Female cadet tops PMA 2020 class; Duterte leads graduation rites via Zoom
BAGUIO CITY — A female cadet from Echague, Isabela, topped the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Masidlawin Class of 2020, demonstrating anew the ability of female cadets to excel in what used to be a male-dominated institution.
Cadet First Class Gemalyn Deocares Sugui, of Echague, Isabela, led the graduation rites of the Mandirigmang Isinilang na may Dangal at Lakas Upang Maging Tanglaw ng Inang Bayan (Masidlawin) at Fort del Pilar.
President Duterte led the PMA graduation ceremony via Zoom from Malacañang due to quarantine restrictions.
"Well, for now ito yung pinaka una-unahang pagkakataon na nakaZoom o teleconferencing ang Presidente na nag-a-attend ng graduation (For now, this is the first time that the President will be leading the graduation ceremony via Zoom or through teleconferencing)," presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.
"Magkaparehong PMA at PNPA (Philippine National Police Academy), (This will happen for both PMA and PNPA)” he added.
Sugui received the Presidential Saber Award for graduating valedictorian of Class 2020, the Achievement award for Academic Excellence, the Joint United States Military Assistance Award, the Social Sciences Plaque, the Management Plaque, the Spanish Armed Force Award, and the Rule of Law Award. She will join the Philippine Army.
Vice Admiral Ferdinand Cusi, PMA superintendent, said a "simple and private" graduation was held for the Masidlawin class amid the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
After consultation with health authorities and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), he said the PMA leadership decided to close the ceremony to the general public, including “the parents, relatives, friends, and loved ones of the cadets."
"I believe this is 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.
"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.
The graduation ceremony was live-streamed via PMA's official Facebook page.
Sugui was followed by Cadet 1CL Jade Villanueva, 24, from Tacloban City, who received the Vice Presidential Award, the Association of Generals and Flag Officers Award, the Academic Group Award, the Australian Defense Best Over-all Performance Award, the General Antonio Luna Award, the
Army Service Professional Courses Plaque, the Department of Leadership Plaque, and the Humanities Plaque. He is also joining the Philippine Army.
Cadet 1CL Jefferson Salazar, 25, from Zamboanga City, also graduated in the top three academic ranks. He received the Secretary of National Defense Saber, the Philippine Navy Saber, the Australian Defense Best Over-all Performance Award, and the Mathematics Plaque. He will join the Philippine Navy.
Three cadets from the Cordillera region garnered the fourth to sixth slots, namely: Cadet 1CL Rojes Gaile Jamandre, 22, from Lamut, Ifugao; Cadet 1CL Jeb Bay-an, 22, from La Trinidad, Benguet, who also received the Philippine Air Force Award and the Australian Defense Best Over-all Performance Award; and Cadet 1CL Catabay Ladyong, 24, from Tabuk, Kalinga.
Cadet 1CL Vanelyn Angel Tabao, 21, from Tuguegarao City; and Cadet 1CL June Giel Anne Factor, 23, from Piddig, Ilocos Norte graduated seventh and eighth, respectively. They will join the Philippine Air Force.
Rounding up the top 10 are Cadet 1CL Rubenson Abgao, 21, from Baroy, Lanao del Norte, who was awarded with the Philippine Air Force Service Professional Courses Plaque; and Cadet 1CL Dencel Aina Bayaca, 21, of Floridablanca, Pampanga.
In addition, Cadet 1CLMarion Dale Cordova, 22, from Nagcarlan, Laguna received the Chief of Staff Saber and the Achievement Award for Leadership for being the Brigade Commander of the Cadet Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The graduating class is 196 strong composed of 173 males and 23 females. From the original 395 members who reported on April 1, 2016, there are 173 of them who made it till graduation, while 22 were cadets from previous classes who finally managed to complete their requirements.
There will be 100 (10 females) joining the Philippine Army, while 44 (6 females) and 48 (7 females) members are joining the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy, respectively. There are 10 members of the class who are currently training abroad, three in the Republic of Korea Military Academy, three in the Australian Defense Force Academy, two in the Royal Military Academy of Canada, and two in Japan’s National Defense Academy.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Cusi said the entire Masidlawin Class will report to their respective major services in the Army, Navy, and Air Force "as new additional officers who will lead the Armed Forces units in protecting the people and securing the state."
