PMA expects 4,000 visitors, 1,900 of them graduates, in Saturday’s alumni homecoming

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 11): PMA expects 4,000 visitors, 1,900 of them graduates, in Saturday’s alumni homecoming

The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) has prepared to host 4,000 visitors this weekend as it hosts the yearly alumni homecoming to some 1,900 graduates of this premier military school in Asia, Major Agnes Lynette Flores, public information officer said Tuesday.

Former Senator Panfilo Lacson, presidential adviser on rehabilitation will be the guest of honor and speaker.

By tradition, the PMA Cadet Corps of cadets perform the parade and review to the graduates, a good number of them became the country’s top officials and statesmen, high officials in the bureaucracy and government functionaries abroad. All of them served as officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in various ranks and capacities.

Alumni since the early 1900’s remain to have the Borromeo Field as their favorite place to visit while inside the academy. In particular, this is where the parade ground and the grandstand are located. The place where the academy’s motto Courage, Integrity, Loyalty is emblazoned served as reminder to each alumni how they were trained on military tactics, and where they were commissioned either as second lieutenants or ensigns after their graduation rites.

Flores said that aside from the formal activities, the alumni will have some social gatherings like picnics as well as sports activities.

Some exchange students from foreign countries like Singapore graduated in this academy, which by its curricula adequately prepared with excellence professional soldiers with Bachelor of Science degrees to greater fields of service to the country and the Filipino people.

Meanwhile, Flores said that the well-preserved environs of PMA made it as one of the favorite destinations of tourists coming to this mountain resort 250 kilometers north of Manila.

”An average of 500 visitors come and visit the academy daily. There are times that PMA is closed to visitors but most of the time, the academy is open for the public to visit,” she said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=614822