FORT DEL PILAR -- The Salaknib Class of 2017 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) was recognized Saturday.
Formal recognition rites proceeded Saturday morning despite the rain.
Major General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., commander of Northern Luzon Command, served as the ceremony's guest of honor and speaker.
A total of 250 cadets, 169 males and 81 females, were recognized.
The Salaknib (meaning "shield") class envisions themselves to be the shield of the Filipino people against harm, as the class advances toward the realization of their mandate to serve and protect the people.
The class was incorporated last May with an original membership of 257, representing those who survived summer training and were welcomed into the cadet corps.
The cadets were placed under the New Cadets Battalion where they are initially given the orientation on the basic things they need to know about the military profession.
Recently, PMA sent cadets to the United States for studies linking with the US Military Academy to further enhance cadet education and exposure.
PMA is one institution in the country whose mission is to develop the youth's holistic aspect of personality - mind, heart, soul and the rest of the faculties.
PMA also extended its technical assistance to the Naval Education and Training Command, The Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific and the Philippine National Police Academy.
The military academy opened its doors to other institutions to assist in needs to improve and better their respective curricula and systems. (Ma. Elena Catajan)