8 female cadets make it to top 10 of PMA Class 2017

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – Eight out of the top 10 cadets graduating in the country’s premier military academy are females, dominating their male counterparts during the presentation yesterday in Fort General Gregorio H. Del Pilar, Baguio City.

Cadet First Class Rovi Mairel Martinez, who hails from Cabanatuan City ranked first among 167 members of Sanggalang ay Lakas at Buhay Para sa Kalayaan Ng Inang Bayan (Salaknib) Class of 2017. Martinez is the fourth female to top a graduating class since the academy graduated the seven female cadets in 1997.

Seven other female cadets are in the top 10: C1C Eda Glis Buansi of Baguio City ranked third, C1C Cathleen Jovi Santiano of San Fernando, Pampanga ranked fourth, C1C Shiela Joy Ramiro of Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya (5th), C1C Sheila Marie Calonge of Manaoag, Pangasinan (7th), C1C Joyzy Funchica of Butuan City (8th), C1C Resie Jezreel Arrocena of Nabunturan, Compostela Valley (9th), and C1C Catherine Mar Emeterio of Zamboanga City (10th).

Only two male cadets made it to the top 10. The second top cadet is Philip Viscaya of Ligao City, Albay. The fifth ranking cadet is C1C Emmanuel Canlas of Lubao, Pampanga.

Out of the 167 graduates of this year’s Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Salaknib Class of 2017, 104 are males while 63 are females.

Out of the 63 female graduates of this class, 32 will be deployed to the Philippine Army, while 13 will be doing their duties with the Philippine Air Force, and 18 will report to the Philippine Navy.

Top one Cdt. Rovi Martinez and top three Cdt. Eda Marapao will both be deployed to the Philippine Navy while top two Cdt. Philip Modesto will join the Philippine Army.

Arlene Dela Cruz was the first female valedictorian, topping her class in 1999 (PMA Class Masikhay) five years after the military institution opened its doors to female cadets in 1994 by virtue of Republic Act 7192 (Women in Development and Nation Building Act). Dela Cruz, who died in a car accident in 2008, joined the Philippine Navy.

Following Dela Cruz’s lead is Tara J. Velasco, who was the valedictorian of PMA Class Mandarangan in 2003. Velasco joined the Army.

The third female cadet to top the PMA is Andrelee Samson Mojica of PMA Class Maragtas in 2007. She joined the Philippine Navy.

(JJ Landingin) WOMEN POWER – Eight of the top 10 graduates belonging to the Philippine Military Academy’s (PMA) ‘Salaknib (Sa Kalayaan ng Inang Bayan)’ Class of 2017 are women, led by valedictorian Rovi Mairel Valino Martinez (center, foreground) of Cabanatuan City,...