PMA sees highest number of female graduates at 2018 rites

The Philippine Military Academy will see the highest number of female graduates in its 81-year history, as 75 of them will march on Sunday's graduation ceremonies at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Lieutenant Colonel Rey Balido, PMA spokesperson, said the number of female graduates of "PMA Alab Tala Class "of 2018 makes this year's graduation ceremonies special.

Out of the 282 graduates this year, 207 are males and 75 are females. Last year, only 63 female cadets graduated from the academy.

"Siguro ang kakaiba lang dito ay mas marami yung babae [ngayon] kaysa yung babae last year. 75 nga ito. So far ito na yung pinakamaraming graduate na babae," Balido said.

President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo will grace this year's graduation ceremonies.

Balido said Duterte is expected to impart his advice and expectation to the PMA graduating class in his speech during the ceremonies. 

"Siguro yung kanyang payo sa mga ga-graduate, yung kanyang expectation at yung ibibigay niyang suporta at pangako sa ating mga kasundaluhan," he said when asked about the content of Duterte's message to the graduates.

Balido also confirmed that the new PMA graduates will already be covered by the increase in the base pay for military and uniformed personnel.

"May effect na. Meron nang effect doon sa increase nila," he said.

However, new-graduates will not be automatically deployed to strife-torn Mindanao, Balido said.

"Depende 'yan sa branch of service nila. Bago sila ma-deploy, meron pa silang isang buwan na bakasyon. Pero ibibigay na yan ng kanya-kanyang branch of service," he said.

The 25-year-old registered nurse Cadet 1st Class Jaywardene Galilea Hontoria will lead this year's batch of graduates, followed by Cadet 1st Class Ricardo Witawit Liwaden and Cadet 1st Class Jun-Jay Malazzab Castro.

Assignments of the 282 graduates are as follows: 143 are joining the Philippine Army;  71 joining the Philippine Air Force, and 68 joining the Philippine Navy. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News