Three years since the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, alumni of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) gathered once more at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City to attend the traditional homecoming on Saturday, Feb. 19.
President Duterte skipped the rites and he was represented by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who is a product of the PMA “Maagap” Class of 1973. This year’s theme was “Mga PMA Cavaliers: Tunay na Kaagapay ng Sambayanang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Pandemya o Kalamidad.”
“Pinayagan naman na magkaroon ng activities sa PMA, inoobserve lang natin ‘yong mga health protocols. Hindi rin tulad ng dati na talagang maraming nagpupuntahan so mayroon pa rin tayong restrictions (Activities were allowed to be conducted in PMA, we just observe the health protocols. It’s not the same before that a lot of people come here so we still have restrictions),” said General Andres Centino, Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in an interview after the homecoming.
“Still we’re happy that we were allowed to have this homecoming. This is an annual event that all alumni look forward to every year,” he added.
During the event, four cavaliers were feted the Lifetime Achievement Award “in recognition of their more than 50 years of dedicated, exemplary and unblemished service to the country” and “characterized by their faithful adherence to the virtues of courage, loyalty, and integrity.”
They were Cavalier Anselmo Avenido Jr., PMA Class of 1967; Cavalier Melchor Rosales, PMA Class of 1968; Cavalier Edgar Aglipay, PMA Class of 1971; and Cavalier Panfilo Lacson, PMA Class of 1971.
Meanwhile, 14 PMA alumni were also conferred with Cavalier Awards. They were: Cavalier Benjamin Magalong, PMA Class of 1982 for outstanding accomplishments in public administration; Cavalier Crispiniano Acosta, PMA Class of 1982 for outstanding accomplishments in private enterprise; Cavalier Erwin Rommel Luga, PMA Class of 1982 for outstanding accomplishments in special field of (religion – other endeavor; Cavalier Edgardo de Leon, PMA Class of 1988 for outstanding performance in staff functions; Cavalier Michael Ray Aquino, PMA Class of 1988 for outstanding contributions to alumni affairs;
Cavalier William Gonzales, PMA Class of 1989 for outstanding performance in command administration; Cavalier Leo Francisco, PMA Class of 1992 for outstanding performance in police operations; Cavalier Roy Echeverria, PMA Class of 1993 for outstanding performance in coast guard operations; Cavalier Melvin Banua, PMA Class of 1997 for outstanding performance in air operations (senior officer); Cavalier Herbert Dilag, PMA Class of 1998 for outstanding performance in special operations;
Cavalier Ashley Nastor, PMA Class of 2000 for outstanding performance in naval operations (senior operation); Cavalier Gladiuz Calilan, PMA Class of 2001 for outstanding performance in army operations; Cavalier Mark Paul Mendoza, PMA Class of 2006 for outstanding performance in air operations (junior officer); and Cavalier Junrey Sajulga, PMA Class of 2013 for outstanding performance in naval operations (junior officer).
Nine cavaliers were also awarded with the Outstanding Achievement Award including Cavalier Thawip Netniyom, a senator from Thailand; Cavalier Jose Faustino Jr., a former AFP chief; Cavalier Guillermo Eleazar, a former Philippine National Police chief; Cav Andres Centino, current AFP Chief and former Army chief; Cavalier Dionardo Carlos, current PNP chief; Cavalier Adeluis Bordado, current Flag Officer-in-Command of Philippine Navy; Cavalier Leopoldo Laroya, current Commandan of Philippine Coast Guard; Cavalier Romeo Brawner Jr., current Commanding General of Philippine Army; and Cavalier Connor Anthony Canlas Sr., current Commanding General of Philippine Air Force.
The PMA Alumni Association Inc. also awarded the plaque of meritorious recognition to 10 cavaliers who are currently appointed in various government positions under the administration of President Duterte.
Prior to this, the blessing and inauguration of the “Air Power Park” was also held on Friday at Fort del Pilar as part of the pre-alumni homecoming activities.
“It’s a project of the PMA na magkaroon ng isang area sa loob ng kampo (to have an area inside the camp) showing the different aircraft of the Air Force,” Centino explained.
The following are the displayed aircraft in the said park: SIAI Marchetti AS-211, Cessna T-41 Mescalero, Bell UH-1H Huey Helicopter, Alenia Aermacchi SF-260, Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter, McDonnell Douglas MD-520MG Defender, Ling Temco Vough F-8H Crusader and Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (BO-105C).
The PMA also held a blessing and inauguration ceremony for the “Archangel Façade” located in front of the Air Force Laboratory.
“The Archangel Facade showcases the replica of the two-modern aircraft of the PAF (FA50-PH Fighting Eagle and Sikorsky S-170i Black Hawk Helicopter) signifying the competence of the PAF to conduct and sustain Air Operations to accomplish the AFP mission,” the PMA said.
This was the first time that the PMA allowed outsiders to come into the Academy since the outbreak of COVID-19.
In 2021, the PMA placed Fort del Pilar in a lockdown bubble after a surge of infections hit PMA cadets. The same scenario was observed in 2020 where the Academy was isolated from the rest of the community, forcing the postponement of the PMA graduation.