PMA declared national historical landmark

HISTORIC, A marker designating the Philippine Military Academy as a National Historical Landmark was installed on Tuesday (May 21) at the gates of Fort del Pilar by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. The ceremony was held on the same day the top ten cadets of graduating Mabalasik Class of 2019 was announced. INQUIRER PHOTO/ EV Espiritu

BAGUIO CITY — The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) on Tuesday has declared the entire Philippine Military Academy (PMA) a historical landmark in recognition of the academy’s historic contribution.

NHCP Executive Director Ludivico Badoy personally unveiled the historical marker placed at the main gate of the PMA about 4 p.m.

Badoy said the marker recognized not only the historical structures but the rich history of the academy that could be traced back to the Commonwealth Act 1 in 1935.

He said the marker also recognized “the long and unending line of quality military education that the academy has been providing.”

Brigadier Gen. Nestor Rayos, PMA assistant superintendent, signed the certificate of recognition and expressed the academy’s gratitude to the NHCP.

Melchor Hall is the oldest building at the Philippine Military Academy, which was designated a national historical landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on Tuesday, May 21). Melchor Hall was completed in 1949, a few years after the end of World War II. INQUIRER PHOTO/ EV Espiritu

He said there were several historical relics in PMA, including the war relics point and the Korean and Fil-Am war memorial areas.

“Who we are now is because of what our forefathers have done,” Rayos said.

Last year PMA applied for a historical landmark recognition with the NCHP for the Melchor Hall only, the very first building in PMA.

But the NHCP declared the entire Fort Del Pilar as a historical landmark. (Editor: Leti Z. Boniol)