A LIFE WELL-LIVED...

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES? or BLESSINGS-IN-DISGUISE? Philippine Military Academy (PMA)

Located in Baguio City, in the Mountain Province, it is the premier military school in the country, the only one I know, as a matter of fact. Several months before our high school graduation, my class advisor handed me reviewers for the PMA entrance exam. Algebra, Geometry, pattern recognition among others plus some physical exercises like high jump, squat jump, running and push ups. On weekends, she comes to school to coach me. Even on some school days, she stays behind after class to see how I was doing. D Day came in December. Together with several dozens?, a hundred?, I did not know, I did not bother knowing how many we were, at the examination center in Cagayan de Oro City. I saw faces of excitement, apprehension and of awe. The Proctors were all PMA Cadets - Plebes (equivalent to college freshmen). Looking at them in their gray uniform gives you goosebump. My mind was running wild. Come next school year, I would be wearing that same uniform. After a quick preliminary physical exam, we were assembled in classrooms for Orientation. I was with twenty other hopefuls in a typical classroom. After fifty years, I could no longer remember who our Proctor was, but most if not all of the things he talked about being a PMA cadet, to these days still ring bells. Among them: Free tuition fee; Free uniform; Free laundry service; Free haircut; Free toiletries; Free board and lodging; Plus monthly allowance. Year was 1972. The national government spends one hundred and twenty thousand pesos (Php 120,000.00), for each cadet for a four-year course (mostly Engineering). Upon graduation, each is commissioned Second Lieutenant in any of the four major branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) namely: Philippine Army (PA); Philippine Constabulary (PC); Philippine Air Force (PAF) and; Philippine Navy (PN). I learned later that only the Top 10 can choose which branch to serve, others go through raffle.