President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reminded the Bagong Sinag Class of 2024 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to assert Philippine rights over its territory and protect any part of it from being taken by any foreign intruders.
In his speech during the commencement exercises of class Bagong Sinag in Baguio City, President Marcos said attempts to divert the Filipinos’ attention and dissipate their vigilance should not draw the new military officers away from the threats the nation is facing.
The tasks, the President said, include keeping the Filipino people safe in their homes, Philippine territories secured, defenses against threats strong, and democracy vibrant and stable.
He added said the new graduates are also “inductees” in the national effort to address various issues. He mentioned the efforts against groups whose fossilized ideas have been rejected by people tired of war and against invaders.
“These are intruders who have been disrespecting our territorial integrity. We will vigorously defend what is ours. But our conduct must always be guided by law and [by] our responsibility as a rules-abiding member of the community of nations,” Marcos said.
He said the country should be defended “against evolving threats that harm our people and corrode social and political trust.” “We will be adept, we will be flexible, and we will be ready in repelling such things,” the chief executive told the 238-strong cadets.
To carry out those goals, the President said the cadets should be ready, prompting him to order the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to review the curriculum of the PMA.
President Marcos was the guest of honor and keynote speaker during the commencement exercises of the 278-strong graduating PMA cadets at the academy’s Borromeo Field, Fort Gregorio del Pilar, Loakan in Baguio City on Saturday.
“Bagong Sinag” stands for “Bagong Henerasyong Gagampanan ang Tama: Serbisyo, Integridad, at Nasyonalismo ang Aming Gabay”. A total of 278 out of 350 original cadets finished the course and conferred with the degree of Bachelor of Science in National Security Management (BSNSM).
Of the figure, 224 are male while 54 are female. Seven cadets graduated from Foreign Service Academies.
The PMA was established on October 25, 1898 by virtue of a decree issued by then President Emilio Aguinaldo and was formally created on Dec. 21, 1935.
AFP’s welfare and morale assured
Marcos reiterated on Saturday the administration’s commitment to improve the welfare and morale of personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and their families.
“And to all the members of the AFP, be assured this government has a continued assurance in improving the welfare and morale of our uniformed officials and personnel, and of course including your respective families,” President Marcos said.
The President made the remarks during the commencement exercises of the 278-strong graduating cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Bagong Sinag Class of 2024 at the PMA Borromeo Field, Fort Gregorio del Pilar, Loakan in Baguio City.
“Bagong Sinag” stands for “Bagong Henerasyong Gagampanan ang Tama: Serbisyo, Integridad, at Nasyonalismo ang Aming Gabay” with 278 out of 350 original cadets who finished the course and conferred with the degree of Bachelor of Science in National Security Management (BSNSM).
Of the figure, 224 are male while 54 are female. Seven cadets graduated from Foreign Service Academies.
The President also recognized the PMA instructors for their hard work in providing responsive military education and ensuring that the cadets are equipped to become worthy torchbearers of freedom.
Marcos assured the AFP that his leadership, along with Bagong Sinag, will walk hand in hand towards the envisioned “Bagong Pilipinas” that is peaceful and progressive.
Fight destabilization, other threats
The President reminded the “Bagong Sinag” Class of 2024 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to remain resolute amid various threats blocking the administration’s shift to a secure, safe and progressive “Bagong Pilipinas.”
Marcos told the future torchbearers of freedom that the Philippines is currently facing various internal and external threats.
“Bagong Pilipinas is now being slowly born. This a time of birth pains— sadly, of opportunism, blatant attempts of destabilization, and last-ditch to cling to the rapidly disappearing past,” President Marcos told the 278-strong graduating “Bagong Sinag” cadets.
“But we must be resolute. We must hold on. We cannot turn back,” the chief executive added.
Amid all these threats, President Marcos, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), also highlighted the administration’s achievements over the past two years as far as peace building is concerned, saying the Filipino people can now “see and feel.”
“The southern front has been relatively quiet. Development has replaced the blast of bombs and cannon and booms,” the President said in referring to Southern Philippines.
“What we are facing now are a blatant disregard for internationally accepted principles and deployment of weapons of mass distraction by parties who seek to drive a wedge between a united citizenry. But people are not fooled. They can see through such schemes,” he added.
Marcos also reminded the cadets that the attempts to divert people’s attention and dissipate the energy are better spent in making the country better and face the urgent tasks ahead.
One of the tasks, Marcos said, is to keep the Filipino people safe in their homes, the Philippine territory secured, the defenses against threats strengthened, and maintaining a stable and strong democracy.
“You are now inductees in the national effort to attain the following: Against parties whose fossilized ideas have been rejected by a people tired of war, no quarter will be given, but we offer peace, of the principled kind that will uproot the causes of social discontent,” Marcos said.
“Against intruders who have been disrespecting our territorial integrity, we will vigorously defend what is ours, but our conduct always guided by law and by our responsibility as a rules-abiding member of the community of nations. Against evolving threats that harm our people and corrode social and political trust, we will be adept, we will be flexible, and we will be ready in repelling such things,” he added.
To carry on the challenges, the President said the cadets should be prepared.
He ordered the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to review the curriculum and ensure that cadets are equipped with “21st century skills” to counter “conventional and asymmetric threats.”
The President emphasized that amid digital battlefield, a clear vision for truth, integrity and patriotism, are necessary tools to combat attempts at disinformation and infiltration. PND
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