‘Consistency and discipline’: iKalinga son graduates TOP 1 in 2026 COAST GUARD OFFICER COURSE

FEATURE

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – He was not the strongest swimmer among his peers. He faced exhaustion, homesickness, sleepless nights, and academic pressure. But for 27-year-old Ensign Jeremy Baluyan Igo, these challenges became opportunities to push himself beyond his limits.

The son of Casigayan, Tabuk City, has reached another milestone in the uniformed service after emerging as the top graduate among 649 members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Officer Course Class 31-2025 “SIMLAYAG.”

Igo was recognized during the graduation ceremony of the Philippine Coast Guard Academy on October 29, 2026, in Bagac, Bataan. Aside from finishing first in his class, he was also conferred the prestigious Presidential Saber Sword award.

For Igo, however, the distinction was not simply about finishing ahead of hundreds of fellow trainees. It was a personal victory that reflected the discipline, consistency, and determination he had developed throughout his journey.

When asked about the secret behind consistently landing among the top performers, Igo told GURU Press Cordillera that consistency and discipline brought him this far.

These values helped him endure the demanding training, including exhaustion, homesickness, lack of sleep, academic pressure, and other challenges inside the academy.

From enlisted personnel to officer

Before joining the Philippine Coast Guard, Igo spent four years serving as enlisted personnel at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

During those years, he continued pursuing his education while fulfilling his duties in the uniformed service. He simultaneously worked toward a Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree and a Juris Doctor degree.

He completed his master's degree in January 2024, adding another academic achievement to his growing list of accomplishments.

His journey toward excellence had already begun years earlier. In 2019, he placed seventh in the Cordillera region during the Criminologists Licensure Examination. In 2021, he also emerged as one of the top three graduates of BuCor Class 13-2021 “Laksambigkis.”

Despite these achievements, Igo wanted to take on greater responsibilities in the uniformed service and fulfill his dream of becoming an officer.

He decided to put his Juris Doctor studies on hold and applied to the Philippine Coast Guard in May 2024. He took his oath in December of the same year and entered the academy to undergo officer training.

For Igo, joining the academy was an opportunity to challenge himself, develop his leadership abilities, and strengthen his character.

“As a previous non-officer, what inspired me to join the Coast Guard Officer Course was my desire to become an officer who can motivate, inspire and lead by example among his team,” he said.

The challenge of going beyond his limits

One of the challenges Igo had to overcome inside the academy was swimming.

He admitted to GURU Press Cordillera that he was not a strong swimmer, which pushed him to work harder and challenge himself in the water.

Rather than allowing this weakness to hold him back, he used it as motivation to improve and become more capable of meeting the demands of the training.

He also acknowledged that his 648 fellow trainees were equally competent and deserving of recognition. For him, emerging as the top graduate did not mean he was better than all of them.

Instead, the achievement represented his ability to step outside his comfort zone, overcome his limitations, and give his best.

“Our time in the academy wasn’t easy, but despite the difficulties, I kept reminding myself of my goals and the sacrifices I had to make just to get in. Also, being the top 1 and the Presidential Saber Sword Awardee is not about defeating the other 648 training officers, but it’s about breaking my own limits and giving my best,” he said.

His words reflect a journey in which success was measured not only by academic standing or awards, but also by the willingness to confront personal weaknesses and grow through difficult experiences.

A new chapter in service

From being an enlisted personnel at the Bureau of Corrections to becoming the top graduate of the Coast Guard Officer Course, Igo's journey has been marked by continuous learning, perseverance, and a desire to serve in a greater capacity.

With his graduation, he is now waiting for his official deployment orders as he prepares to take on his responsibilities as a Coast Guard officer.

As he celebrates this milestone, Igo expressed gratitude to his family and loved ones who supported his dream and continuously stood behind him as he pursued his aspirations.

For the young iKalinga, the Presidential Saber Sword and the distinction of being the top graduate are more than symbols of achievement. They represent the sacrifices he made, the challenges he overcame, and the personal limits he refused to accept.

His journey serves as a reminder that greatness is not always about being better than others. Sometimes, it is about having the discipline to keep going, the courage to face one's weaknesses, and the determination to become better than who one was yesterday.