CREAM OF THE CROP Philippine Military Academy officials, led by superintendent Lt. Gen. Donato San Juan II (seated, center), present this year’s top graduating cadets. —EV ESPIRITU
Eight women achieved a rare feat of dominating the top 10 graduating cadets of the Philippine Military Academy’s Salaknib (Sanggalang ay Lakas at Buhay na Alay Para sa Kalayaan ng Inang Bayan) Class of 2017.
Some of them pushed themselves to attain that feat because of their families.
Cadet First Class Cathleen Jovi Santiano Baybayan, who ranked fourth, dropped out of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna province, and entered the PMA in 2013.
“Her father [Alfredo] was a frustrated PMAyer who wanted to be a pilot. Without him demanding, Cathleen promised she would continue his unfulfilled dream,” said Baybayan’s mother, Jovita. Alfredo is a security officer of a car manufacturing firm.
Baybayan, the second of three daughters, was also inspired by her grandfather, Adriano, who was a retired lieutenant of the Philippine Army.
Her uncles are still active in the military service. Col. Arthur Baybayan is a member of the Philippine Air Force while Col. Albert Baybayan serves in the Army.
While all men of the clan supported Baybayan’s decision to train at the PMA because it was “for the country,” Jovita admitted she had reservations because she feared for her safety.
“I was crying for a year because I could not talk to her while she was in the academy. I missed her so much,” said Jovita, a social worker at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital in the City of San Fernando.
Baybayan’s youngest sister is a member of the PMA Class of 2020.
In Nueva Vizcaya province, the family of Cadet First Class Sheila Joy Ramiro Jallorina of Bagabag town is celebrating the achievement of Salaknib’s sixth ranking cadet, saying soldiering runs in her blood.
Jallorina’s grandfathers retired as captains in the United States Army, said her mother, Leonida. Her youngest brother is a policeman while her second brother, a member of PMA Class of 2005, is an Army captain at Camp O’Donnell in Capas town in Tarlac province. A third brother is a police trainee at the Philippine National Police Academy.
Jallorina studied for a year as an accountancy student at St. Mary’s University in Bayombong town before she entered the PMA. Her mother used to be an overseas contract worker in Hong Kong and Taiwan while her father is a farmer.
In Compostela Valley province, the mother of Cadet First Class Resie Jezreel Hucalla saw in her daughter the desire to excel even in a field dominated by men.
“At first I was apprehensive, she might not be able to withstand the rigors of [military training] but she was persistent,” said Daisy Hucalla, 54, the cadet’s mother. The family lives in Nabunturan town.
Daisy said she did not know that her daughter ranked ninth among the graduating cadets until reporters called her and her husband on Monday.
“It’s a sort of dream come true,” the mother said. “She’s a consistent achiever from elementary up to high school. In college, she was on the dean’s list.”
She recalled how Hucalla skipped the graduation rites at the University of Mindanao in Tagum City in April 2012, when she got a call from the PMA for an interview.
She said her daughter’s decision to enter the PMA was well-received by family members.
Hucalla, who is joining the Philippine Air Force, has two siblings serving the PAF—an older sister and a brother. Her father, retired Army T/Sgt. Renato Hucalla, said he was proud of his daughter’s feat.
In Zamboanga City, Salvador Gonzales Jr. and his wife Evelyn were surprised to find out that their daughter, Cadet First Class Catherine Mae Gonzales, was 10th in the graduating class.
The Gonzaleses, who used to live in Pagadian City, had moved to Zamboanga City when Catherine decided to take up engineering in college.
Salvador, a carpenter, said life for the family of eight in Zamboanga was “harder than we thought it would be.”
Her parents failed to attend the reception ceremony in Baguio City when she was admitted to the PMA because they did not have money for transportation and other expenses. “This is the second time we will see her. The first was during her recognition, and this time, her graduation,” Salvador said.
Catherine said she did not expect to graduate among the class’ top 10.
“We are poor, but we are one big happy family,” she said. “I thank God for making me strong.” —REPORTS FROM TONETTE OREJAS, VILLAMOR VISAYA JR., JULIE S. ALIPALA AND FRINSTON LIM