Record high female grads at PMA

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) will send off a record high number of women to the Armed Forces on March 12.

PMA public affairs officer Lt. Col. Reynaldo Balido said 63 of the 167 members of the graduating class are women, the highest number since the PMA began accepting females in 1993.

The women have also shown impressive performance while in the country’s premier military officer training institution, with several among the top 10 in their classes.

In 1999, Arlene de la Cruz, a former Mathematics major at the University of the Philippines in Baguio, emerged number one, the first-ever female cadet topnotcher. She died in a mysterious car accident in 2008 in Bataan.

Last year, female cadet Christine Mae Naungayan Calima from Bolinao, Pangasinan graduated salutatorian. 

Seven other female cadets graduated with Naungayan while 14 of their female “mistahs” or batchmates would graduate on March 12.

In 2015, Caroline Jhoy Ramirez Nacional , 22, from Maitum, Sarangani placed fifth in the graduating class.

Also in the top 10 of the 2014 graduating class was Liza Jumawid Dango from Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City.  

Again in 2013, an Igorot (Kankanaey) lass from Beckel, La Trinidad, Benguet – Maryam Dinamling Balais – was salutatorian.

She was quoted as saying then that “the PMA is no longer a man’s world.”   

“PMA training is never difficult for women,” she enthused while encouraging more Filipino young women to join the academy. 

Four of the 19 graduating females in 2013 were in the top 10, including Joselyn Dimapilis Advincula from Tagaytay City (No. 5), Vanessa Pascual Factor from Antipolo City (No. 8), and Marila Agrabio Maniscan  from South Cotabato (No. 10).

The 2013 PMA class “Pudang Kalis” had the largest number of females in the top 10 since the PMA opened enrollment to women.

In 2012, in fourth place of the graduating class was Angeline Osorio Esmeria from Taguig City.

In 2011, Baguio lass Janice Matbagan landed sixth in the graduating class.

Karen Padayao from Ormoc City, Leyte, placed ninth in the 2010 graduating class.

Again in 2009, 22-year-old Cynthia Forteza from Urbiztondo, Pangasinan landed in ninth place.

In 2008, Me-ann Singson of Ligao City in Albay landed third in the graduating class.

For this year, PMA will announce the top ten graduating cadets on Monday.

President Duterte is expected to formally welcome the PMA “Sanggalang ay Lakas at Buhay Para sa Kalayaan ng Inang Bayan (‘Salaknib’ or Iluko of defense)” class to the military fold.