Full text: Valedictory address of PMA Class of 2017 top grad

The Class of 2017 of the Philippine Military Academy graduated on Sunday in rites held  at the parade grounds of the institution’s parade grounds.

Among those who attended were President Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President Leni Robredo, and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Eight of the top 10 graduates are women, with Cadet First Class Rovi Mairel V. Martinez of Cabanatuan City as valedictorian.

Following is the full text of her valedictory:

To our commander-in-chief, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, SIR; to our Vice President Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo, ma’am; to the secretary of national defense, Delfin N. Lorenzana, sir; to the chief of staff AFP, To the chief PNP, to the commanding generals of the three major branches of service, to the superintendent PMA, other officers present, distinguished guests, family, friends, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

Graduating from the Philippine Military Academy is such a blessing to me, but being the top 1 of the Salaknib Class 2017 makes me even more blessed. Things really happen when we least expect it.

In this world, nothing is certain. Maybe for now you want something, then later your mind will change and desire for another. You cannot have one if you are still holding the other. Life is a choice. Time will come that you will have to make a decision which will then change your life permanently. And my life changed when i decided to accept the challenge – to submit myself in the military world and take the opportunity to learn, lead and serve our country and people.

I am just an ordinary cadet; one who commits mistakes, who slept in class, and has flaws in my own ways. Nobody is perfect, but being imperfect does not mean that you do not aim for excellence. For as long as you give your best in everything that you do, that is excellence. and cadets like us should always aim for that. .
Our transition from carefree civilians to fine grown military men and women was never an easy task – we were tested physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. There were times when quitting crossed our minds. But when things got hard, we kept on going, we kept our faith burning and we made our family our inspiration to continue doing the things that we were doing. We had to remember that the sun will set and another day will come again. We believed in ourselves and we lived one day at a time. But most importantly, we kept our faith in God. Then a day, a week, a month or even years passed without us even noticing it.

Ang pagtatapos naming ito ay tagumpay ng lahat. Kaya naman sa ngalan ng Salaknib Class of 2017, hayaan niyo po akong kunin ang pagkakataong ito upang pasalamatan ang mga tao sa likod ng aming tagumpay. Sa aming mga mentors, sa matiyagang pagbabahagi ng kanilang kaalaman at tumayo bilang aming mga pangalawang magulang sa loob ng apat na taon. Sa aming mga squad leaders mula ng NCBN hanggang regular corps, salamat sir/ma’am, sa pagtuturo ng mga bagay na kailangan naming malaman at sa walang sawang pag-gabay sa amin mula noon hanggang ngayon. Sa aming mga buddy at squadmates, upperclass man o underclass, salamat dahil kayo ang nagbigay ng kulay sa pamamalagi namin dito sa academy. You brought out in us the best leader that we can be. Masaya at proud kami na kayo ang mga buddy at squadmates namin. Sa Team PMA, salamat sa pagiging instrumento sa paghubog ng mga susunod na lider ng ating bayan. Sa aming pamilya, salamat sa inyong walang sawang suporta sa bawat isa sa amin. Makakasiguro kayong nasa mabuti kaming kamay.

Let me take this opportunity to acknowledge our families, who throughout our cadetship, have borne and accepted the burden of the profession we have chosen. Personally, let me thank my parents, Mama Ruby and Papa Mariel; my sister, Ate Abbie; Nay Be, Tito Tirso, salamat sa lahat. Salamat sa suporta, salamat dahil lagi kayong nandyan, salamat dahil ginawa ninyong malapit ang Nueva Ecija sa Baguio tuwing may mga espesyal na okasyon at sa tuwing kailangan ko kayo.

At higit sa lahat, lubos kaming nagpapasalamat sa ating Ama na siyang lumikha. Wala kami ngayon sa inyong harapan kung hindi dahil sa kanya, kaya naman ang lahat ng papuri at pasasalamat ay ibinabalik namin sa kanyang dakilang pangalan.

Graduation is not the end but the beginning of a new chapter of our lives. To the underclass corps, thank you for being part of our cadetship. May you continue to live your remaining days here in the academy with dedication and excellence. Do not forget the values and honor that we have to uphold. Keep on striving and beating yourself because the best fruit that you can get is from hard work.

To the Salaknib Class of 2017, mistah, congratulations! The accomplishment of one is the accomplishment of all. This is not goodbye, but a new beginning to look forward to. And as we go on our separate ways, may we bring with us the skills, values and character that the academy has instilled in us. Let us not fail our alma mater. Let us make her proud by doing our job and by doing it well.

To the Filipino people, whom we have pledged to serve with honor and integrity, utang namin ang lahat ng ito sa inyo. We will strive to become officers who are worthy of your respect and trust. We vow as young leaders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to always serve you and our country with vigor and unwavering commitment. Sa buong sambayanang Pilipino, handa na po kaming magsilbi sa inyo!

Maraming salamat po at magandang umaga sa inyong lahat!