271 plebes to comprise PMA Class of 2010

BAGUIO CITY – The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) will formally accept into its fold 271 new cadets to comprise Class 2010 tomorrow.

Class “Laon-Alab” or Lakas Tipon Alay sa Bayan will be composed of 244 males and 27 females who will be recognized as full-fledged cadets in fitting ceremonies at Borromeo Field.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr., who belongs to PMA Class 1974, will be the guest of honor and speaker during the ceremonies, where the latest members of the Cadet Corps are given the welcoming handshake by upperclassmen as a signal of their formal entry into the premier military academy.

Razon, who will be honored with a 15-gun salute, and PMA officials will lead an “Open House” and the blessing of the academy’s renovated facilities.

The parents of 2,011 cadets from the Visayas and Mindanao will be flown to Fort del Pilar aboard C-130 planes, according to Air Force Capt. Dennis Solomon, PMA spokesman.

Those from Luzon will be ferried via PMA buses from the Baguio City proper and brought back to downtown after the ceremonies, he added.

After the formation, recognition and the recessional at Borromeo Field, Solomon said the just-recognized cadets will proceed to their designated areas per company for a picnic with their parents.

They will be allowed to leave the camp for a few hours, he added.

The PMA, the alma mater of most ranking military, police and civilian officials, celebrated its 109th Foundation Day last week. – With James Mananghaya