PMA valedictorian almost quit on her second day 

Reaching the top of the Philippine Military Academy Salaknib Class of 2017 was not easy for Cadet 1st Class Rovi Mairel Valino Martinez, who came close to quitting on her second day at the academy.

In an exclusive interview on Balitanghali, Martinez said she was overwhelmed by the pressures at the PMA on her second day.

"Pinakamahirap is yung second day ko po kasi iyon po 'yung time na gusto ko na mag-quit. 'Yung first day kasi 'di ko siya masyadong namalayan kasi sobrang daming nangyari," Martinez said.

"Sa second day parang iyon 'yung pinaka-part po namin sa PMA na hindi pa ko sanay mag-exercise, 'di ako sanay na parang... yung training po parang na-shock ako sa training na meron sa PMA noong una," she added.

Martinez said her training officer asked her during her second day, "Ayaw mo na? O 'di sige umuwi ka na!" Her answer was: "Yes sir, I'll quit."

She recalled this was the time that she met Cadet 2nd Class Medalla, who encouraged her to continue pursuing her journey in the PMA, an institution where many are called but few are chosen.

"Dun ko na po na-meet si Cadet 2nd Class Medalla. Iyon po 'yung sinasabi niya sa'kin na madaming gusto pumasok dun tapos ako na nandun na saka ko pa gugustuhin umalis," Martinez said.

"After po nun lagi ko na lang iniisip yung sinasabi nila na matatapos din 'yung araw, dadating yung panibagong umaga. 'Di mo namalayan patapos na pala yung training mo sa PMA," she added.

Martinez said that the most unforgettable part of her stay in the academy was when they are ordered to go straight to the physical training right after having their meals.

"Sanay po ako sa bahay na magpapahinga, manood ng TV, magkwentuhan, pero sa PMA after namin kumain nun may mga set of exercises na gagawin. Siguro nabigla po yung katawan na parang ang sakit-sakit ng tiyan ko parang may apendicitis na ko pero yung leader ko patuloy pa rin niya ako pinag-e-exercise kaya hirap na hirap po ako nung una," Martinez said.

Motivation

Martinez, who had decided that she will join the Philippine Navy, said she drew her motivation from her family, especially from her father who failed to pursue his own dream of becoming a soldier.

She said her father always told her of his frustrations of not making the cut at the PMA, not even the Philippine National Police Academy, when she was still a child.

"Yung father ko kasi nun palagi niya kinukwento yung frustrations niya sa PMA na palagi siyang nag-a-apply tapos natatagalan siya sa pagkuha ng quota kaya umuuwi sya muna. Palagi nagkakataon na 'pag umuuwi siya saka naman kukunin yung quota para sa mga magiging sundalo. Tinray din niya magpulis pero ganon din nangyari," she said.

She also had a hard time entering the PMA.

In high school, Martinez said she tried to apply for the PMA but she was denied because she not at the proper age then. She then decided to go to college.

After two years in college and she had reached the age requirement, her ambition to enter the PMA was also hindered by her father's political career.

Her father won a seat in the barangay council in Cabanatuan City and the entrance examinations dates at the PMA always coincided with the barangay elections.

Martinez, who was a student assistant at her university, said she was only able to take the test when the PMA conducted a special exam at her school.

"Nalaman ko ulit na may pa-exam sa PMA sa university namin kaya sabi ko sa Papa ko na try ko mag-exam ulit. Parang yun lang yung time na puwede kasi hindi eleksyon saka eksakto na yung age ko nun," she said.

"Kaya sabi ko ita-try ko na ngayon kasi yun na lang yung time ko na pwedeng mag-exam kaya tinray ko po ulit. Tapos awa ng Diyos nakapasa po ako saka nakapasok po ako sa Class of 2017," she added.

Equal opportunity for women

Meanwhile, Martinez said she hopes the Armed Forces of the Philippines will prepare equal opportunities for the 63 women graduates in her class.

President Rodrigo Duterte had noted in his speech in Baguio City on Saturday that this year's graduating class had the most number of female graduates in PMA history. The class had a total of 16- graduates.

"Naniniwala naman po ako na, yun nga po parepareho kami ng training, pero yung mga facilities po natin ngayon hindi pa siya ganon ka-prepared pa sa maraming babae," she said, adding some of her mistahs even aspire to be deployed in the battlefield.

"Marami talaga sa mga mistah kong babae na willing at gusto nila pumasok sa combat. I-take po nila kung ano man ang merong i-o-offer sa kanila lalo na sa combat kasi accepted po natin na hindi pa siya (AFP_ masyadong prepared para sa mga babae pero handa rin po kami... kung ano man po yung naghihintay para sa amin," Martinez said.

Martinez said she is particularly looking forward to her deployment at the Philippine Navy.

"Ako po kasi nag-join ako ng Philippine Navy. Sa Philippine Navy meron kaming career path na tinatawag na most probably po we will undergo pooling muna then after pooling ide-deploy na po kami sa iba't ibang units. Siyempre po lahat kami magbabarko," Martinez said. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/ALG, GMA News