Over 1,000 active, retired PMA officers set to attend homecoming

BAGUIO CITY—Over a thousand active and retired officers of the Philippine Military Academy are expected to attend the homecoming here on Saturday.

This year’s guest of honor and speaker is former AFP chief Eduardo Oban, executive director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement. He is a member of PMA Class of 1979.

Expected to attend are Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin of PMA Class of 1968, Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. of PMA Class of 1981, and Medal for Valor awardees.

Several tarpaulins could be seen all over Baguio City and even in nearby cities to welcome home the cavaliers, or what the graduates of the academy are called. This had been a practice every alumni homecoming.

The lead host for this year’s homecoming is PMA Class of 1985 (Sandiwa).

The PMA Alumni Homecoming kicked off on Feb. 19. Some of the activities include an eco trail run at Fort del Pilar; battle of classes gold tournament at Camp John Hay; wreath laying ceremony at the PMA alumni memorial, and leadership forum for cadets, among others.

A special recognition will also be given to outstanding cavaliers for their achievements.

The honorees are Police Senior Supt. Wilfred A. Nicolas of Class ’65 for private enterprise; Director General Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr., Class ’70 for public administration; Lt Gen. Felicito V. M. Trinidad, Class ’82 for command and administration; Col. Danilo G. Pamonag, Class ’85 for Army operations; Senior Supt. Ronald M. dela Rosa, Class ’86 for police operations; Lt. Col.  Elpidio T. Factor, Class ’95 for naval operations; Cmdr.  Inocencio C. Rosario Jr., Class ’96 for coast guard operations; Maj. Gremel B. Brual, Class ’96 for special operations; and Maj. Jonathan P. de Leon, Class ’01 for air force operations.

The homecoming will be capped off with parade and review, the highlight of the event. The alumni will inspect around the current cadets at Borromeo Field.