1,500 PMA alumni to participate in this year's homecoming activities on Feb. 19 -22

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 18): 1,500 PMA alumni to participate in this year's homecoming activities on Feb. 19 -22

An estimated 1,500 active and retired military and police officers will be returning to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Fort Gregorio Del Pilar, Baguio City for this year's alumni homecoming which is scheduled for Feb. 19 to 22.

PMA superintendent Major Gen. Oscar P. Lopez and Major Gen. Jose Ma. G. Solquillo, PMA Alumni Association Inc. president, are now busy preparing for the event.

Cavaliers will be marching at the hallowed grounds of Fort Del Pilar called as the Borromeo Field.

This year, the PMA alumni invited Hon. Eduardo S.L. Oban Jr., Executive Director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement as the guest-of-honor and speaker.

Oban is the former chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and a member of the PMA “Matapat” Class of 1979.

Expected to attend in the ceremony are AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr of PMA Class of 1981, Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin, a member of PMA Class 1968, PMAAAI Board of Directors, and Medal of Valor Awardees.

Lead host for this year’s homecoming is PMA Class of 1985 (Sandiwa).

Other hosts include PMA Class of 1970 (Magiting), 1975 (Makabayan), 1980 (Mapitagan), 1990 (Bigkis-Lahi), 1995 (Marilag), 2000 (Sanghaya), 2005 (Sanlingan), and 2010 (Masidlak).

The oldest cavalier is CAV Vicente Alhambra and CAV Catalino Ibañez, both from Class 1942, while the youngest is CAV Bryan S. Arlegui of Class 2014.

To celebrate the homecoming, the PMAAAI has planned out a series of activities that will run from Feb. 19 to 22.

Among the highlights include the PMA Alumni Eco Trail Run within Fort Del Pilar and Battle of Classes Golf Tournament at Camp John Hay on Feb. 19; Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the PMA Alumni Memorial, Opening of PMA Football Cup and Leadership Forum for Cadets at PMA Campus on Feb. 20; the traditional “Open House” at the PMA Cadet Barracks on Feb. 21; Arrival Honors for Royal Thai General Thawip Poonsiri Netniyom of Class ’81, and Silent Drill on Feb. 22.

During the main event on Feb. 21, a special recognition will be given to the members of PMA Class 1955 as Diamond jubilarians (60 years); Class 1965 as Golden jubilarians (50 years); and Class 90 as Silver jubilarians (25 years).

The PMAAAI will also give honor to outstanding cavaliers for their achievements in their own field of expertise.

The honorees are Senior Supt Wilfred A. Nicolas of PMA Class of 1965 for Private Enterprise; Director General Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr., PMA Class of 1970 for Public Administration; Lt.Gen. Felicito VM. Trinidad, PMA Class 1982 for Command and Administration; Col. Danilo G. Pamonag, PMA Class of 1985 for Army Operations; Senior Supt. Ronald M. Dela Rosa, PMA Class of 1986 for Police Operations; Lt.Col. Elpidio T. Factor, Class 1995 for Naval Operations; Cmdr. Inocencio C. Rosario Jr., Class ’96 for Coast Guard Operations; Major Gremel B. Brual, Class ’96 for Special Operations; and Major Jonathan P. De Leon, Class ’01 for Air Force Operations.

The PMA has produced over 10,000 alumni with 106 others who graduated from allied service academies since its establishment in 1936.

Some of its members became leaders and key-position holders in the military, police, and other law enforcement agencies while some have served in the government, corporate, non-profit, educational, and other leadership and management positions at various levels of responsibility.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=736827