CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The AFP Chief of Staff, General Andres C Centino PA, served as the Guest of Honor and Speaker during the Recognition Rites of the Philippine Military Academy “Talang Dangal” Class of 2026 on Saturday, March 04, 2023, at Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City.
The CSAFP, who belongs to PMA “Maringal” Class of 1988, was welcomed by the Officers, Enlisted Personnel, Cadets, and Civilian Human Resources at the Academy under the leadership of PMA Superintendent LtGen Rowen S Tolentino PA.
In his remarks, the CSAFP addressed four audiences: the fourthclass cadets or plebes; the upperclass cadets; the families and loved ones of the plebes; and the entire PMA. As an alumnus of the Academy, he shared the same pride as a cadet 39 years ago and asked the 310 newly-recognized cadets to “manifest the level of maturity and sense of responsibility worthy of the trust and respect of your upperclassmen and mentors.”
“In the days ahead, we will ask even more of you, in the fortitude of spirit, keenness of mind, and generosity of camaraderie. But know that the more challenging the times become, the better prepared you will be for the demands and trials that await you once you are outside of the Academy,” as the CSAFP shared one of the most important plebe-knowledges that he kept to his heart, the poem “Don’t Quit.”
One of the significant parts of the ceremony is the Handshake of Recognition to fourthclass cadets by the upperclass cadets as the CSAFP reminded the latter to show sincerity as they make the simple gesture. “That is a very significant handshake of respect and recognition of friendship and goodwill that you should maintain because that friendship will go on until you go out of the academy, until you serve the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he added.
The fourthclass cadets of the PMA “Talang Dangal” Class 2026 or the “Tagapagtanggol ng Lahing Dakila at Marangal” have achieved another milestone in their cadetship, who just months ago, vied to enter the Academy from among the more than 37,000 PMA applicants.
The CSAFP also recognized the families and loved ones of the fourthclass cadets for their trust in the PMA, the AFP, and the government in general, just as he thanked the entire PMA for sustaining the standards of excellence of the Academy in molding the country’s future military leaders. ///(Photos by TSgt Obinque, PAOAFP)
