PMA holds entrance test

Sunday Aug 20 at HNU

TAGBILARAN CITY, August 18, (PIA) --By the time you are reading this, some young Boholanos and Boholanas have sweated it out and squeezed their mental capacities to get through to the country's prestigious officers training institution: the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). 

The goal this year is to get more Boholanos into the academy to improve on its record of five new entrants last year and three during the previous year, no less than the division chief of the Academic Group of the PMA, Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Celino bared during the radio forum on the air Kapihan sa PIA. 

Getting there means hurdling the obstacle called the PMA admission test. 

The test, opened to poor but deserving male and female Boholanos who are 5 feet in height, 17 to 21 years old bonafide students with decent academic standing and those who intend to nurture their patriotic dreams of serving God and country.

The past years saw a few Boholanos passing the entrance examination only to be turned down during the physical and medical check-ups, or much fewer even survive the academy, according to a former academy student who is now working at the jails. 

In fact, the PMA has brought 300 examination booklets here, following the promising campaign performance last year which showed 5 Boholano cadets getting to the incorporation day last year, according to Col. Celino, who came to the radio forum aired over DyTR, along with Boholano cadet from Dagnawan Inabanga: Cadet Mateo Gambe Jr.

Last year, the PMA also saw 3 Boholano graduates enlisted into the institution's alumni roster: two females and a male, all have proceeded to their opted military branches of service, the PMA official added.

According to the officer, there is one Boholano each for the fourth, third and three at the second year, while 5 are in the first year. 

Gambe, who finished his high school from San Jose High School (Pasanan) Inabanga admitted that the academy has helped him face people. 

Then an extremely shy individual, Gambe said his he solved his problem with the language barrier as soon as he started developing self confidence at the academy. 

At the academy, we are not just molded academically, Gambe said. 

Apart from a strenuous academic training, PMA curriculum also incorporates character, physical and military training, making better personalities among future officers of the country's military service, Gambe, who sports a neat crew cut revealed.

Gambe, who would be completing his cadetship at the Academy earns P30,000 a month for his training and gets the junior officers commission the moment he graduates.

PMA trainees also earn international studies stints, according to Colonel Celino, who added that one such is a woman graduating from the Australian Defense Academy soon.

While allegations of padrino are rife at the PMA, a former trainee debunks the claim adding that PMA indeed is a tough course and surviving alone is already a personal achievement.(rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

PMA official Lt. Col Ryan Celino invited Boholanos aged 17-22 to come to the examinations set Sunday at the Holy Name University. PMA said they want more Boholanos at the premier military officers training school in the country. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)