Graduation blues

A batch of fresh graduates will take center stage this month as they march forward to receive their diplomas. For the graduate it spells out success after years of studying. For their parents it spells out relief after paying tuition fees all these years. For the government, it boils down to additional ‘unemployment’.

To Class 2014 – congratulations! Welcome to the ‘real’ world. Start wearing your armors and necessary gears to tread the unknown. I remember my grandfather, the late assemblyman Benito T. Soliven wrote about the youth. He said, “The Filipino youth, as a rule, is ambitious and enthusiastic enough. To be ambitious and enthusiastic is a good thing, a fine quality in the struggle for success. But it is not enough. It gives the first impulse to progress, to action. That initial action, however, that first effort, must be sustained and continued by earnest and persevering toil, without which nothing can be thoroughly accomplished. The young man who dreams of achieving great things, or even commonplace things, must learn and realize that there is no royal road to success. It was Ruskin who said: “If you want rest, you must toil for it, if food you must toil for it, if pleasure you must toil for it. Toil is the law.”

“Is perseverance, even when coupled with ambition enough? No. You must add virtue. In your pursuit of success, do not for an instant overlook the principle of morality, the eternal precepts written by the finger of God in the heart of man, the great truths codified and taught by Religion. Be successful men, be great men, if you can, but above all and at any cost, be good men.”

Times have changed. Today, men are departing from the paths of morality. They scoff at honesty. Pride has caused them to cast off as old-fashioned and tattered garments the old norms of moral conduct. Immorality, dishonesty, and sinfulness have contaminated our youth. As a matter of fact, they have invaded all classes and ranks of society, and have corrupted our government officials who are supposed to be the legal guardians of truth, equity and justice.

To be virtuous at this time and age is to be unprogressive. This is a wrong notion because virtue is character, and character is the highest expression of success.

The case of PMA Cadet Jeff Cudia has posed a challenge to us and has led the public to several debates and discussions. Truth is, we are all spectators. I actually caught myself entangled in this mystery. How can the PMA do this to a student? That was my initial thought. Why did Cadet Cudia take advantage of the media frenzy? Will the President interfere in this matter as the Commander-in-chief of the AFP?

Well, my research on this issue clarified some thoughts I had in mind. It all began on November 14, 2013 when Cadet Cudia was 2 minutes late for his 3pm English class and the reason he gave was that they were “dismissed a little bit late” in a previous class. An investigation conducted by the Honor Committee found him guilty of lying – a violation of the PMA Honor Code. This resulted in his dismissal from the academy. This may be a minor misdemeanor to us but not to the PMA. I guess we should respect that.

The essence of the PMA “Honor Code” is that the cadets should not lie, cheat, steal nor tolerate among them those who do. It is absolute and it does not distinguish between the degree of the offense committed. Once they have lied, cheated, stole or tolerated the commission of these offenses, there is only one punishment – separation. How I wish this code be used in government for that matter.

Maj. Agnes Lynette Flores, PMA Academic Affairs Chief stressed that Cudia’s case is not an issue about being late in class. While it started as a violation of the regulations, which is coming to class late, the findings of the preliminary investigation conducted revealed a possibility of Cadet Cudia violating the “Honor Code” which led to the opening of formal investigation by the “Honor Committee.”

When PMA cadets are accused of violating the code, they are asked two questions: Do you have the intention to deceive? Do you have the intention to take undue advantage? Cudia answered no to both questions. But some PMA alumni think otherwise.

In his blog, The Cadet Honor: My personal thoughts, Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, chief of the 7th Civil Relations Group and former Army spokesperson and a PMA graduate, explained Cudia’s case to civilians. He used the story of fictitious cadets Dugomon, Kulapu, and Boloy, whose stories he said resembles Cudia’s case. In his story, cadets Dugomon and Kulapu gave an accurate explanation of their tardiness. Unlike Boloy, obviously referring to Cudia, they did not say that the class was dismissed late. They explained how they were checking their grades at the office of the instructor and it is why they were late. Cabunoc added that checking grades is a “personal reason” and not “authorized absence” that will exempt cadets from punishments.

Some alumni also think that Cudia was insistent on getting his demerits revoked because he was running for honors and these would pull down his grade in Conduct – a subject that contributes a big weight in a cadet’s overall grade every semester. He wanted a higher grade in Conduct, so he allegedly lied.

It is unfortunate that bad things happen in a person’s life. One mistake may ruin a person’s future. But if he uses the lesson he learns from this mistake to improve himself, he comes out of it a better person, a stronger one in spirit, and heart.

In a chaotic country such as ours, where lawlessness and evil prevails, it is a relief to know that educational institutions such as the PMA still try their very best to live up to that Ethiopian value of idealism with the hope that we can change things in our society.

The PMA Honor Code has been there since the beginning of time. It teaches the cadets the ideal character of valor, loyalty, commitment and honesty. It is used as an instrument to bring out the good moral qualities of a cadet who after graduation will serve his country and people. To question it now and make public the internal processes in the academy will not solve the problem. Neither will it change the decision made by the Honor Committee.

Cudia can continue to fight for his right without question or doubt but he must also know how to handle the problem wisely. He knows the system, he knows the tradition, he knows the history, he knows the PMA. Life is tough and this trial should make him a better person at the end of the fight.