A total of 282 graduates– 207 males and 75 females of the Alagad ng Lahing Binigkis ng Tapang at Lakas or Alab Tala Class of 2018.
With the large group of graduates, two from the Cordillera made it to the top 10.
Cadet First Class Ricardo Witawit Liwaden, son of Mr. Ricardo Liwaden Sr., a farmer, and Catherine Liwaden, a retired teacher from Gawana, Barlig Mountain Province ranked number two. He was a 4th year Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering student at the University of Baguio when he decided to enter the military academy.
Cadet 1CL Liwaden has always dreamed of serving in the Philippine army. His family, especially his father motivated him and taught him the art of dedication when it comes to his work, no matter what it is. He also added that if you were a plebo in your first year in the academy, you will not aim to be in the top, but rather survive. The training was tough, but he made it because he was raised in a province that made him physically fit and experienced when it came to hard jobs. He added, “When they told me that I ranked number 2 in the final list of the top 10, I was so excited because all my hardships paid off in the end.”
As a graduate of the academy, Cadet 1CL Liwaden hopes to be the way of reaching out to the remote areas of the Cordillera to give proper education and disaster risk management to the people.
In his entire stay in the academy, he also held positions in the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines or CCAFP as the Squad leader, Cadet in Charge – marathon Corps Squad, Brigade, Athletic Officer, and Athletic Saber.
He will also receive the Vice president Saber, Phil. Army saber, Sports & Physical Development Plaque, Tactics Group Award and Athlete Saber as the top 2 in the class.
Meanwhile, Cadet 1CL Paolo Balla Briones from Camp Allen, Baguio city, the son of Mr. Jeffrey Briones an Enlisted Man of the Philippine Army and Flordeliza Briones garnered the 8th place. Before enlisting in the academy, he entered his 1st year at Saint Louis University as Bachelor of Science in civil engineering student
Being raised with military influences, he grew up thinking to be part of the army when he grew up. He joined to continue the dream of his father, who wasn’t able to finish because he got sick. His father was a plebo of the Philippine Military Academy in the year 1985 to 1986.
Cadet 1CL Briones held the position inside the academy as an S8 sergeant, Assistant Squad leader, Squad leader, Assistant Cadet-in-charge-Arnis corps squad, Brigade Religious Officer and Company Religious Officer.
He will also serve the Philippine Air Force where he would render his mandatory service for five years to the country.
A registered nurse and son of a farmer from Pavia, Iloilo will lead the graduating class as valedictorian.
Cadet Jaywardene Balilea Hontoria, son of farmer Oscar and housewife Nancy, will also receive 11 other awards — the Presidential Saber, Chief of Staff Saber, Philippine Navy Saber, Academic Group Award, Australian Defence Best Overall Performance Award, Spanish Armed Forces Award, Humanities Plaque, Natural Sciences Plaque, Social Sciences Plaque, JUSMAG Award, and the Department of Leadership Award.
Hontoria first obtained his license as a nurse and was an enlisted member of the Philippine Coast Guard for three months prior to joining the academy as a cadet. He said his prior experience and credential had further prepared him to be an officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He was the brigade commander of the academy during his first class year (4th year) at the PMA.
“As a brigade commander, they look up to you,” the graduating PMA cadet noted. “So, you have to claim that you are their leader. If you are given a job, just do your job.”
He said being a registered nurse was an advantage for him because of the rigid academic examinations he had undergone as a nurse. He added that his years in the undergraduate program of West Visayas State University had helped him intellectually, being bombarded with hectic schedules and preparing him for the academy life.
PMA Supt. Lt. Gen. Donato San Juan said the training in the academy does not only train the cadets academically but physically as well, preparing them for the real life of a soldier.
“We expect no less from them when they are assigned in the field,” San Juan said.
Class “Alab Tala” originally had 346 members who reported in April 2014 out of the 21,571 applicants.
From the 282 who are graduating on Sunday, 143 are joining the Philippine Army, 71 are going to the Air Force, and 68, including class valedictorian Hontoria, are joining the Philippine Navy.**By Angel Bolla, UB Intern, with reports from Pamela Mariz Geminiano/ PNA
