THE Philippine Military Academy is one institution that has recognized gender equality when it accepted cadettes in the academy with its first graduates joining the noble profession of arms in 1997.
Since then the female cadets proved their worth and have been excelling in the field once ruled by men, some even graduate at the top of their class and make history inside the premier military institution in Asia, benchmarking many firsts for the academy like the first female valedictorian in the person of the late Navy Lt. Senior Grade Arlene De La Cruz who belongs to class 1999 but unfortunately died in a car accident in 2008.
And there is also Army Major Jessie Rose Bucalen, a member of class 2002, the first PMA cadette Athletic Saber awardee, the prestigious award given to PMA graduates for besting their classmates in the field of sports and physical fitness. This, and many others have cemented the women’s place in the academy.
This year, in the sixth staging of the All Women’s Martial Arts Festival, a national event of the Philippine Sports Commission where 16 cadets represented PMA in the sports of arnis, muay thai, taekwondo and karate accompanied by Army Captain Jose Carlos Gamos, Navy Ensign Yvette Joy Baybay, this writer, Engr. Henry Mikael Gando, Edzel Ngina, and Army Sgt. Warren Lumidao as officers-in-charge, and coaches, respectively.
Together with them are in–charge Cadet 1st Class Reynante Gumilab, Cadet 1st Class Gian Franco Dumelod, Cadet 1st Class Jepeson Dappay, and Cadet 1st Class Chester Lie Fernandez who made sure the cadets representation is worth the first appearance in the said event.
The PMA delegation made history in the annual event bagging, three golds, four silvers and six bronze medals proving that even with less of a preparation the “always ready for action” ethos is showcased. According to them, “we lack training but we are full of heart and that is what we made clear in the competition and it yield a fair result next time PMA will be represented for sure a better output will be expected.”
The cadets who made history by being the first PMA delegation to join the National All Women’s Martial Arts Festival are: arnis-1st class cadets Trexy Jannielle Hopida, Vanelyn Angel Tabao, Mary Jane Paguio, Gemalyn Sugui, Roselle Alquino, 3rd class cadets Mariel Bles Bagtang and Catherine Talosig; muay thai- 1st class cadet Mary Rose Alda, 3rd class cadets Princess Mae Mamaraldo, Justine Balmater, Charlene Joyce Duran, Izzah Leonah Taccad, and Methos Shiela Templa; taekwondo- 3rd class cadet Angela Karla Alanas; Karate- 3rd class cadet Mary Albeona Kit Santos.
The achievement of these cadettes including their stint in many other martial arts competitions are testaments of the martial arts program of the academy and the capability of our female warriors joining the Armed Forces of the Philippines.