FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City, Philippines – Cadets of the Philippine Military Academy are uncertain if President Aquino is gracing the biggest gathering of PMA alumnus starting today.
Aquino might go against the 100-year-old tradition of presidents speaking before thousands of graduates of the country’s premier military training school.
PMA has not placed Aquino’s name in the official program of the 113th homecoming rites, which end on Sunday.
Last year, Aquino graced his first PMA alumni homecoming as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.
In 2011, Aquino was invited to become the adopted “mistah” of several PMA classes. However, he declined, saying he did not want to “politicize the PMA.”
Aquino’s sisters Ballsy Cruz and Pinky Abellada were adopted as members of PMA Class 1980 in 2011.
Their two other sisters, Victoria Elisa Aquino-Dee and Kristina Bernadette Aquino, are adopted members of PMA Mapitagan Class of 1980, to which Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome belongs.
PMA Class 1952 is celebrating its diamond jubilee this year; Class 1962, its golden jubilee; and Class 1987, its silver jubilee.