By Francis Wakefield
About 2,000 active and retired soldiers and policemen will return to their alma mater to celebrate the annual Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Alumni Homecoming at Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City on Saturday, February 16.
(PMA Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
This year's homecoming will have as its theme "Leadership Excellence: A PMA Tradition".
PMA Alumni Association Inc., President and former Army Chief retired Lt. Gen. Jaime delos Santos, said his fellow Cavaliers will be marching at the hallowed grounds of Fort Del Pilar popularly known as Borromeo Field.
The Trooping the Line tradition by the different batches is one of the highlights of the annual PMA alumni homecoming celebration.
Expected to attend in the ceremony are AFP Chief of Staff Benjamin Madrigal, Jr. of "Sandiwa" Class '85, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde of "Sinagtala" Class '86, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana of "Maagap" Class '73, PMAAAI board of Directors, and Medal of Valor awardees.
To celebrate the homecoming, the PMAAAI, in partnership with PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista, planned a series of activities that will run from February 15 to 17, 2019.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu who is a member of PMA "Magiting" Class 1970, will be the guest of honor and speaker.
De Los Santos said they decided to invite Cimatu, the 30th AFP Chief of Staff, as guest of honor and speaker due to his outstanding work in the environment sector.
"Why Gen. Cimatu? Kasi maganda ginagawa niya sa sustainability in the environment and we would like to highlight one of the priorities of the government which is protecting the environment kaya napili namin siya ," delos Santos said.
"At the same time, he’s a distinguished alumnus and he was the former CSAFP," he added.
Delos Santos said the PMAAAI will also give honor to outstanding Cavaliers for their achievements in their own field of expertise.
The PMA has produced over 10,000 alumni with 106 others who graduated from allied service academies since its establishment in 1936. Some of its members became leaders and key-position holders in the military, police, and other law enforcement agencies while some have served in the government, corporate, non-profit, educational, and other leadership and management positions at various levels of responsibility.
The lead host for this year’s homecoming is PMA "Makatao" Class 1989. The other host classes are 1999 (Masikhay) and 2009 (Masiglahi) being the Aluminum/Tin Jubilarian-Junior host.
Meanwhile, the Junior host class will be PMA "Siiklab Diwa" Class 2014, the Crystal Jubilarians host class will be PMA "Maliyab" Class 2004, the Silver Jubilarians host class will be PMA "Bantay Laya" Class 1994 while the Golden Jubilarians host class will be PMA Class 1969.
No to campaigning
In an earlier interview, Madrigal asked politicians and fellow Cavaliers, who will run in the mid-tern elections, not to use the homecoming as an occasion for them to campaign.
He said PMA classes which have adopted in their respective classes politicians as honorary members and fellow Cavaliers who will be running in the May 13, 2019 mid-term elections, should likewise refrain from campaigning and not to politicize the activity.
Madrigal said, as far as he knows, the PMAAAI has already made pronouncements about the restriction to prevent politicking in the event.
"Meron na ring pronouncement ang PMAAAI board sa bagay na ito that, to keep the ground sacred," Madrigal said.
"The alumni activity as much as possible pinapaki-usapan iyung mga ano, na walang, no camapigning specially while they are in the hallowed grounds of the PMA," he added.
Among the notable politicians who are honorary members of PMA classes running in the mid-term elections are former Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II of the Liberal Party, Maharlika Class of 1984; Senator Grace Poe, Sambigkis Class of 1991; former Senator and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, Tanglaw Diwa Class of 1992; and Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Hinirang Class of 1987.
Among the Cavaliers who are running in the mid-term elections are Magdalo Partylist Rep. Gary Alejano, Marilag Class of 1995 and former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald 'Bato" Dela Rosa, Sinagtala Class of 1986.
Delos Santos said with regards to politicians who are honorary members of PMA classes, they are also not allowed to participate in the parade and pass and review at Borromeo Field, which is considered as a hollow ground for them.
"Unang-una sa parada, hindi puedeng mag-participate sa pass and review ung mga hindi alumni. so ung mga alumni, grads ng PMA, iyun lang ang pedeng bumaba para sumali sa pass and review [First and foremost in the parade, those who are not alumni are not allowed to participate in the pass and review. So the alumni grads of PMA, they are the only ones allowed to go down and participate in the pass and review," delos Santos, who is a member of PMA Class 1969, said.
