PMA holds annual alumni homecoming amid COVID-19 threat

PMA spokesperson Capt. Cherryl Tindog

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — This year’s holding of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Alumni Homecoming pushed through on Saturday despite the threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease.

However, it was closed to the general public as part of precautionary measures to avoid the possible spread of the virus, PMA spokesperson Capt. Cherryl Tindog said.

“As much as we can, nili-limit lang namin ‘yung taong pumapasok sa loob. We are doing the best we can para hindi tayo masyadong maapektuhan. We are trying to protect the health and the welfare of the cadets and the general public,” Tindog told reporters in an interview at Fort del Pilar.

(As much as we can, we are limiting the people coming in. We are doing the best we can so that we won’t be affected by the virus. We are trying to protect the health and the welfare of the cadets and the general public.)

Only members of the PMA Alumni Association, their immediate families, PMA personnel, cadets and their parents, and individuals tasked to document the event were allowed to attend the homecoming.

Even the media who wished to cover the event were prohibited from coming to the venue.

Traffic flow on Loakan Road was smoother, unlike previous homecomings that were characterized by gridlocks as early as 6 a.m.

Many classes, including the PMA Class of 1970, proceeded with their reunions last week because many PMA graduates booked hotels for that week, she said.

Tindog said she noticed many empty seats at the grandstand of the Borromeo Field.

PMA had locked down the school in the first week of the month to shield the cadets, whose liberty privileges have been suspended, Tindog said.

PMA has been declining requests for silent drill exhibitions, which are common during local festivals.

Baguio temperatures have been cold this month. On Saturday, the mercury dropped to 11.6 degrees Celsius, warmer than the 9.6 degrees recorded on Friday (Feb. 21).

But all the cadets, as well as their teachers, have not shown symptoms of COVID-19 infection, Tindog said.

PMA has instituted protocols for everyone entering the school, which was enforced on generals, retired soldiers, and Cavaliers (graduates) participating in the homecoming. Everyone’s temperatures were taken before they were allowed to drive through, Tindog said.

Personnel inside the camp conduct thermal scanning of those who wish to go inside. Alumni who have a travel history in China were also advised not to push through with the event, Tindog said.

The PMA Alumni Homecoming was supposed to be held last week Saturday, Feb. 15, but was postponed because of the COVID-19 threat.

Tindog said guests who are already present in the event were Philippine National Police Gen. Archie Gamboa, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Senator Panfilo Lacson, and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Gringo Honasan III.

READ: PMA alumni homecoming rescheduled due to nCoV scare

Edited by MUF/LZB