Former Defense secretary and now Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Chairman Delfin Lorenzana received the loudest cheer from the crowd as the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) recognized its outstanding alumni during this year’s traditional homecoming at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City on Saturday, Feb. 18.
Lorenzana was among the 29 PMA awardees that were feted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who graced the event for the first time as the Commander-in-Chief. The face-to-face event pushed through amid the continuing threat of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The loudest of cheers and claps from Lorenzana’s “mistahs” and fellow alumni were heard when he was presented with the Cavalier Pandemic Heroes Award for his valuable contribution in the country’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. This gesture elicited a shy smile from Lorenzana as he accepted the award and rendered a salute to Marcos.
“We come together here as we are reminded not to veer away from our ideals of courage integrity and loyalty. The virtues and character which have been honed while we are in the academy made us who we are today,” said Lt. Gen. Rowen Tolentino, Superintendent of the PMA.
Lorenzana served as the chairman of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, the primary task force which implemented all the Covid-related policies of the Duterte administration during the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country in 2020.
Lorenzana, a product of the PMA Class of 1973, performed such enormous task while juggling his responsibilities as the Defense secretary and chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). These two agencies were instrumental in managing quarantine facilities and delivering vaccines, medical personnel, and other key cargoes to different parts of the country at the height of the outbreak.
Aside from Lorenzana, seven other alumni were given the Cavalier Pandemic Heroes Award:
Former Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Class 1970 and co-chair of Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infections Diseases (IATF-MEID);
Former Senator Gregorio Honasan, Class 1971 and member of IATF-MEID;
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Class 1982 and contact tracing czar;
Former Interior Secretary and current National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, Class 1983 and vice chairman of National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19;
Current Defense Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., Class 1985, chief implementer of NTF Against Covid-19 and vaccine czar;
Former Social Welfare Sec. Rolando Joselito Bautista, Class 1985 and member of IATF-MEID; and
Coast Guard Vice Adm. Rolando Punzalan Jr., Class 1992 and commander of Philippine Coast Guard Task Force “Bayanihan” for the Repatriation of OFWs.
Meanwhile, three alumni were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award: retired Air Force Gen. Benjamin Defensor Jr., Class 1969; retired Army Lt. Gen. Jaime delos Santos, Class of 1969; and former Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr., Class of 1972.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to the alumni “in grateful recognition of their more than 50 years of dedicated, exemplary and unblemished service to the country, characterized by their faithful adherence to the virtues of courage, integrity and loyalty.”
Further, 15 PMAyers received the Cavalier Award for their outstanding achievements in their respective fields and specialization. They were:
Retired Police Lt. Gen. Ricardo de Leon, Class 1971 (public administration);
Navy Lt. Senior Grade Walter Villagonzalo, Class 1975 (social field of community volunteer and special entrepreneur);
Retired Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, Class 1979 (private enterprise);
Retired Army Lt. Col. Demosthenes Doplayna, Class 1982 (alumni affairs);
Retired Police Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo, Class 1989 (command and administration);
Navy Rear Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia, Class 1990 (command and administration);
Police Maj. Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz, Class 1990 (police operations);
Army Maj. Gen Alex Rillera, Class 1991 (staff function);
Army Brig. Gen. Consolito Yecla, Class 1992 (army operations);
Coast guard Commo. Tito Alvin Andal, Class 1994, (coast guard operations);
Air Force Col. Anne Marie Gerodiaz, Class 1998 (air operations);
Navy Capt. Emerson Oxales, Class 2000 (naval operations);
Army Lt. Col. Marion Cayat, Class 2002 (special operations);
Air Force Maj. James Anthony Montejo, Class 2009 (air operations); and
Marine Capt. Mark Rolly Bacani, Class 2013 (naval operations).
Finally, the PMA honored three Jubilarians which are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year: Class 1963 as the “Diamond” Jubilarians (60th year anniversary); Class 1973 as the “Golden” Jubilarians (50th year); and Class 1998 as the “Silver” Jubilarians (25th year).