Fish vendor’s son among PMA’s top graduates

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  – A son of a fish vendor will finish eighth in this year’s graduation rites of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Cadet First Class Steven Tali is the only boy among the six children of Nul Tali from his second wife, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW).

Aside from Steven, another Zamboangueño, Cadet First Class Genesis Dizon, will finish second in PMA’s Sinag-lahi Class graduation ceremony.

The elder Tali recalled how they celebrated with a bottle of soda at their home in Barangay Lower Calarian when his son passed the PMA entrance examination given four years ago at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU).

Tali, a Muslim and father of 17 from his other wives, shared how he attended to his son’s needs until he entered the academy. He will fly to Baguio City this month to attend Steven’s graduation. 

Meanwhile, Dizon is a son of an Air Force officer, who is currently serving at the Edwin Andrews Air Base. His mother is an employee at a military base here. 

Dizon has been a topnotcher since high school. He first took up nursing for two years at the University of the Philippines before he joined the PMA. 

After graduation, Dizon will join the Army and Tali the Navy.

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar lauded the two cadets and urged them to remain courageous amid adversities, citing what the Zamboangueños showed at the height of the Zamboanga siege.