Fort del Pilar, Baguio City
15 March 2015
President Benigno S. Aquino III graced the 110th Commencement Exercises of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) – SINAGLAHI Class of 2015 at Fort del Pilar, Baguio City.
SINAGLAHI, which stands for “Sundalong Isinilang na may Angking Galing at Lakas, Handang Ipaglaban ang Bayan,” is composed of 156 male cadets and 16 female cadets. 35 of them will render their service to the Philippine Air Force (PAF), 45 have chosen the Philippine Navy (PN) and 92 will serve in the Philippine Army (PA).
President Aquino awarded the Presidential Saber Award to Cadet 1st Class, now 2nd Lieutenant Arwi C. Martinez, who also received the Philippine Army Saber Award, Tactic Groups Award, and JUSMAG Award. In his valedictory address, the 2015 cum laude thanked his friends and fellow cadets, the officials of PMA and most especially his family for the support they have given him.
In his keynote address, President Aquino assured the safety and welfare of the future leaders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by ensuring their housing projects, pensions and benefits with no tax increases.
“At kung ang bawat isa sa inyo sa SINAGLAHI ay maninindigan at gagamitin ang inyong angking galing at lakas upang tumbasan pa ang nagawa ng mga nauna sa inyo, maipapamana natin sa susunod na henerasyon ang isang bayang di hamak na mas maganda kaysa ating dinatnan,” the Commander-in-Chief added.
Before the graduation proper, President Aquino led the inauguration of the newly-completed Philippine Military Academy Sports Complex. He inspected the two-storey building with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Oscar Lopez.
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