PMA valedictorian reminds mistahs about core values

Source: ABS CBN NEWS
FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City – The valedictorian of the graduating Philippine Military Academy “Masidlak” class of 2010 on Monday asked his mistahs or classmates to remember the values and ideas taught by their alma mater as they become regular military officers.

In his valedictory address, Erano Belen said the graduating class now had duties and responsibilities to fulfill as they enter the real world.

“As we leave the portals of the academy and enter the ‘real world’, we must not leave behind the values and ideas that our alma mater has taught us. The values of courage, integrity and loyalty may not only be designs on our rampart and bullrings but instead our very own core values as we move forward as officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Belen, who is the son of a tricycle driver in Dumaguete City.

“If challenges come along our way, we must face these challenges objectively. We must stand firm to our mandate to serve and protect the Filipino people. Together, we dedicate our lives as vanguards of the Constitution and builders of peaceful nation,” he added.

Belen said that the class must remember to seek guidance from God and trust in His wisdom in their endeavors. “Our Heavenly Father is too good to be unkind and too wise to make mistakes.”

“Lastly, my dear classmates, in our quest towards meeting expectations and mission accomplishments, we must always have the will to carry on no matter how difficult the road may be. It is because the difference between a successful person and the other is not a lack of strength or lack of knowledge but rather the lack of will,” he said.

After his address, Belen and 225 other members of the class were commissioned as second lieutenants and ensigns of the military by Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales. AFP chief Gen. Victor Ibrado then presided the oath-taking of the new junior officers.

Belen and 44 other members of the class will be joining the Air Force. One-hundred twenty-two will join the Army and the 59 others will join the Navy and its subordinate unit, the Philippine Marines.

This year’s batch of graduates is composed of 195 males and 31 females. One of the female graduates, Karen Nuevas Padayao of Ormoc City, ranked 9th in the class.

The other members of the Top 10 are Froillan Jick Pinay-an of Ifugao (No. 2), Nolito Ong Ebal of Misamis Oriental (No. 3), Johnson Revesa Gonzales of Camarines Sur (No. 4), Jacob Jorge Avila of Baguio City (No. 5), Joel delos Santos of Tacloban City (No. 6), Erwin Ramos Villanueva of Cavite (No. 7), Alfie Pancho Agarao of Iloilo (No. 8) and Ric Ivan Cordero Joven of South Cotabato (No. 10).

Belen received from President Arroyo the Presidential Saber for topping the class and the Philippine Air Force saber for being the top graduate to join the Air Force.

Meanwhile, Pinay-an received the Vice Presidential Saber for finishing second in the class and the Philippine Army saber for being the top graduate to join the Army. Ebal got the Secretary of National Defense saber for finishing third while Gonzales got the Philippine Navy award for being top graduate to join the Navy.

Alfonso Magno Irriberi received the PGMA Achievement Award for Leadership and the Chief of Staff Saber Award for serving as the brigade commander of the cadet corps.