THE country's premiere military school's sports complex gets a much needed facelift after the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) recently donated P105 million to the Philippine Military Academy.

"This is our small way of assistance to your sacrifices in defending our country and protecting our democracy," Pagcor chair Cristino Naguiat Jr. told the PMA cadets and officials during the Academy’s 116th Foundation Day celebrations held recently.

"Bahagi na po ng kasaysayan ng ating bansa ang PMA. Hindi po natin matatawaran and inyong malaking ambag sa ating lipunan. Dito po sa inyong bakuran hinuhubog ang future military leaders ng ating bayan alinsunod sa PMA motto na Katapatan, Integridad at Katapatan," he said.

The modern sports complex is already 70 percent complete, and PMA officials are hoping President Benigno Simeon Aquino III will inaugurate in March next year coinciding with the PMA graduation.

The theme of this year's celebration is "Team PMA at 116, Sulong sa Pandaigdigang Pamantayan ng Edukasyon at Paghubog ng Makabagong Pinuno ng Hukbong Sandatahan ng Pilipinas".

PMA is the premiere military school in Southeast Asia. It is offering a well-rounded and free college education. The cadets upon graduation, are directly commissioned as regular officers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, joining any of the three major branches of service – the Army, the Navy or the Air Force.

According to Naguiat, Pagcor has bankrolled a number of its resources on education since "we believe that the future of our nation lies in this area". (Joseph Zambrano)