FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — Jeneth Elumba, the daughter of rice farmers and village officials from Surigao del Norte, topped the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 2024.
The PMA also announced on Friday that seven female cadets of Bagong Sinag Class 2024 are in the top 10.
Elumba, who will join the Philippine Army, dedicated her achievement to her father.
“He is a frustrated uniformed personnel, being a Criminology graduate who wanted to join or to serve the public. But due to circumstances, he was not able to pursue such a career,” Elumba said in an interview on the sidelines of the formal announcement of top graduating cadets at Longayban Hall here.
The top student said it was her father who encouraged her to serve in the military. “When we watch the television or are exposed to uniformed personnel in the community, he would encourage me and tell me, why not join? Look at them. They have the privilege to serve
the public and also to be of service to the people,” Elumba, 24 said.
The graduation on May 18 will be composed of 224 males and 54 females.
The six other females in the top 10 are Cyril Joy Masculino of Camarines Sur (4th); Rosmel Dogello of Jamindan, Capiz (5th); Alexa Mye Valen of Lanao Del Norte (6th); Giselle Tong of Tuguegarao, Cagayan (8th); Danica Marie Viray of Pasay City (9th); and Neriva Binag of Cabagan, Isabela (10th).
Mark Armuel Boiles of Quezon City and Kim Harold Gilo of Butuan City, ranked second and third, respectively, while in seventh place is Floyd Nino Arthur Roxas of Iloilo province.
Bagong Silang Class 2024 started with 350 cadets but only 278 made it.
Of the 278 cadets, 144 are joining the Philippine Army, 62 are going to the Philippine Air Force and 72 are joining the Philippine Navy.
PMA superintendent Lt. General Rowen Tolentino said the graduating class entered the academy at the height of the pandemic in May 2020 and the students were in a bubble for two years.
They were not allowed to leave the PMA premises or be visited by anybody.
To defend territory anytime
These cadets who will become junior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by May 18 vowed to defend the country anytime.
Cadet Miguel Ponce Abesamis from Olongapo City said the moment he joined the institution in 2020, he had already instilled in his mind to be prepared for anything.
“The mere fact that I decided to join this prestigious institution, I should be prepared for anything,” he said on the sidelines of the formal announcement of PMA’s top graduating cadets of "Bagong Sinag" Class of 2024.
He said the academy taught and equipped him not just with physical and mental capabilities but also with skills and strategies in defense of the country.
“Because of how PMA developed me, and the future officer that I would be, whatever happens in my area of specialization, I should be prepared to defend the people, country, territory,” he said during a press conference.
Cadet Kim Harold Gilo, the Class’ No. 3 who is joining Abesamis in the Philippine Navy, vowed to perform his best while asserting the country’s sovereignty and freedom.
“We will do our best to hone ourselves and continuously develop ourselves to be ready anytime where the sovereignty of our country will be on the line,” Gilo said.
PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Rowen Tolentino said part of the curriculum of the cadets is to expose them to the field and provide them with skills in territorial defense.
“'Yung role nila as a platoon leader, ensign, pilots sa Air Force, kanya-kanyang role na sila for external defense, 'yun na 'yung nagiging focus ng mga scenario ng mga (Their roles as platoon leaders, ensign, pilots of the Air Force, they have their own roles for external defense and that is the focus of the scenarios during their) Joint Field Training Program Exercises,” Tolentino said. PNA