Negrense among top 10 PMA graduates this year

CEBU, Philippines — A cadette who hails from Bais City, Negros Oriental is among the top 10 graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) this year.

Cadet First Class Jezaira Laquinon Buenaventura, placing sixth, is the only cadette from Negros Island and Central Visayas who made it to the top 10.

She, along with 282 other graduates of the PMA Class of 2018 Alab Tala (Alagad ng Lahing Binigkis ng Tapang at Lakas), will be commissioned by President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, March 18, at Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City.

Aside from finishing sixth, Buenaventura will also receive three graduation awards: Department of Tactical Officers Plaque, the Aguinaldo Saber, and the Distinguished Cadet Award (Starman), for being a Dean's Lister for two terms and Commandant's Lister for three terms during the year.

"Noong una akala ko hindi totoo," she told The FREEMAN in a phone interview.

"It was something I did not expect. Pero nang lumabas yung official results saka ko lang nalaman na totoo talaga siya," she said, recounting the moments when the top 10 graduates were announced in a forum in Baguio City yesterday.

"I consider my parents and family my inspiration to do good (in the PMA). I just tried to do my best, with help of my classmates and friends. That's really not a secret, that's the reason why I'm here," Buenaventura added.

Before signing up for the PMA, she was a Biology sophomore at Silliman University in Dumaguete City. Being an honor student was not new to her, as she was also a Dean's Lister in Silliman, records from the PMA's Office of the Registrar show.

Buenaventura shared that she initially wanted to become a doctor, but she eventually switched from Biology major to military cadet because she believes she can serve the country better by being a soldier. "The benefits of being a cadet also helped my family," she added.

Her parents are both ordinary government employees.

Buenaventura is set to join the Philippine Army after her graduation, records further show.

She is among the three female candidates included in this year's top 10. Another cadet from the Visayas, Cadet First Class, Jaywardene Galilea Hontoria from Iloilo, is this year's valedictorian.

The following are the top 10 graduates of Alab Tala Class of 2018: Jaywardene Galilea Hontoria of Iloilo (valedictorian), Ricardo Liwaden of Mountain Province (salutatorian), Jun-Jay Malazzab Castro of Cagayan Valley, Leonore Andrea Carino Japitan of Butuan City, Mark Jantzen Dacillo of Zamboanga City, Jezaira Buenaventura of Bais City, Negros Oriental, Jessie Antonio Laranang of Tarlac, Paolo Balla Briones of Baguio City, Jayson Raymundo Cimatu of Aurora Province, and Micah Reynaldo of Tarlac. (FREEMAN)