Arroyo to honor PMA batch 2010 graduates Monday

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will honor this year's Philippine Military Academy Class 2010 as she leads their commencement exercises in Baguio City Monday. A Malacañang statement said President Arroyo would witness the commissioning of the 226 members of Class Masidlak (Mandirigmang Sibol ng Dakilang Lahing Kayumanggi) to the military. Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Victor Ibrado and PMA Superintendent Vice Admiral Leonardo Calderon Jr. will join the President in welcoming the newest batch of military officers. Class valedictorian Before delivering her commencement address, President Arroyo will award the Presidential Saber and the Presidential Achievement Award for Academic excellence to class valedictorian Cadet First Class Erano Belen of Calindagan, Dumaguete. Belen will also receive other awards namely: Philippine Air Force Saber, Academic Group Award, Natural Sciences Plaque, Air Force Professional Courses Plaque, and JUSMAG Award for being the top graduate of the Air Force, Association of Generals and Flag Officers (AGFO) Award, and the Australian Defense Best Overall Performance Award for being the number one in Air Force Service Core Courses,. This year's 226 PMA cadets - 195 male and 31 female - has so far the biggest number of women graduates in the PMA's history since it started accepting female cadets in 1997. Among the graduating cadets, 122 will be joining the Philippine Army, 59 will enlist with the Philippine Navy, while 45 will be commissioned by the Philippine Air Force. Gonzales will commission the cadets into the military as second lieutenants for those joining the Army and the Air Force, and as ensigns for those joining the Navy. Ibrado will administer the oath to the newly commissioned AFP officers; while Cavalier Galileo Kintanar, chairman of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association (PMAAAI), will administer the oath of PMAAA membership to the organization’s latest batch of members. Honor roll Class salutatorian Cadet First Class Froilan Jick Binlingan Pinay-an, 24, of Poblacion Hungduan, Ifugao, will receive the Vice Presidential Saber, Philippine Army Saber, Tactics Group Award, Aguinaldo Plaque, Sports and Physical Development Plaque, JUSMAG Award for being the top graduate of the Philippine Army, Army Professional Courses Plaque. Australian Defense Best Overall Performance Award for Army Service Core Courses, and the Distinguished Cadet Award for being one of the class starmen. Placing third overall in the honor list is Cadet First Class Nonito Ong Ebal Jr., 25, of Zone II, Igpit, Opol, Misamis Oriental, who will be awarded the Secretary of National Defense Saber. Cadet First Class Jhonson Riveza Gonzales, 22, of Zone I Del Rosario, Pamplona Camarines Sur, placed fourth and will receive the Philippine Navy Saber, Navy Professional Courses Plaque, Australian Defense Best Overall Performance Award for being number one in the Navy Service Core Courses, JUSMAG Award for being the top graduate of the Philippine Navy, and the Distinguished Cadet Award for being one of the class starmen. Cadet First Class Jacob George Avila Kho, 25, of San Vicente, Baguio City, landed in fifth spot and will receive the Management Plaque and Social Sciences Plaque from the Academy officials. Rounding the top 10 are Cadets First Class Joel Delos Santos Perante, 22, of Nula-Tula, Tacloban City, Leyte, sixth; Erwin Ramos Villanueva, 25, of Dasmariñas, Cavite, seventh; Alfie Pancho Agarao, 23, of Cabbalas, Pequeno, Carles, Iloilo, eighth; Karen Nuevas Padayao, 21, of Ormoc City, Leyte, the only female cadet who landed in the top 10, ninth; and Ric Ivan Cordero Joven, 22, of Suralla, South Cotabato, 10th. - KBK, GMANews.TV