PMA ‘mistahs’ come home to candidate-free event

Baguio-born Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., who served as director-general of the national organizing committee of the 2015 Asia pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, was this year’s homecoming guest of honor at the Philippine Military Academy on Saturday (Feb. 20). He is a member of PMA Class of 1971. EV ESPIRITU

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City—No presidential candidate who was an adopted member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) classes attended the alumni homecoming on Saturday, despite assurances from organizers that they were not barred from participating in the annual event.

Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was invited but begged off to avoid tainting the affair with political color, said retired Commodore Julito Casillan II, a member of Class of 1967.

“We adopted the mayor long before he became a popular leader,” Casillan said on Friday.

The four other contenders in the presidential race are adopted PMA members: Mar Roxas of Class 1984; Jejomar Binay, Class 1988; Grace Poe, Class 1991, and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Class 1969.

At last year’s homecoming, Roxas, Binay and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano joined the alumni parade with their adoptive PMA classes.

Because 2016 is an election year, adopted members, who are running for national and local posts, were asked by the PMA Alumni Association Inc. (PMAAAI) to sit out the alumni parade and to watch it instead from the grandstand at Borromeo Field, he said.

In a statement, PMAAAI chair Manuel Espejo said the ceremonies at the homecoming were tributes “bestowed upon the alumni.”

Graduates like vice presidential candidate Sen. Gregorio Honasan and senatorial candidate Panfilo Lacson were allowed to march with their “mistah” (classmates) from Class 1971.

Honasan arrived here on Friday and admitted in a news conference that the homecoming was a venue for candidates to explain their goals for the country.

“I am here for the homecoming…[but] of course [the homecoming] is free exposure. Maybe I can talk to the alumni about the platforms and programs of UNA (the United Nationalist Alliance of his presidential candidate, Vice President Jejomar Binay),”  he said.

“But I am here to reminisce, to join my classmates as an alumnus of the PMA, and then remember the fountain from where we all drank,” he said.

Other PMA graduates spotted at the homecoming were Samuel Pagdilao of Class ’79, Getulio Napeñas, Class ’82, and Dionisio Santiago,  Class ’70, who are all running for senator.

Also in attendance was Leopoldo Bataoil of Class ’76, who is seeking reelection as Pangasinan representative.

The homecoming was “an opportunity for the cadets to meet a big assembly of their forebears and draw inspiration from them,” said Espejo.

Baguio-born Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., who served as director general of the National Organizing Committee of the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit, was this year’s guest of honor. He is also a member of Class of ’71.

An estimated 9,140 people, including the alumni’s guests, attended the homecoming which was primarily hosted by the “Sinagtala” Class of 1986. PMAAAI also honored the jubilarian classes of 1956, 1966 and 1991.

PMA spokesperson Lt. Col. Reynaldo Balido said 1,913 cavaliers returned to their alma mater, while 484 cadets took part in the parade on Borromeo Field.

Class members assembled, wearing matching outfits, but most preferred subdued colors like gray, blue, black and khaki.

The oldest alumnus in attendance was Delfin Castro, 90, of Class ’51 while the youngest was 2nd Lt. Joel Viray Jr., 22, of Class ’15.

Dapper in their khaki suits, Honasan and Lacson led the march of Class ’71, side by side with former Philippine National Police Director Gen. Edgardo Aglipay. With a report from Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon.