CADETS of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) are one of the finest scholars of the Philippine Government honed in an institution where their fortitude is pushed to the limit.
They are required to balance their academics, physical and military task to survive the four years of rigorous training inside the academy away from their love ones.
PMA cadets are honed to be future officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and future leaders of this country, guided by the three tenets of courage, integrity and loyalty.
Cadets embark on a journey that requires them to be tough and endure the challenges set to prepare them as gentlemen and ladies of the armed forces.
With all the activities and the hectic schedule of the cadets, extra-curricular activities like sports is an additional load for them but they are always accepting the challenge and will always be proud to represent the academy.
PMA cadets are innate athletes due to the training that they go through, skills and techniques just have to be taught and polished which is an ordeal because of the aforementioned dilemma on their availability due to their enormous activities.
Nevertheless, cadets excelling in sports is a feat that shows their amazing capability, with less training time, and less exposure that are essential part to become competitive in sports.
They still manage to rise to the occasion. Sometimes, less than the gold, and or the championship but the simple participation and making it to a contender status is a big feat for any PMA cadet athlete.
This year the PMA Alab – Tala Class of 2018 or “Alagad ng Lahing Binigkis ng Tapang at Lakas” celebrates their graduation with history as they honor two athletic saber awardees in Cadet 1st Class Ricardo Liwaden and Cadet 1st Class Jasm Marie Alcoriza.
The athletic saber awardee means exceptional cadets in the field of sports and physical development from their first year in the academy up to their graduating year.
This year, Cadets Liwaden and Alcoriza accepts the coveted award benchmarking the recognition of both men and women as equal essential part of the academy and the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a whole.
This is a part of the feat of Cadet 1st class Jaywardene Galilea Hontoria who becomes one of the only four cadets to graduate as top of his class or valedictorian and the class baron in the academy’s 119 years of existence that adds up to the historical feat of this PMA class of 2018.