PMA valedictorian: We are not for war

From ABS-CBN (Mar 16): PMA valedictorian: We are not for war

[Video report]

The valedictorian of the Philippine Military Academy Sinaglahi Class of 2015 urged his colleagues not to rush into military actions at the cost of peace.

“History would remind us that the most costly mistake of strategy came not from our restraint but from the willingness to rush into military actions without thinking about the immediate and long term consequences of waging war,” Cadet First Class Arwi Chiday Martinez said in his valedictory speech.

He said the role of the military is to seek long lasting peace, bearing in mind the futile result of wars in the past.

“It will be our generation’s task and responsibility to heed, act, and respond to this aspiration for peace. The challenge that we face right now is how we will effectively put into reality the lessons that we have learned here in the academy, to become good leaders espousing the values of courage, integrity and loyalty in selfless service towards achieving a long lasting peace and prosperity for our country,” he said.

The Benguet-born Martinez led a total of 172 members of the PMA Sinaglahi, which stands for “Sundalong Isinilang na may Angking Galing at Lakas, Handang Ipaglaban and Bayan.”

He received the Presidential Saber from President Benigno Aquino III during the ceremony in Baguio on Sunday.

Martinez explained that the name of his class symbolizes their role in society. “Let us commit ourselves to offer all our strength and wit to protect and uphold the sovereignty of our country,” he said.

He likened the members of the Class of 2015 to rice grains in a healthy soil.

“We are 172 rice grains planted on the hollowed grounds of the Philippine Military Academy, nurtured by competent and dedicated people to transform us into a bountiful harvest ready to be of selfless service to the Filipino people,” he said, as he urged Filipinos to continue to trust in the Armed Forces.

“Patuloy naming ipaglalaban ang kapayapaan at kaunlaran, maging kapalit man nito ang aming buhay,” Martinez said.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/03/15/15/pma-valedictorian-we-are-not-war