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Sunday, March 09, 2003
Cadette from Tarlac tops PMA graduates
By Harley Palangchao
FORT Del Pilar, Baguio - A 21-year-old cadette will lead 101 other members of class 2003 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) during graduation rites on March 20.
PMA 1st Class Cadette Tara Jaime Velazco of Camiling, Tarlac, is the second cadette to graduate on top of her class after Navy Ensign Arlene de la Cruz made history in 1997.
First class cadette Michelle Cruz of Batasan Hills, Quezon City, also made it to the top 10, ranking fourth in the graduation order of merit of PMA Mandarangan (Mandirigmang May Karangalan) Class of 2003.
PMA started accepting female cadets in 1993 by virtue of Republic Act 7192 or the Development in Women Act.
Records from the PMA information office showed that in 1997, dela Cruz led 135 graduates, including seven cadettes of the original 19 females who were first accepted inside the academy. In 1998, 11 of the 18 cadettes also graduated; 13 in 1999; 10 of the original 21 in 2000; another 10 of the 18 cadettes in 2001 and another 10 of the 17 female cadettes last year.
This year, only four (including Velazco and Cruz) of the 21 cadettes will graduate.
Velazco will receive the Presidential Saber and PGMA (President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) Achievement Award for Academic Excellence from no less than President Arroyo, the guest of honor and speaker during the graduation rites at the Borromeo Fields.
MGen. Edilberto Adan, PMA superintendent, told reporters Saturday that Velazco will also receive the Philippine Army Saber award. Adan said Velazco's achievements proved that cadettes are now in equal footing with male cadets of the country's premier military institution.
Born on June 20, 1981, Velazco, who is the eldest among three sibling of an underprivileged family, said it was her faith with God coupled with a strong determination and proper time management as the key to her success. Velazco's father Rodel, is joblesss while her mother Helen is an overseas workers in Israel for eight years.
"I am very happy and proud. I'm actually tongued-tied at present. (But) I am very proud that a woman made it again," an excited Velazco told reporters as she glanced at Cruz, who was also sitting at the presidential table together with the other top 10 graduates.
The other top graduating cadets are Noel Stephen Marzan of Baguio City, 2nd; Reynante Ma-ao of La Trinidad, Benguet, 3rd; Christian Barela of Basa Air Base, Floridablanca, Pampanga, 5th; Jerry Jaucian of Guinobatan, Albay, 6th; Raymond De Leon of Balanga, Bataan, 7th; Matt Lawrence of Mandaluyong City,8th; Frederick Emil Tapawan of Fort Bonifacio, Makati,9th; and MarK Anthony Ruby of Awang, Maguindanao, ranked 10th.
Two cadets from the Cordillera region, Owen Sam Moga of Mankayan, Benguet and Eduard Sia-ed of Sagada, Mt. Province, made it to the top 20 ranking.
Of the 102 graduating class, 52 will go to the Army service, 22 in the Navy and 28 in the Air Force. The original number of PMA class 2003 was 314 but the rest did not make it due to academic deficiencies and lots of demerits.
Adan told reporters that PMA is doing its best to lessen the attrition rate at PMA. He said this could be achieved by a thorough review on the existing academic policies and modernization of existing facilities.
Meanwhile, Marine Major Edgard Arevalo, PMA information officer, told reporters that the class goat or the last of the class will not be given a chance to deliver a speech as a kind of tradition in the academy.
Both Arevalo and Adan explained that the delivery of speech and removing of shako by a cadet during the rites is not a usual gesture but is traditionally done in such ceremonies. But this time, Adan said, the PMA wants to institute a more formal rites.
Last year, 1st Lt. Gregory Inumpa, who graduated last of his class, delivered a speech expressing his wish to join the combat in Basilan. President Arroyo immediately granted his wish by ordering former AFP chief of Staff Roy Cimatu to deploy Inumpa in southern Mindanao.
Inumpa, according to military sources, is now assigned in Jolo, Sulu.(Sun.Star Baguio)
(March 9, 2003 issue)
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