Leadership for the nation

Last week the Philippine Military Academy marked its 120th Foundation Day with simple rites led by its new superintendent, Maj. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista, Class of 1986, and the commandant of cadets, Brig. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr., Class of 1988.

It was on Oct. 25, 1898, that the Academia Militar was established in the town of Malolos, Bulacan. As part of a major organizational effort aimed at modernizing the Filipino Armed Forces, President Emilio Aguinaldo, on the advice of Gen. Antonio Luna, issued a decree setting up the school. The Philippine Army and Navy also trace their history back to the same years, 1897-1898, critical times in the revolt against Spain.

During the American colonial period extending into the Commonwealth era, and even after World War II, administrators observed Feb. 17 as PMA Foundation Day. Feb. 17, 1905, marked the establishment of a Constabulary School in Intramuros by the colonial government. The school was created mainly for the purpose of providing native officers in the continuing fight against Filipino freedom fighters still battling American occupation. To cover up the true mission of the school, Filipino freedom fighters were depicted as “bandits, ladrones, religious fanatics, or terrorists.” Filipinos were made to see the Philippine-American War in terms dictated by administrators sympathetic to the United States. Balangiga was portrayed as the massacre of an American garrison instead of a Filipino victory in a battle of bolo versus Krags.

In 1998, the centennial year of the Declaration of Independence, President Joseph Estrada formally approved the change of date of PMA Foundation Day from Feb. 17 to Oct. 25, recognizing the Academia Militar as its true roots. We are grateful for the extensive research work done by noted historian Col. Cesar Pobre, that brought about the changes in our observance of Foundation Day.

Two weeks ago the PMA announced that out of more than 28,000 applicants who took the entrance exams on Sept. 1 for the academy, 506 passed the cadet qualification test. The turnout was the highest in the history of the academy. According to Maj. Julius Munar, the indefatigable director for cadet admissions, about 400 will eventually compose Class of 2023, and will report on June 1, 2019, for oath-taking rites.

Many years ago, I graduated from high school and was clueless as to what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I took the PMA exams and ended up with the long, grey line. It was one of the best decisions in my life.

There is no democracy in the academy. You give up all your freedoms including the freedom of expression. You speak only when spoken to and address everyone with a “Sir.” In my four years at the academy, less the Christmas and summer breaks, I woke up at the crack of dawn to the sound of bugles and drums and in five minutes, joined company formation to salute the flag while the national anthem was played. When you do this for four years, you realize this is your flag, this is your country and with all its flaws and imperfections, you do the best you can to serve it.

Today some of the most important Cabinet positions in the Duterte administration are held by PMA graduates. At the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, we have Roy Cimatu, Class of 1970; at the Department of National Defense, Delfin Lorenzana, Class of 1973; as national security adviser, we have Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Class of 1974; Eduardo Año, Class of 1983, is at the Department of the Interior and Local Government; and Rolando Bautista, Class of 1985, who recently took over the Department of Social Welfare and Development. You will also find PMAyers in sub-Cabinet level positions, and as head of a number of operating agencies. No other institution of the land has contributed so many of its graduates for public service. Of those in the Cabinet, none are lawyers. They are action-oriented doers which is why President Duterte favors them, saying “Walang masyadong tanong, or debate.”

But make no mistake. They are thinking people and relying on the deep well of experience gained from years of service with the Armed Forces in different lines of endeavor, they carry out their mission and they deliver, not always but most of the time. They bring to the table the old-fashioned values of discipline, dedication to duty, leadership qualities, a boundless capacity for hard work mixed with a lot of common sense and most important of all, an enduring love for country. They represent the return on investment for Juan de la Cruz.

And yes, the PMA also has its share of scoundrels. They remind us of our imperfections.

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