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PMA Class '23 topnotcher has heartfelt message to departed mistahs
Philippines
National
PMA Class '23 topnotcher has heartfelt message to departed mistahs
PMA Class '23 topnotcher has heartfelt message to departed mistahs
Published May 21, 2023 05:12 am
Cadet First Class Warren Leonor made sure to remember the late cadets Darwin Dormitorio and Mario Telan Jr. when he stepped on the podium of the historic Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City on Sunday, May 21.
(Cadet First Class Warren Leonor / Screenshot from RTVM livestream) After all, Dormitorio and Telan were the “cherished” mistahs or batchmates of the topnotcher of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Madasigon” (Mandirigmang may Dangal Simbolo ng Galing at Pagbangon) Class of 2023. “To our dear mistahs who have departed, Cadet Darwin Dormitorio and Cadet Mario Telan Jr., you will forever be a cherished part of the Madasigon Class of 2023,” Leonor said during the commencement exercises of the PMA Madasigon Class. Dormitorio and Telan would have added to the 310-member PMA Madasigon Class if not for two unfortunate incidents that took their lives and ended their journey at the country’s premier military training institution, occurring only two months apart. The then 20-year-old Dormitorio died on Sept. 18, 2019 allegedly due to hazing which he suffered at the hands of his upperclassmen. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Telan was found dead at the bottom of the academy’s swimming pool on Nov. 8, 2019 in what was ruled out by authorities as a case of drowning. Leonor’s tribute to Dormitorio and Telan elicited cheers from the attendees and witnesses of the graduation – national and local government officials, parents and family members, academy personnel, and ranking defense, security, and military officers as well as members of the diplomatic corps. In attendance were President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.; Department of National Defense Officer in Charge (DND-OIC) Senior Undersecretary Carlitos Galvez Jr.; Gen. Andres Centino, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); and Lt. Gen. Rowen Tolentino, PMA Superintendent, among others. Other graduating cadets, perhaps, remembered a moment or two which they shared with their fallen batchmates. “To my fellow graduates, as we reflect on the hardships and victories we experience during our stay in the academy, I hope that we realize their value and live our lives in accord with the knowledge and values imparted to us,” said Leonor. “Let us be leaders who relentlessly pursued the welfare of others, recognizing that there is always an opportunity to serve,” he added. Meanwhile, the class valedictorian gave an advice to his underclassmen to never give up on their dreams no matter the hardships they face. “To our underclassmen, we are grateful to you for providing us with the opportunity to grow as leaders. Your remaining years in the academy will pass by quickly so take it one day at a time,” he said. Leonor is a son of a former soldier and a native of Lipa City, Batangas. He thanked his parents, Technical Sergeant (Ret.) Joel Leonor and Angelina, for their sacrifices so he could attend the training at PMA, and recognized his two sisters "for being my number one support system."
(PMA Madasigon Class of 2023 / Screenshot from RTVM livestream)
Leonor, along with 74 others, will join the Philippine Air Force (PAF); 158 will enter the Philippine Army (PA); while 77 will try their luck in the Philippine Navy (PN).
The class salutatorian is Cadet 1CL Edmundo Logronio, 23, of Manito, Albay, who will join the PA; while Top 3 is Cadet 1CL Nicole Sarmiento, 22, of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte. Both of them will join the PA.
They are followed by Top 4 Cadet 1CL Zhen Zhen Cayton, 23, of Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya, PAF; and Top 5 Cadet 1CL Rez Mark Cantor, 22, of Bugallon, Pangasinan, PA.
Rounding up the Top 10 are Cadet 1CL Rojan Macario, 21, of Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City, PA; Cadet 1CL Samuel Banac, 22, of West Fairview, Quezon City, PAF; Cadet 1CL Kimberly Lawingan, 22, of Sadanga, Mountain Province, PN; Cadet 1CL Rico Jay Fernandez, 21, of Molave, Zamboanga del Sur, PN; and Cadet 1CL Arla Krish Bahingawan, 23, of Kiangan, Ifugao, PAF.
