‘Pride of the North’ is PMA topnotcher

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — A "pride of the North" tops this year’s graduating class of the elite Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

A promising soldier and leader, First Class Cadet Ariel Toledo, 25, who comes from "most humble beginnings" in sitio Lussuac, Sto. Domingo town, Ilocos Sur, will lead the rest of his 324 "mistahs" (classmates) in graduating as the PMA "Mandala" Class of 2006.

Proudly speaking in fluent Iluko before reporters, Toledo — who graduates as a second lieutenant and will be congratulated by President Arroyo during commencement rites at Borromeo Field here on March 25 — said that, as a child, he dreamed of becoming a "man in uniform."

Orphaned at an early age along with his nine brothers and sisters, Toledo, who will be assigned to the Philippine Air Force (PAF), said he was inspired by the sight of uniformed soldiers visiting their home in Sto. Domingo. His father, Providencio Sr., who left the family when he was 11, was a constable in the defunct Philippine Constabulary.

"Kaya noon pa man, gusto ko nang maging sundalo (So even then I wanted to become a soldier)," he said.

Toledo said he pursued his military career by first joining the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, finally making it to the PMA, the premier military training institution in the country and in Asia.

Twenty years or so later, it is Toledo who will proudly march before the nation as the top cadet of his class, receiving the Presidential Saber, the PMA Award For Excellence and the Philippine Air Force Saber from Mrs. Arroyo.

As PMA Superintendent Brig. Gen. Leopoldo Maligalig aptly noted, like most PMA graduates, Toledo came from very humble beginnings — a background that often inspires Filipinos to excel.

As the bunso or youngest in the family, Toledo made his way through elementary and high school, then entered college with the help of his siblings.

Before entering the PMA, Toledo had already finished a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering at the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.

Toledo’s brilliance, even among other outstanding PMA cadets and graduates, is an inspiring example, BGen. Maligalig said.

During his first year at the PMA, Toledo already placed seventh in his class. By the time he became a yearling (second year), he had already climbed two notches up to fifth. He was a topnotch student in his third year as second classman until his last year as first class cadet.

A proud, true-blue Ilocano, Toledo said he idolizes another Ilocano military great, Gen. Rozalino Alquiza.

Alquiza, who also graduated at the top of his PMA class in 1955, also came from humble beginnings. He came from the same schools as Toledo: Sto. Domingo North Central School and the Ilocos Sur National High School.

He said his inspiration for joining the Philippine Air Force was his then squad leader Lt. Erwin Pagudgud, Class of 2004. "Mahalaga na kung ano ang branch of service ng squad leader mo, eh titingalain

mo." This despite doubts about the present sad state of the PAF, he said. He is optimistic that the modernization program of the Armed Forces will lead the equipment-starved PAF back to being more than the "laughingstock" of other air squadrons in Asia.

Toledo, who will be sent to the United States as a JUSMAG "fellow," said he now dreams of flying with the same lofty ideals he has kept from his simple childhood.

And since the birthday of his mother, Minar, who passed away in 2001, is coming up on March 20, he has dedicated his academic feat to her.

Maligalig and the rest of the PMA faculty, inspired by the successful graduation of the biggest class ever, will sail their hats high into the air for the "Mandalas."

"Mandala" — short for "Mandirigmang Dangal ng Lahi" (Warrior Pride of the Race) — is someone who dreams of bringing national glory to the Filipino, explained Toledo. Simply put, this 25-year-old would-be PAF lieutenant said: "Para sa Bayan (For the Country)."

Joining Toledo in the top 10, including two females and two other graduates from the north, are: Francis D. Rosales of Baguio City who will join the Army; Romel Sotero of Benguet joining the Navy; Ethelbert Aaron Kiunisala of Misamis Oriental, also to the Army; Michael Gotong from Benguet, who joins the Army; Amina Abdula from Tarlac, joining the Air Force; Noah Hernandez of Kidapawan City joining the Navy; Ermin Soloren from South Cotabato also joining the Navy; Joe Vergel. Flores, also from Kidapawan City joining the Army; and Joy Peñaloza from South Cotabato, joining the Navy.

The Mandala class of 324 cadets has the distinction of being the biggest class ever in the 108-year history of the PMA.

Pre-war classes of the former Philippine Constabulary Academy, PMA’s old name, were rather small with the PCA class of 1909 having only four members.

Before the "Mandala class," the "Bantay Laya" class of 1994 held the record for the biggest number of graduates at 273 cadets.

Mandala class of 2006 also boasts the most number of female members at 37. Last year, four female cadets graduated in the top 10 of their class of only around 200.

Maligalig also said Mandala class is proud to boast of the most magna cum laudes (11) and cum laudes (35), and is now being touted as "one of the most brilliant classes" of the PMA.