6 yKalingas among PMA’s 2023 graduates

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Six cadets who trace their roots to Kalinga province graduated from the premiere military academy this Sunday, May 21, at Fort General Gregorio Del Pilar in Baguio City.

The six coming from the different municipalities and the city of the province are among the 310-strong members of the Philippine Military Academy’s "MAndirigmang may DAngal SImbolo ng Galing at PagbangON" or MADASIGON Class of 2023.

Cadet First Class (1CL) John Rozz Oggang of Bangad, Tinglayan was hailed as the Male Athletic Saber awardee, a symbol of athletic superiority, highlighting the athletic prowess of a cadet. He also graduated as cum laude.

Oggang had been competing in combative sports namely, judo, jiu-jitsu, wushu, Muay Thai, and boxing; racket sports such as badminton and lawn tennis; and team sports like basketball and volleyball. He also competed in other individual sports - archery, athletics, and obstacle course racing.

Other yKalinga graduates are Cadet 1CL Ron Godfrey W. Bawalan from Pasil; Cadet 1CL Dean B. Oyando and Cadet 1CL Lanz Eliezer C. Batay-an from Tabuk City; Cadet 1CL John Van Aike D. Hortelano from Pinukpuk; and Cadet 1CL Uriel Shen T. Cabasog from Balbalan town.

Other Cordilleran cadets

A total of 50 Cordilleran cadets graduated today, of which 42 are males and eight are females. Six among them are achievers, while three others made it to the list of Top 10.

Cadet 1CL Rojan Macario of Barlig, Mt. Province and Zamboanga City is the Top 6; Cadet 1CL Kimberly Kate Lawingan of Sadanga, Mt. Province - Top 8; and Cadet 1CL Arla Krish Bahingawan of Kiangan, Ifugao - Top 10.

Achievers, other than Oggang, are Cadet 1CL Ma Ysabelle Versoza of Baguio City who is graduating as cum laude, and Cadet 1CL Jeuel Ariel Wangwang of Bontoc, Mt. Province, an awardee of the Department of Information Technology plaque.

Some 158 of the 310 graduates are joining the Philippine Army (PA), 77 in the Philippine Navy (PN), and 75 in the Philippine Air Force (PAF), according to the PMA.

The class valedictorian Cadet 1CL Warren Leonor from Lipa City in Batangas will join PAF. He received numerous awards including the Presidential Saber from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. who graced the commencement exercises.

Speaking to the graduates for the first time as the nation’s commander-in-chief, Marcos challenged them to be "brave and selfless soldiers and dedicate their lives to the cause of defending our republic."

"You have been trained for the daunting challenges that await outside this fabled fort. You now continue your lifelong commitment to the nation, the true battles will now begin," he added.

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