Female cadet from Isabela tops PMA graduates
Four other females also in top 10
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines (Updated 10:58 a.m.) — Yet another woman — Gemalyn Deocares Sugui — graduates as topnotcher of Philippine Military Academy “Masidlawin” class of 2020 on Friday.
Sugui, who hails from Echague, Isabela, is the sixth female cadet topping the graduating class of the country’s premier military training institution.
Repeating the females’ 2019 feat where an Ilocos Sur lass — Dionne Mae Apolog Umalla — also graduated top of her class, four more females in Masidlawin class placed in the top 10.
In 1999, Arlene dela Cruz bested her “mistahs” topping that year’s graduates, Tara Velasco in 2003; Andrelee Mojica in 2007 and Rovi Mariel Martinez in 2017.
Sugui besting her 195 “mistahs” in “Masidlawin” (“Mandirigmang Isinilang na may Dangal at Lakas Upang Maging Tanglaw ng Inang Bayan”) is having the Presidential Saber, the Achievement Award for Academic Excellence, the JUSMAG Award, the Philippine Army Saber, the Spanish Armed Forces Award, the Social Sciences Plaque, the Management Plaque and the Rule of Law Award.
Graduating second place is Jade Campo Villanueva from Tacloban City; third is Jeffreson Yason Salazar from Zamboanga City; another female on fourth Rojes Gaile Bacud Jamandre from Lamut, Ifugao; Jeb Belting Bay-an from Kabayan, Benguet on fifth; Catabay Gunnawa Ladyong from Tabuk City, Kalinga on sixth; another female at seventh Vanelyn Angel Zipangan Tabao from Tuguegarao City; yet another female on eighth June Giel Anne Factor from Ilocos Norte; on ninth Ruben Abgao from Baroy, Lanao del Sur and completing the 10th is another female Dencel Aina Bayaca from Pampanga.
Salutatorian Villanueva also gets the Vice Presidential Saber, the Association of Generals and Flag Officers Award, the Academic Group Award, the Australian Defense Best Over-all Performance Award, the General Antonio Luna Award, the Army Service Professional Courses Plaque, the Department of Leadership Plaque, and the Humanities Plaque.
Meanwhile, third placer Salazar gets the Secretary of National Defense Saber, the Philippine Navy Saber, the Australian Defense Best Over-all Performance Award, and the Mathematics Plaque.
The Masidlawin class’ graduation rites Friday afternoon is among the first in the over a hundred years of PMA history as the premier military officers training institution remains closed from the public including parents and loved ones because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I believe this is a necessary decision in order to safeguard the health and general well-being of the CCAFP and the whole PMA community. As a parent, I know how heartbreaking and disappointing that decision is, but we have to do what is best for all. Safety and health are paramount at all times,” explained PMA Superintendent Vice Admiral Allan Ferdinand Cusi.
The 196 strong “Masidlawin” class of 2020 is composed of 173 males and 23 females. One hundred (10 females) are joining the Philippine Army, while 45 (6 females) and 51 (7 females) are joining the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy.
The risk involved and the exposure to the COVID-19 virus is still highly uncertain, complex and unpredictable during this trying times, the PMA official added. “This course of action will make the time extra special for our cadets and will surely add more meaning to the occasion.”
Cusi said he personally wrote, congratulated and informed each parent of the graduating class regarding the lockdown.
"We assured them, however, that the graduating Class of 2020 will be rendered a meaningful recognition of their graduation. I believe we owe it to the graduating class to exhaust all efforts in our decision-making and planning process to make this time special for them, albeit under the guidelines set by the government in addressing the COVID-19 crisis to ensure the safety, well-being and health of all our cadets and the whole PMA community," Cusi said.
Cusi added that despite the pandemic, the graduates will be reporting straight to their respective Major Services in the Army, Air Force and Navy as new additional officers who will lead the armed forces units around the country.
The graduation rites though will be livestreamed just like Thursday mornings’ awarding of Cadet Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines unit awards.
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