PMA cadet with cancer dies on dad’s birthday

CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur –– Cadet Second Class Cedrick Gadia died from esophageal cancer on Monday, when his father Peter Sr. was celebrating his 52nd birthday.

The cadet’s passing at 5:15 a.m. saddened his family, but Peter believes his 23-year-old son fought hard to stay alive until this special day.

READ: PMA cadet succumbs to cancer

Peter said he was with Gadia during the last hours of his life but could not speak to the cadet at the intensive care unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center.

Gadia, a criminology graduate of the North Luzon Philippines State College of Candon before he joined the academy, had been confined at the V. Luna hospital since September, where he was transferred from PMA in August.

By that time, the cadet was suffering from stage 4 cancer which affected his lungs and liver.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Brawner, commandant of cadets, learned about his condition this month and initiated plans to improve the facilities of the PMA Station Hospital and upgrade medical protocols.

Peter described his son as a good, responsible young man and with no vices.

He said Cadet Gadia had been a self-supporting college student who had a job working for a fast-food chain. Gadia was the third in a brood of four.

Gadia’s birthday, August 23, was the day his mother Susan died from an ailment when the cadet was in Grade 6, Peter said.

The cadet’s remains will be brought to PMA before it is sent home here, he said./lzb