"Ngayon, dahil (Now, because) PMA s a public place, if there is a visitor then they can watch the parade from the grandstand,"he added. (Francis T. Wakefield)
(PMA Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
This year's homecoming will have as its theme "Leadership Excellence: A PMA Tradition".
PMA Alumni Association Inc., President and former Army Chief retired Lt. Gen. Jaime delos Santos, said his fellow Cavaliers will be marching at the hallowed grounds of Fort Del Pilar popularly known as Borromeo Field.
The Trooping the Line tradition by the different batches is one of the highlights of the annual PMA alumni homecoming celebration.
Expected to attend in the ceremony are AFP Chief of Staff Benjamin Madrigal, Jr. of "Sandiwa" Class '85, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde of "Sinagtala" Class '86, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana of "Maagap" Class '73, PMAAAI board of Directors, and Medal of Valor awardees.
To celebrate the homecoming, the PMAAAI, in partnership with PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista, planned a series of activities that will run from February 15 to 17, 2019.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu who is a member of PMA "Magiting" Class 1970, will be the guest of honor and speaker.
De Los Santos said they decided to invite Cimatu, the 30th AFP Chief of Staff, as guest of honor and speaker due to his outstanding work in the environment sector.
"Why Gen. Cimatu? Kasi maganda ginagawa niya sa sustainability in the environment and we would like to highlight one of the priorities of the government which is protecting the environment kaya napili namin siya ," delos Santos said.
"At the same time, he’s a distinguished alumnus and he was the former CSAFP," he added.
Delos Santos said the PMAAAI will also give honor to outstanding Cavaliers for their achievements in their own field of expertise.
The PMA has produced over 10,000 alumni with 106 others who graduated from allied service academies since its establishment in 1936. Some of its members became leaders and key-position holders in the military, police, and other law enforcement agencies while some have served in the government, corporate, non-profit, educational, and other leadership and management positions at various levels of responsibility.
The lead host for this year’s homecoming is PMA "Makatao" Class 1989. The other host classes are 1999 (Masikhay) and 2009 (Masiglahi) being the Aluminum/Tin Jubilarian-Junior host.
Meanwhile, the Junior host class will be PMA "Siiklab Diwa" Class 2014, the Crystal Jubilarians host class will be PMA "Maliyab" Class 2004, the Silver Jubilarians host class will be PMA "Bantay Laya" Class 1994 while the Golden Jubilarians host class will be PMA Class 1969.
No to campaigning
In an earlier interview, Madrigal asked politicians and fellow Cavaliers, who will run in the mid-tern elections, not to use the homecoming as an occasion for them to campaign.
He said PMA classes which have adopted in their respective classes politicians as honorary members and fellow Cavaliers who will be running in the May 13, 2019 mid-term elections, should likewise refrain from campaigning and not to politicize the activity.
Madrigal said, as far as he knows, the PMAAAI has already made pronouncements about the restriction to prevent politicking in the event.
"Meron na ring pronouncement ang PMAAAI board sa bagay na ito that, to keep the ground sacred," Madrigal said.
"The alumni activity as much as possible pinapaki-usapan iyung mga ano, na walang, no camapigning specially while they are in the hallowed grounds of the PMA," he added.
Among the notable politicians who are honorary members of PMA classes running in the mid-term elections are former Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II of the Liberal Party, Maharlika Class of 1984; Senator Grace Poe, Sambigkis Class of 1991; former Senator and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, Tanglaw Diwa Class of 1992; and Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Hinirang Class of 1987.
Among the Cavaliers who are running in the mid-term elections are Magdalo Partylist Rep. Gary Alejano, Marilag Class of 1995 and former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald 'Bato" Dela Rosa, Sinagtala Class of 1986.
Delos Santos said with regards to politicians who are honorary members of PMA classes, they are also not allowed to participate in the parade and pass and review at Borromeo Field, which is considered as a hollow ground for them.
"Unang-una sa parada, hindi puedeng mag-participate sa pass and review ung mga hindi alumni. so ung mga alumni, grads ng PMA, iyun lang ang pedeng bumaba para sumali sa pass and review [First and foremost in the parade, those who are not alumni are not allowed to participate in the pass and review. So the alumni grads of PMA, they are the only ones allowed to go down and participate in the pass and review," delos Santos, who is a member of PMA Class 1969, said.
"Ngayon, dahil (Now, because) PMA s a public place, if there is a visitor then they can watch the parade from the grandstand,"he added. (Francis T. Wakefield)