"The Academy has given them everything to prepare for the real battles ahead. We believe they are ready to assume and perform their duties and responsibilities as young, principled, competent, and compassionate officers of the AFP," Cusi said.
"The moment they step out of the portals of the Academy, we are confident that they will make us all proud," he added.
Female cadets also rule in PNPA ZAMBOANGA CITY — The parents of the two Zamboangueña Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) cadets who graduated on top of their class said they are proud of their daughters' achievements, although they cannot attend the graduation rites due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The graduation of the PNPA Mandayug Class of 2020 was held yesterday at Camp Mariano Castañeda that houses the PNPA campus in Silang, Cavite.
The two Zamboangueñas who landed on top of the Mandayug Class of 2020 are Cadette First Class Lei Anne Palermo – No. 1, and Cadette First Class Zandra Tabar, No. 3.
Palermo, who belongs to the Hawk Company, is a resident of Barangay Calarian, while Tabar of the Charlie
Company is from Barangay Curuan, both in this city.
Palermo is the youngest daughter of Army 2Lt. (ret.) Norberto Palermo, 64, and Lilia Palermo, a retired nurse of the Dr. Jose Maria Torres Memorial Foundation Hospital, Inc. in Lamitan City, Basilan.
Noberto said he is proud and honored by his daughter's achievement and would have loved to attend the graduation ceremony if not for the prevailing health crisis.
“We are proud of you when you complete the course as number one. You made true of your promises to exert everything to reach the top,” Norberto said.
Tabar is the eldest daughter of Roselie and Alexander Tabar, who are into the transport business.
Roselie said they did not expect Zandra to be in the top 10 considering there are 227 cadets in the Mandayug Class of 2020. She said Zandra, who graduated as valedictorian both in elementary and secondary, had always wanted to become a soldier since she was little.
Zandra took and passed twice the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) entrance examination but failed to qualify the quota limit.
“So she decided to take the PNPA entrance examination and passed, and the rest is history,” Roselie said.
She also expressed regret that they won't be able to attend the graduation rights because there are still no flights to Manila due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aside from Palermo and Tabar, six other Zamboangueños graduated from the PNPA.
They are Cadets First Class AlShadat Abdurajak and Joseph Bryan Alberto of Barangay Sangali; Cadette First Class Judilyn Bardago of Sta. Catalina; Cadette First Class Brain Hull Sakkam of Sinunuc; Cadette First
Class Rain Simyunn of Pasonanca; and Cadette First Class Khomeni Sulaiman of Recodo.
The PNPA Mandayug Class of 2020 has 227 cadets coming from all over the country. They started training and schooling on May 1, 2016.
The PNPA management said 202 of the graduates will join the police service, 59 will join the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), and 16 will go to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
Four of the top 10 graduates of the PNPA Mandayug class of 2020 will join the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) service.
They are Cdt 1C Julius Caezar Tarnate (second placer), Cdt 1C Jerely D Barua (fifth placer), Cdt 1C Irish Adriane G Gumaru (sixth place) and Cdt 1C Enrico Reyes (seventh place).
In welcoming the 25 cadets, BJMP chief Jail Director Allan Iral reiterated the value of justice, integrity, and service to the jail cadets as they join the jail management profession.
“The BJMP is looking forward to working with you and to seeing how you flex what each of you has to offer for our country. We have high regard for you and for what you can do, especially in this time of a health crisis. So yours shall be trial by fire. But we have not a bit of doubt you would perform very well under this present pandemic’s pressure”, he added.
Tarnate will be receiving the Vice Presidential Kampilan and the Chief, BJMP Kampilan while Gumaru will be receiving the Journalism Kampilan.
Cdt 1C Shela Serrano will receive recognition for being the highest in public safety subjects while Cdt 1C Mark Joseph Fajardo was awarded the Best Thesis.
BJMP spokesperson Chief Inspector Xavier Solda said that all top 10 PNPA graduating cadets will receive Plaques of Merit.