Farmer’s daughter tops PMA class; 3 Cordillerans in top 10

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City -- The daughter of a farmer and teacher from Echague, Isabela topped the Philippine Military Academy Masidlawin Class of 2020 in graduation rites here Friday afternoon.

The Masidlawin Class's top 10 included five women and three cadets from the Cordillera.

This year's valedictorian, 25-year-old Cadet First Class Gemalyn Sugui, 25, bested nearly 200 other graduates.

She earlier obtained a Bachelor of Science in Management Economics degree from the University of the Philippines Baguio.
        She was also awarded with the Presidential Saber, the Achievement Award for Academic Excellence, JUSMAG Award, Philippine Army Saber, Spanish Armed Forces Award, Social Sciences Plaque, Management Plaque and Rule of Law Award, the PMA said.

All top 10 graduated as Cadet First Class: Jade Villanueva from Tacloban City ranked second among Masidlawin’s top ten cadets, followed by Jefferson Salazar from Zamboanga City.

Ifugao’s Rotes Gaile Jamandre ranked fourth, followed by  Jeb Bay-an of La Trinidad, Benguet (5th) Kalinga-born Catabay Ladyong (6th), Vanelyn Angel Tabao of Tuguegarao City (7th)  June Giel Anne Factor from Piddig, Ilocos Norte (8th), Rubenson Abgao Maliwanag Baroy of Lanao del Norte (9th) and Dencel Aina Bayaca of Floridablanca, Pampanga (10th).

Sugui, will be commissioned as a junior officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines along with 195 other graduates.

Sugui and the rest of the Corps of Cadets have been locked inside Fort del Pilar since the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

Sugui will join the Philippine Army along with 99 of her classmates, while 45 Masidlawin members will become part of the Philippine Air Force.

 The remaining 51 members of the class will join the Philippine Navy.

They marched during graduation rites without their parents who were not allowed to proceed to Baguio City due to travel restrictions .

After graduation, they would be deployed to help the country deal with the pandemic.

Baguio is currently under a General Community Quarantine, but has been strict about border entry with 31 recorded cases of COVID-19 infections since the lockdown began.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the country's premier military training institution did not open this year's graduation rites to the public to include the parents and loved ones of the graduates, said PMA Superintendent Admiral Allan Ferdinand Cusi.

"I believe this was a necessary decision in order to safeguard the health and general well-being of the CCAFP (Cadet Corps, Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the whole PMA community," he said in a statement.

"As a parent, I know how heartbreaking and disappointing that decision is, but we have to do what is best for all. Safety and health are paramount at all times,” he added.