Guv tells Pangasinan PMA grads: Uphold code
PMA HONOR SYSTEM
LINGAYEN—Amid the controversy that recently rocked the Philippine Military Academy, Gov. Amdado T. Espino, Jr., had this to say to the 14 Pangasinenses who recently graduated from the institution and paid him a courtesy call last week:
“Take the Honor System, the code that binds us together, with you wherever you go.”
The PMA code declares: “We, the cadets, do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us those who do so.”
Espino, himself an alumnus of the academy belonging to Masigasig Class of 1972, also cautioned the new grads of the struggles they will be facing outside PMA.
“Life outside the academy is not easier than the life inside the academy… but you were prepared for that,” he said.
Fellow cavalier 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil (Magilas Class of 1976), who accompanied the 14 Pangasinenses of the Siklab Diwa Class of 2014, urged the young graduates to “stay alive out there and be a living hero”.
“You can do a lot more for the country and for the people (if you’re alive),” added Bataoil, one of the solons pushing for the passage of the PMA modernization bill that aims to improve PMA facilities.
HONOR
On the part of the graduates, 2Lt. Noel Raguindin, a native of Bonuan Sabangan, Dagupan City who graduated top 5 of his class, and a member of the PMA Honor Committee, responded with a vow to live the PMA’s “stringent” honor system.
“‘Yong honor system ‘yon ang buhay namin sa loob. I-violate nyo na ang lahat, wag lang ang honor system,” Raguindin said.
The PMA’s honor system recently became the subject of an emotional public debate following the dismissal of a cadet, who was supposed to graduate with honors, for allegedly violating the code.
Raguindin, speaking for his batch, thanked the two officials for the support of the province and vowed to make Pangasinan proud.
“Dahil na rin sa tulong ng aming upper class men, sina Gov. Espino at Cong. Bataoil na naging aming mga inspirasyon para magpursige sa aming pag-aaral,” Raguindin said.
The 14 Pangasinenses who graduated from the academy last March 16 were: Raguindin, Melissa Bongbong (Urdaneta City), Kenneth Caballa (Labrador), Reymart Daduya (Calasiao), Chister Lorenze Tabelon (Bugallon) – Philippine Navy; Rodolfo Benitez (Binmaley), Frederick Albert De Vera (Mapandan), Carmelo Geronimo (Dasol), John Leo Romero (Binalonan) – Philippine Air Force; Desmond Castillo (Basista), Ronald Velasco (San Carlos City), Emilson Flores (Binmaley), John Paul Munoz (San Carlos City); and Marines: Aljoy Bautista (Binmaley) – Philippine Army. —Johanne R. Macob
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