2026 is both a historic and record year for the province of Batangas and for the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
For the first time since the PMA opened its ranks to women in 1993, three female cadets from that province made it to the Top 10 graduating cadets, including the class valedictorian! Given this feat, every Batangueño has every reason to stand proud, and the Batangas Forum for Good Governance and Development, which extolls the excellence of Batangueños, called a special session in cooperation with Kapatirang Mabini Inc. (KMI) to recognize those trailblazing Batangueñas.
On June 3, 2026, in the hallowed halls of the Apolinario Mabini Shrine in Talaga, Tanauan City, the three female PMA topnotchers gathered with their respective families. A festive but solemn conferment-of-award ceremony was held. Batangas Forum chairman and former Tanauan mayor Francisco “Paquito” Lirio, Batangas Forum president and Club Balai Isabel owner Nelson Terrible, and former Batangas governor and KMI Chairman and President Antonio “Tony” Leviste each handed trophies and cash to the honorees.
Philippine Army (PA) Second Lieutenant (2LT) Christine Librada from Lipa City ranked first in the PMA “Talang Dangal” Class of 2026. For graduating at the top of her class, she was awarded the coveted Presidential Saber. She also received the Joint United States Military Assistance Group Award for demonstrating “excellence in professional courses, leadership, and overall military aptitude”; the Information Technology Plaque; and the Australian Defense Best Overall Performance Award for “exceptional all-around excellence across academics, physical training, military aptitude, and leadership.” Librada also received the Philippine Army Saber for being the highest-ranking cadet in the order of merit who is joining the PA.
Joining Librada in the esteemed topnotchers circle are Philippine Navy (PN) Ensign (ENS) Elixa Anya Hernandez from Padre Garcia, Batangas (ranked seventh), and Army 2LT Catherine Liesha de Chavez of San Pascual, Batangas (ranked eighth).
Hernandez was awarded the Philippine Navy Saber for being the highest-ranking cadet in the order of merit who is joining the PN, as well as the Australian Defense Best Overall Performance Award. Meanwhile, de Chavez was awarded the Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Saber for “obtaining the highest overall rating in all Military Law courses” and the Artemio Ricarte Plaque for exemplifying the “fierce patriotism and leadership during the Philippine Revolution” of the late revolutionary general.
Indeed, making it to the PMA, much more to the Top 10, is no small feat. The selection and screening process to get a slot was stringent and competitive.
Out of 37,651 aspirants who applied and were initially screened, only 24,288 were allowed to take the PMA Entrance Examination. Out of the 1,211 who passed it, only the top 350 who hurdled the rigid physical and medical examinations were appointed as cadets to form the PMA Class of 2026.
Thus, the Batangas Forum considers the conferment of awards for the crème de la crème de la crème of the 207 graduating cadets who call themselves “Tagapagtanggol ng Lahing Dakila at Marangal,” or “Talang Dangal,” a momentous occasion, especially since there are six more Batangueños in the graduating class: 2LT Markcon Mendoza PAF from San Jose; 2LT Raven Vaness Molina PAF and 2LT Jazmine Cordova PAF, both from Lipa City; 2LT Timothy James Hernandez PAF from Alitagtag; 2LT Jesper Kent de los Reyes PAF from Calaca City; and ENS Aaron Flojo PN from Sto. Tomas City.
Déjà vu
Behind the revelry and smiles at the venue, I can somehow empathize with how these honorees — and the rest of the young graduates — feel. It’s the same feeling I had some 36 years ago as a young, eager and idealistic graduate of the PMA “Bigkis Lahi” Class of 1990.
The euphoria of these young officers graduating with honors has begun to dissipate; the sense of pride and feeling of joy slowly begins to fade. It is past midway through their 30-day academic leave; in less than two weeks, they will be reporting to their respective branches of service. Not much about being “Dumbguards” and “lowest mammal” in the officer corps: they have experienced “Plebehood.” Not really much about leaving behind their families and friends again: they have done that before, though this time is no longer for the safe and protected walls of the PMA.
They will no longer be in the hallowed grounds of the academy, but out in the real world.
But unlike the winners of Pinoy Big Brother, who are met with cash prizes, luxury trips, and exclusive television or advertising contracts when they go back to the outside world, these PMA graduates will be joining mainstream society, where the people they have sworn to serve are living in an extraordinarily challenging time.
The economy is down; the peso-to-dollar exchange rate has hit a record bottom; massive corruption plagues the government; and most politicians are serving their own, selfish interests. The citizens are heavily polarized by politics. The country’s credibility and standing before the international community is at its lowest: we recently lost to Kyrgyzstan in our bid for a nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council by a margin of 93 votes.
Exemplary Batangueños
In these extraordinary times, we need beacons of hope, symbols of idealism, and models of patriotism. We yearn for examples of statesmanship and of indomitable courage.
We miss the exemplars of Batangueño nationalism and patriotism, in the likes of the late general Miguel Malvar, president Jose P. Laurel, and revolutionary Apolinario Mabini. We crave for the statesmanship of the late senator Jose Diokno and vice president Salvador Laurel, and the brilliance of the late senator Claro M. Recto.
But much as we can look up to these young officers as answers to our longing, it is unfair for us to expect them to be the panacea for all the ills that our nation and its people now endure.
Instead, let us all do what we can do best: pray for them. They need it direly as they embark on a profession laden with exacting standards and perilous missions, so that we can all live securely and in peace.
Prayers for strength when the tests against their moral and physical courage are at their strongest.
For direction when they get lost or astray; discernment in times of confusion or test of judgment. And for God’s mantle of protection in times when they face perils that are seen or unforeseen.
Because when the limits of our loving arms and the bounds of our caring hands cannot reach them, we only have our fervent prayers and steadfast faith in God to shield and protect them from danger.
So we say, congratulations to the prides of Batangas! Go forth, PMA “Talang Dangal” Class of 2026. It’s time to win your battles with the bravery and heroism of your Batangueño forebears.
atty.edarevalo@gmail.com
