(FILE) Cadets are welcomed into the Philippine Military Academy. PHOTO COURTESY OF PMA
BAGUIO CITY — The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) on Saturday formally welcomed 350 freshmen cadets, 124 of them females, who will compose the Class of 2026.
The new cadets entered a more relaxed military school, which had been under a self-imposed lockdown since February 2020 at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
The cadets, also called plebes, underwent an hour of physical exercises at the Borromeo Field as part of their traditional reception ceremony after entering Fort del Pilar for the first time.
The squat thrusts, push-ups, sit-ups, ground rolls and sprints across the stretch of the field help launch their transition from civilian life to a regimented military behavior, according to Lieutenant Colonel Reynan Afan, a member of the Corps of Professors and the academy’s acting public affairs officer.
The exercises took place under sunny skies, after days of strong afternoon rains.
‘Conquer your challenges’
The PMA says 48.29 percent or 169 of the plebes were senior high school students when they took the entrance examination, while the other 181 cadets were already enrolled in college when they passed the entrance examination.
The academy said 120 of the plebes are aged 19 years, 66 are aged 18 years and 17 are aged 17. The remaining cadets are either aged 20 or 21 years.
“The training may be challenging but rest assured it will hone you to become professional military officers imbued with the values of courage, integrity and loyalty,” said acting PMA superintendent Brig. Gen. Julius Tomines when he addressed the cadets.
He told them: “It takes the whole PMA community to train cadets.” He also urged them not to quit.
“Conquer your challenges one at a time,” the army general said.
Fort del Pilar reopened its gates to tourists on March 25, but has retained a requirement for guests to first clear rapid antigen tests. Some of the new cadets’ parents and relatives attended the ceremony, including retired military officials.