Once upon a summer in PMA

On March 11, 1983, the Philippine Military Academy was buzzing with activity. Families from all over the country came in droves. The grandstand was filled to the hilt. When the band started to play, the Corps together with 192 cadets snappily marched into the vast Borromeo Field. It was the major activity for the PMA Matikas Class ’83. These 192 men entered hallowed grounds as cadets and left as 2nd Lieutenants of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

To complete this Matikas story, let us go back in time to 1979 when Class 1983 entered the academy. The story began on April 1, 1979 when 320 boys converged in Fort Bonifacio and submitted themselves to the academy’s challenges. There were sons of generals, sons of enlisted personnel, sons of farmers and of businessmen. Each with a different past, aiming for the same future: To become a member of the prestigious long gray line. It was the start of the grueling task of separating the boys from the men.

The class underwent two weeks of pre-cadetship training in Manila under the eagle-eyed PMA tactical officers and the Philippine Marine Battalion, no less! This meant two weeks of basic military training, the primer of cadet life, twice a day road runs and dozens of Army exercises. They were taught the proper way to salute, how to stand, walk, march and rest in their sleeping uniforms throughout the night. These were all designed to prepare them for the tough life of plebehood. On April 15, 1979 they were ordered to board buses bound for the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio and continue their training for the next four years.

Their first memory of Borromeo Field was the sound of the PMA band playing You’re in the Army Now. The "yahh" holler of the entire corp of cadets in answer to the commandant of the cadets’ order "Take charge!" rang clearly in their ears. The new recruits felt all hell break loose. After countless rounds of push-ups and double times, as well as innumerable head-up, chin-up and brace-up commands, they were ordered to take a 10-count bath, then ushered back to Borromeo Field to take the oath that formally inducted them as members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Summer Camp was better known as "beast barracks" and by the sound of it, it’s not hard to imagine what went on in there. Class historian Bernie Crisostomo won’t answer the question anyway. He said, "The memories of the summer camp need not be recalled for everyone of us has by now passed this on to oblivion." He hastened to add that there were lessons learned, remembering a member of Class 1980 who once said, "It is only a matter of adjustment... of attitude... to attempt to do the impossible, and the patience to learn to bear the unbearable." Summer camp was meant to transform each cadet from boy to man and into a disciplined soldier. "The price of being a cadet can be won through pain, hardship and breaking up of their old selves," he added. Surviving beast barracks was their first feat. On May 23, 1979, they were incorporated into the corps and they became plebes.

With beast barracks behind them, one would think that the worst was over for these would-be soldiers. On the contrary, their lives as cadets had just begun. As the years progressed, the tough physical requirements were integrated with even tougher academic requirements. While the seemingly monotonous routine of the cadets were punctuated by social activities, the pressure finally took its toll on many. Purging became an inevitable consequence.

By March 11, 1983, only 192 prevailed. A memorable southern cruise, numerous field training exercises, various hops and balls, and several "Kaydet" girls after, it was time for them to toss their caps high up in the air and begin their lives as lieutenants of the AFP. To describe the life of the cadet as "hard" would be an understatement. Not only did they have to endure the work, they had to live to tell the tale as well.

On Valentine’s Day 2003, all roads led to Baguio for the PMA annual homecoming. From Balintawak tollway leading to the PMA, the roads were adorned with Matikas streamers and every class of every year in the PMA. The following day, 600 people who are all related in one way or another to a Matikas alumnus, opened the reunion weekend with a lunch party in the Baguio Country Club. A ball was held in the evening with camaraderie, relaxed bantering, reminiscing, dancing and drinking among the Matikas couples (Kaydet girls or not) filling the air. It was a celebration of friendship and solidarity.

Members of Class ‘83 are now either police colonels of the Philippine National Police or military officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Many have won medals and earned other accolades fighting the war. Others have resigned from the service but they continue to maintain their affinity with this brotherhood. Noticeably, the ladies follow their husbands’ lead by forging their own strong friendships. After all, they have practically known each other for years and have also gone through many ups and downs. A few have teenaged children, some of them already in college. These children practically grew up together though they only saw each other once a year.

The next day, Class of 1983 congregated in the academy. Their wives and children were in simple white Matikas T-shirts and jeans while the gentlemen were in uniformed beige long-sleeved shirts and black pants. Together with other PMAers, they proudly marched into Borromeo Field for their annual alumni homecoming. As a class, it was obvious that the Matikas provided the longest line among all the alumni classes. How he was able to induce all his mistahs to go to Baguio was a clear manifestation of the leadership of class president cavalier Alex Ignacio. My mistahs marched proudly before their families as soldiers of the academy and in remembrance of their fallen classmates.

On March 11, 2003, exactly 20 years after their graduation day, this class will again meet in celebration of their illustrious careers – with their wives in tow. After all, these ladies were the ones who worked and waited, and packed their husbands’ clothes with every change of assignment. This rhythm will go on until their husbands’ retirement, all the while being defenders of the country and members of the long, gray line.

To this class who has taken me under their wing, the class who made me a part of their lives, thank you!