SECOND Lieutenant Dionne Mae Apolog Umalla, in an emotional speech, paid tribute to her mother and recalled her journey as a cadet in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
During the graduation ceremonies on Sunday, May 26, at Fort del Pilar, Umalla acknowledged her single mother, Dionisia, a retired chemistry teacher from Alilem, Ilocos Sur.
"Ma, datoyen. Agyaman ak (Ma, this is it, thank you), I love you, this is for you," addressed Umalla.
The 21-year-old is the youngest and the only female among four siblings. Her eldest brother is a graduate of the Philippine National Police in 2008, while his second brother is a nurse in Ilocos Sur, and the third, a chemical engineer.
On Sunday, May 26, she narrated her youthful days of wanting to become a doctor.
Umalla said she was left with two choices: Bachelor in Science with Medical Technology as a pre-medical course and Bachelor in Secondary Education.
In dilemma between her dream and the reality, the reality dawned that her mother, a retired teacher, may not sustain their needs.
Despite a heavy heart, she pursued a course in education for two years.
"Pero magaan pa rin ang loob ko. Sabi ko sa sarili ko magdodoctor pa rin naman ako PhD na at hindi MD," she said.
Two years into the course, an opportunity of entering the PMA came but she initially hesitated because of she learned to love teaching. However, because of the love for her mother, she gave it a try, and entered and passed the exams.
"I may have gone astray of my dreams to become a doctor and my passion to become a teacher but I am not alone. Many more of my class was just like me who were pushed into entering the academy and joining the position. But have we really failed in our dreams? In my four years of stay in the academy, it says otherwise. The academy turned aspirations to reality," Umalla said.
She added she may not become a doctor but the academy made her one many times when she was called to ease the pain of fellow cadets who were going through tough times.
Umalla also became a full-fledged teacher when she mentored fellow cadets who were having difficulties in their academic subjects.
In the four years inside the academy, she said they experienced countless sleepless nights, at times nothing to eat, swallowing their pride, loneliness and obeying orders.
For her, each day was a learning experience to cherish the blessings they received.
Umalla also thanked the academy, her peers, instructors, parents, foster parents and family, including her father whom she did not see since Grade 2.
In the end of her speech, she hailed to continue to pursue their dreams for their fellow countrymen.
"Handa na po kami, patuloy kaming mangangarap para sa bayan, patuloy kaming mangangarap para sa kapwa namin Pilipino. Maraming salamat at Mabuhay ang PMA Mabalasik Class," she said.
Her mom, Dionisia, said she is blessed to have a smart daughter.
"Para akong winner na ina, kasi single parent ako kaya sabi ko ito na siguro ang binigay ni Lord sa akin. Binigyan ako ng magaling na anak," she told SunStar Baguio.
Umalla is the fifth female valedictorian in the academy, with Arlene Dela Cruz making the feat in 1999, followed by Tara Velasco in 2003, Andrelee Mojica in 2007 and Rovi Mariel Martinez in 2017.