A RESIDENT of barangay Sambag Dos, Cebu City, ranked second in the “Bagwis Class of 2012” of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
Cebuano Jose Mari Cabrera, the 22-year-old son of a former seaman and an optometrist, was a consistent honor student from his elementary grade to his early college years.
Cabrera’s mother, Iris, said her son joined the PMA in 2007 after being a consistent dean’s lister who took up Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA) at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR).
Upon graduation, Jose Mari chose to be recruited at the Philippine Air Force.
Iris said she encouraged her son to take the PMA entrance examination.
She said her son initially refused but eventually relented after noting her optimism.
When the results came out, Iris said she was conflicted about Jose Mari entering the PMA because of the stories she heard about the institution.
Jose Mari’s father Miguel, a former seaman, said they have no relatives with a military background. Iris said Jose Mari stayed at home if there were no classes.
“Home, school, church, that’s all he went to,” she said.
Jose Mari is the third of four children and the only boy.
The eldest Marie Francoise Therese, 24, is a registered nurse while Shannen Kirstel, 23, is a mass communication student at Southwestern University (SWU).
The youngest, Shaira Michelle, 17, is a dentistry student.
Iris said they knew of the result in the papers, but they decided not to tell him yet. She said they also watched the news on TV.
The Cabrera family flew to Manila to attend the graduation and are staying in an apartment-style house in Sambag Dos. They said they attribute Jose Mari’s success to God.
The other top graduates are Lucien Jay Caiman of Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, third; Jethro Olavidez of Zamboanga Sibugay, fifth, and the PMA Athlete of the Year; Aron Lessler Regimen of Tanauan, Batangas, sixth; Dyan Karl Cabigas of Caloocan City, seventh; Fel Saguin of Zamboanga del Sur, eighth; Rone Jo Manganaan of Rosales, Pangasinan, ninth; and Christopher Juan of Tagum City, 10th.
The only woman in the Top 10 is Cadet First Class Angeline Esmeria of Taguig City, who placed fourth.
She said her survival of cadet life as a plus-sized woman is an achievement in itself. The 2002 class has 19 women members.