A female cadet received the top performing award among the 19 Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-sponsored cadets of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) “Sinaglakan” Class of 2021.
During the commencement exercises on Wednesday, July 28, MC/1 Mona Catherine Manuta received the “Coast Guard Saber Award” for being the top performing student among the 19 PCG-PMMA sponsored cadets.
The 19 PCG sponsored cadets, who composed the 8th batch of the PCG-PMMA cadetship and scholarship program, graduated with bachelor’s degrees in marine engineering and marine transportation.
PMMA Superintendent Commodore Joel Abutal led the 201st commencement exercises held in PMMA Complex in San Narciso, Zambales on Wednesday.
During the ceremony, PCG Commandant Admiral George Ursabia Jr. encouraged the PCG-sponsored cadets to provide the “best service to the country and the world.”
“I encourage all of you to look for the best interest of human welfare and our marine environment. As you embrace the standards and traditions in the maritime field and adopt to modern technologies, make sure to utilize these and become agents of change and continued development," Ursabia said via virtual presence.
"Your ideals as new graduates will be challenged with reality, but continue to press on until you see your dream become a reality," he added.
Meanwhile, the PCG-sponsored cadets took oath as Coast Guard commissioned officers with the rank of “Probationary Ensign.”
Also present in the graduation ceremony were Deputy Commandant for Administration Vice Admiral Eduardo Fabricante, Commander of the Coast Guard Education, Training and Doctrine Command Commodore Eustacio Nimrod P Enriquez Jr, and members of the Office of Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Education and Training.