PMA examinations slated on Sept. 5

Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City — Entrance examinations for prospective cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the premier military training institution in the country and in Southeast Asia, are slated on Sept. 5, Maj. Gen. Cristolito Balaoing, PMA superintendent, said.

The exams will start at 7 a.m. in 33 testing centers nationwide.

Eight of the testing centers are in Central and Northern Luzon: Pangasinan State University in Lingayen, Pangasinan; Divine Word College in Laoag City; Saint Mary’s University in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Isabela State University in Cauayan, Isabela; Saint Louis University in Tuguegarao, Cagayan; Pamantasang Araullo in Cabanatuan City; Tarlac State University in Tarlac City; and the PMA in Baguio City.

Walk-in applicants will be attended to on a "first-come, first-served basis."

According to the PMA, exam takers should be natural-born Filipino citizens, have good moral character, are single and have never been married, stand five feet, four inches for males and five feet, two inches for females, and are at least 17 years old but not a day older than 22 years old on April 1 of the year following the date of examination.

They must be at least a high school graduate with a general average of 80 percent or higher (for high school seniors, their third-year general average must be at least 80 percent), have never been sired (for males) nor given birth (for females) to a child, and are physically fit for PMA cadet training.

Successful examinees will be notified by telegram and their names will be published in a national daily. They will then receive a notice to report on designated dates to the AFP Medical Center (formerly V. Luna Hospital) in Quezon City to undergo thorough medical, dental and neuro-psychiatric examinations.

The examinations, quartering and transportation fare from the applicants’ residences to the AFP Medical Center and back are free. — Artemio Dumlao