The members of the Madasigon class were took oath as Second Lieutenants or Ensigns of the AFP following their graduation.
(Cadet First Class Warren Leonor / Screenshot from RTVM livestream) After all, Dormitorio and Telan were the “cherished” mistahs or batchmates of the topnotcher of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Madasigon” (Mandirigmang may Dangal Simbolo ng Galing at Pagbangon) Class of 2023. “To our dear mistahs who have departed, Cadet Darwin Dormitorio and Cadet Mario Telan Jr., you will forever be a cherished part of the Madasigon Class of 2023,” Leonor said during the commencement exercises of the PMA Madasigon Class. Dormitorio and Telan would have added to the 310-member PMA Madasigon Class if not for two unfortunate incidents that took their lives and ended their journey at the country’s premier military training institution, occurring only two months apart. The then 20-year-old Dormitorio died on Sept. 18, 2019 allegedly due to hazing which he suffered at the hands of his upperclassmen. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Telan was found dead at the bottom of the academy’s swimming pool on Nov. 8, 2019 in what was ruled out by authorities as a case of drowning. Leonor’s tribute to Dormitorio and Telan elicited cheers from the attendees and witnesses of the graduation – national and local government officials, parents and family members, academy personnel, and ranking defense, security, and military officers as well as members of the diplomatic corps. In attendance were President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.; Department of National Defense Officer in Charge (DND-OIC) Senior Undersecretary Carlitos Galvez Jr.; Gen. Andres Centino, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); and Lt. Gen. Rowen Tolentino, PMA Superintendent, among others. Other graduating cadets, perhaps, remembered a moment or two which they shared with their fallen batchmates. “To my fellow graduates, as we reflect on the hardships and victories we experience during our stay in the academy, I hope that we realize their value and live our lives in accord with the knowledge and values imparted to us,” said Leonor. “Let us be leaders who relentlessly pursued the welfare of others, recognizing that there is always an opportunity to serve,” he added. Meanwhile, the class valedictorian gave an advice to his underclassmen to never give up on their dreams no matter the hardships they face. “To our underclassmen, we are grateful to you for providing us with the opportunity to grow as leaders. Your remaining years in the academy will pass by quickly so take it one day at a time,” he said. Leonor is a son of a former soldier and a native of Lipa City, Batangas. He thanked his parents, Technical Sergeant (Ret.) Joel Leonor and Angelina, for their sacrifices so he could attend the training at PMA, and recognized his two sisters "for being my number one support system."
Madasigon
The PMA Madasigon Class of 2023 is composed of 238 male and 72 female cadets.
(PMA Madasigon Class of 2023 / Screenshot from RTVM livestream)
Leonor, along with 74 others, will join the Philippine Air Force (PAF); 158 will enter the Philippine Army (PA); while 77 will try their luck in the Philippine Navy (PN).
The class salutatorian is Cadet 1CL Edmundo Logronio, 23, of Manito, Albay, who will join the PA; while Top 3 is Cadet 1CL Nicole Sarmiento, 22, of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte. Both of them will join the PA.
They are followed by Top 4 Cadet 1CL Zhen Zhen Cayton, 23, of Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya, PAF; and Top 5 Cadet 1CL Rez Mark Cantor, 22, of Bugallon, Pangasinan, PA.
Rounding up the Top 10 are Cadet 1CL Rojan Macario, 21, of Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City, PA; Cadet 1CL Samuel Banac, 22, of West Fairview, Quezon City, PAF; Cadet 1CL Kimberly Lawingan, 22, of Sadanga, Mountain Province, PN; Cadet 1CL Rico Jay Fernandez, 21, of Molave, Zamboanga del Sur, PN; and Cadet 1CL Arla Krish Bahingawan, 23, of Kiangan, Ifugao, PAF.
The members of the Madasigon class were took oath as Second Lieutenants or Ensigns of the AFP following their graduation.