Essence of PMA alumni homecomings
ON Feb. 18, 2023, some 1,700 alumni — young and old, men and women — from different classes of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) paid homage to their alma mater, the “bright beacon of the land.” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was the guest of honor and speaker. Finally, after three years since the global health emergency prevented the holding of this event, all are eager and beaming with such undescribable feeling to march at the sacred grounds of the academy. To every PMA graduate, the ground “most sacred” is the Borromeo Field for it evokes indelible memories of their cadetship. From their reception rites to their graduation ceremonies, and everything else in between — innumerable parades and reviews, recognition rites, drills and ceremonies, awarding academic, and athletic excellence and serving of punishment — all happened in that hallowed ground. Borromeo Field is, to every PMAer, the alpha and the omega of their stay in the academy.
The PMA Alumni Association Inc. (PMAAAI) has on record 11,626 alumni reckoned from Class of 1945 up to Class of 2022 — 12 of them are recipients of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ highest award, the Medal of Valor. From that total, 2,713 have rendezvoused with our Creator.
For the remaining 8,913 who are still with us, you will find them patrolling the hinterlands of Luzon, scouring the boondocks of the Visayas and the jungles of Mindanao, watching the fringes of the country’s vast borders, and standing guard in some lonely and desolate posts in the South China Sea. Many of them occupy esteemed positions in the government, in the venerable halls of Congress, in bustling private and public corporations, or elsewhere around the world, and
wherever else the demands of life’s meaningful pursuits require them. They heeded the call and unselfishly gave their very all, even their lives if it need be.
Many of them are still serving the nation in various capacities long after they have traded their battledress uniforms for suits and barong Filipino. But whatever attire they wear, you will recognize them not much by their deportment than you would with their brand of heroism, professionalism, excellence and devotion to duty.
But what prompts these alumni to sojourn from different parts of the globe; to bridge thousands of miles, transcend boundaries and cross time zones to reach their cherished destination 9.27 kilometers from the heart of Baguio City? What could be so special with setting foot on the revered grounds of Fort Gregorio del Pilar? To all of them, this visit to the academy is as sublime as paying their respects to their alma mater. Attending this once-a-year gathering means rekindling the bond with fellow alumni who called each other “Cavalier.” It is like a trip to an oasis to quench the thirst caused by many life’s challenges they face. It is a respite. Time to reminisce the days of old sharing repeatedly to each other and to one another the same immortal stories of their plebehood (freshman year at the PMA). To most, it is a time to pay tribute to the cradle of their budding idealism as young, poor but intelligent men and women determined not only to earn a free college education but also to pursue a quest for excellence. From frivolous civilians, they have metamorphosed into PMA Cavaliers who have dedicated themselves to a lifelong commitment to serve the country and its people.
Over the years, a lot has changed not only in the academy grounds with new edifices and facilities, but also with the conduct of PMA alumni homecomings. In the mid1980s when we, PMA “Bigkis Lahi” Class of 1990 were cadets, there were not too many graduates and hence fewer formations of alumni at the Borromeo Field. Today, the graduates festively populate the field!
Though each class was neatly assembled, they were arranged to span the vast field. They were no longer just in front of the corps, but on the right side of the cadet formation as well. And where the alumni used to parade by column of twos, the cavaliers today march (the elderly mounted on their wheelchairs) like Greek phalanx now making a wide turn to allow other classes to regal the cadet corps and their cheering families at the grandstand.
Every year, the PMAAAI bestows an award among its members who have distinguished themselves in their respective endeavors. There were 12 recipients of the Cavalier Award this year.
Among them are retired police lieutenant general Ricardo de Leon for Public Administration and Medal of Valor Awardee Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, who was recognized for his immense contributions to the association in the field of private enterprise. Retired police lieutenant Jose Chiquito Malayo was cited for command and administration in the Philippine National Police. Army Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera for his prominent Staff Function as J3 and Brig. Gen. Consolito Yecla who distinguished himself in Army Operations. Commodore Tito Alvin Andal was cited for his success in Coast Guard Operations, Col. Ann Marie Gerodiaz is Senior Officer awardee for Air Operations. Capt. Emerson Oxales is Senior Officer Awardee for Naval Operations and Marine Capt. Mark Rolly Bacani is Junior Officer Awardee also for Naval Operations.
I want to make special mention of Rear Admiral Caesar Bernard Valencia for his well-acclaimed command and administration of the Philippine Navy as former commander of the Philippine Navy’s Offshore Combat Force and commander of Naval Forces Northern Luzon before his ascent to the post of chief of Naval Staff, and as former and concurrent acting Flag Officer in-Command of the Philippine Navy apart from serving as the regular vice commander of the Navy. The same commendations are appropriate for Police Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz who earned distinction for his immense success in Police Operations. Before becoming the director for Investigation and Detection Management, he was the director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, director of Police Regional Office 4A and director of the Southern Police District, where his innovations and pioneering initiatives in police operations were emulated.
Valencia and de la Cruz are both esteemed members of PMA “Bigkis Lahi” Class of 1990.
Despite countless patriotic, selfless and distinguished contributions of PMAers in the service of our country, the academy admits to its own share of misfits and misguided alumni as in any imperfect organizations. This is the heart of the issues that the PMA continues to address for its alumni, starting from leadership training and character development of the cadets to prepare them for the harsh realities of the armed service and of the world that are starkly different from the artificial society in which they were molded from sunrise to sunset to be military professionals.
As young academy graduates full of idealism, these budding officers must be mentored and guided with words of wisdom and experience of fellow cavaliers they will meet in mainstream AFP. But what they will eventually become is, to a great extent, dependent upon what their PMA upperclass men and women and role models do as examples to emulate. There could be no guide better than their seniors practicing what they preach. The lines in the PMA Cadet’s Prayer are fitting reminders: “Give us that honest purpose in life which seeks fair deal with everyone and spurns all forms of hypocrisy that will enkindle our fighting faith and smother all seeds of cowardice and fear in our hearts; and the loyalty to our principles that place all issues above personal considerations and shun compromise with vice and injustice.” The last line is firm counsel to PMAers when they reach positions of consequence, power and influence.
The Cadet’s Prayer as an invocation by everyone who went through the rigors of academy training and recited by heart does not apply only to the cadets. It applies to all who call themselves PMA cavaliers — members of the Long Gray Line. It should be a guide for the men and women who, for many generations, were molded in the lofty ideals of PMA excellence. They owe it to the nation and the people that they lead a life well lived, true to the academy’s immortal mottos of courage, integrity and loyalty. Until their last dying breath, until their last Taps is sung.