalty," Evangelista said.

Joseph Zambrano, a government employee who joined the host parents’ association in 2012 after approval by the screening committee, said their biological children, Josh and Justine, see their "sibling" cadets as their older brothers and are proud they have them.

The foster children and the biological children share a symbiotic relationship, helping out each other and providing inspiration to each other, Zambrano said.

He said having foster children at PMA is coupled with the responsibility to make the nation's scholars graduate from PMA and become good public servants.

“You guide them, check on their whereabouts and their standing as cadets. You also give them pieces of advice as parents do,” he said.

"It is not just about rearing the children but parenting with public service," he added, noting that they share the high and low moments of their foster children.

Former mayor, Maurico Domogan, chairman of the host parents’ association, thanked both PMA and the organization for the continuing partnership.

The PMA’s host parents program started in 1979 with PMA Class 1982 as the first class to benefit from the program.

To be eligible, the family must be a "complete family" of parents and children with "good moral character".

A childless couple may be accepted provided they are above 40 years old but not more than 75 years old.

Their residence should be within a five-kilometer radius from the city and easily accessible by transportation. This would allow the cadets to pay them a visit even for just a few hours while outside the academy.

The host parents shall monitor the performance of their cadet wards at the PMA and give them advice and moral support to ensure their successful completion of the four-year military education at PMA, the country's premier military institution.

To date, the host parents’ association has expanded to other provinces and regions in the country that serve as foster families of the cadets during out-of-town summer programs.