Quote:

 

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – An orphan from Zamboanga City is this year’s valedictorian of the Philippine Military Academy’s Baghawi Class composed of 197 men and 23 women.

Cadet First Class Ariel G. Rallos of Limon Drive, Canelar Triplett in Zamboanga City will receive the Presidential Saber Award, PGMA Achievement Award for Excellence, Philippine Navy Sword, Jusmag Award and five other citations and plaques during PMA’s graduation rites on March 18.

Rallos, 26, lost his father to leukemia when he was still in high school. His mother died in 2005 when he was already at the academy.

“Dedication and the will to excel are what brought me here," he said in an interview.

“It was really my dream to become a soldier," he said adding, “I think I can better serve the
country as a soldier."

He said his late father and the Rallos family were great admirers of “men in uniform."

On the day he was named this year's PMA class valedictorian, Rallos said his 28-year-old sister, Hazel, was graduating at the Naval Officers Candidate Course in Zambales as an ensign. “She will join me as an Ensign," he said.

Rallos said it was "the happiest day" in his life, but lamented that his parents were no longer around to see him and his sister graduate.

Rallos obtained his BS Physics diploma from the Western Mindanao University before entering the country’s premiere military academy. He taught for a year before taking the PMA entrance exams, and passed it.

The 2006 top PMA graduate, Air Force Lt. Ariel Toledo of the Mandala Class, was also an orphan. Toledo himself died of liver last September.

Six other Mindanaoans placed in the academy's Top 10.

desertranger

Mar 13 2008, 09:35 AM

A fine example of the capabilities and determination of the young even at adverse odds and conditions.

markniraq

Mar 14 2008, 06:53 PM

Disregarded epigone cause he surely is on the wrong thread. But kudos to the young man and may he endeavor to be the Best in his Unit.

Quote:

 

‘Be political-minded, not politicized,’ PMA grads told

By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:07:00 03/17/2008


CAMP JOHN HAY, Baguio City -- (UPDATE) Armed Forces chief of staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. urged the 220 members of the Philippine Military Academy's 2008 Baghawi Class to "defend democracy" and help defeat the communist insurgency.

The senior cadets will graduate from the country's premiere military institution on Tuesday, and will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army, Air Force, and Marines and as ensigns in the Navy.

Esperon said he would give each of the soon-to-be junior officers a "white paper" entitled, "Defending Democracy," which he described as a "treatise on ending military adventurism."

"My only advice now is very simple, just focus on the job that is given to you, each and everyone of us has a role to perform. You are in the chain of command. You are under the structure of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Esperon told the cadets at a luncheon he hosted.

With a professional military, Esperon said there was "no reason to for us to fail" in meeting the 2010 deadline set by the commander-in-chief, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to end the nearly four-decade guerilla war being waged by the New People's Army (NPA).

"We have gained for ourselves a unique opportunity and chance to finally defeat the insurgency but if we don't join hands together, this real opportunity might slip from us," he said.

Meanwhile, PMA Superintendent Major General Leopoldo Maligalig urged the cadets to "be political-minded," not "politicized."

"When you become flag-officers, you will be exposed to the intricacies of politics. Be political-minded officers, not politicized," Maligalig said in a speech.

While they should remain apolitical, Maligalig said the future military officers should be "aware of the politics of the nation."

"Hopefully, these men and women will become statesmen in their own right," said Maligalig, an alumnus of the PMA's 1976 class.

The class name "Baghawi" is short for "Bagong Halaw ng Lahi." The graduates will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army, Air Force, and Marines, and as ensigns in the Navy.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the commander-in-chief, will be the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony at Borromeo Field in Fort del Pilar on Tuesday.

The military has a history of mounting coup attempts, led mostly by graduates of the PMA, including now senators Gregorio Honasan and Antonio Trillanes IV.

The AFP top brass has resisted fresh calls to intervene in the current political turmoil, triggered by allegations that Arroyo, her husband, Jose Miguel, and former elections chief Benjamin Abalos pocketed millions of dollars in kickbacks from the botched $329-million national broadband deal.

Quote:

 

President leads PMA graduation rites today



By DEXTER SEE & RIO ROSE RIBAYA

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – President Arroyo will commission 220 graduating cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Bagong Halaw ng Lahi (Baghawi) Class 2008 as 2nd lieutenants and Navy ensigns of the Armed Forces in this year’s commencement exercises at the Borromeo Field here at 2 p.m. today.


President Arroyo, as AFP commander-in-chief, is the traditional guest of honor and speaker during the graduation rites of the premier military school, where she is expected to outline the role of the upcoming military officers in the preservation of the country’s sovereignty.

The young and idealistic military officers are considered by PMA authorities as "a gift to the nation" because of their well-rounded four-year training.

The President will award cadet Ariel G. Rallos, 26, an orphan from Lemon Drive, Canilar Triplett, Zamboanga City, the coveted Presidential Saber and the PGMA Achievement Award for being the topnotcher of this year’s graduating class.

In case it will rain, the graduation ceremonies will be held at the PMA mess hall as PMA authorities have prepared alternative plans for the ceremonies.

Rallos will also receive the Philippine Navy Sword, the Joint United States Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) Award, the Aguinaldo Saber, the Academic Group Award, Mathematics and Natural Sciences Plaques, and the Department of Tactical Officers’ Plaque.

Cadet Bernard Roderick Joaquin, 22, from Aguilar, Pangasinan, emerged as the class salutatorian and will receive the Vice Presidential Saber from VicePresident Noli de Castro, the Air Force Saber, Tactics Group and JUSMAG Awards.

Joaquin is the younger brother of Army 1Lt. Rolly Joaquin, the valedictorian of PMA Class 2004.

One of the 23 female graduating cadets, cadet Me-ann P. Sinson of Bagombayan, Ligao City, Albay, landed third overall in the overall merit roll. She will receive the Secretary of National Defense Saber from Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro and the Air Force Professional Courses’ Plaque.

Maj. Gen. Leopoldo Maligalig, PMA Superintendent, said that each of the cadets who joined the premier military school in Asia has compelling stories and anecdotes to share which actually inspired and challenged them to complete their rigid schooling and be future responsible military officers.

Cadet Dennis T. Legaspi of Ipil, Zamboanga City landed fourth place, while cadet Vergel U. Lacambra of Pagadian City who will receive the Humanities, Management, Social Sciences, and Army Professional Courses’ Plaques placed fifth.

Carlo L. Catalan of Dumaguete City ranked sixth, while cadet Francisco B. Pondoyo, Jr. of Zamboanga del Sur landed seventh in the Top Ten honor roll and will receive the Association of Generals and Flag Officers Award.

Cadet Marc Louie Parado of Sta. Barbara, Baliwag, Bulacan, placed eighth; cadet Dennis Moreno of Banga, South Cotabato landed, ninth; and cadet Vay L. Caballero of Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, tenth.

Out of the 220 members of the Baghawi Class of 2008, 119 will join the Army; 57, Navy. and 44 , Air Force.

Quote:

 

MANILA, Philippines—An Army junior military officer was killed in the clearing operations of government forces in Zamboanga City early Thursday.

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan said the officer was killed in Sta. Barbara. He was the first military officer to die in the 11 days of fighting between government forces and Moro National Liberation Front fighters.

Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang identified the fatality as a 30-year-old First Lieutenant Kristopher Rama, a native of Norzagaray, Bulacan.

The officer is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 2008. He was an assaulter platoon leader of 1st Light Reaction Company of the Special Operations Command. He was married with one child.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/490751/military-officer-killed-in-zamboanga-fighting#ixzz2fLO4AYRw