PMA Graduation rites to be virtual sans even parents

May 17, 2020 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY (May 14, 2020) – Members of the Philippine Military Academy graduating class of 2020 will receive their diplomas without their very proud parents and their love ones on May 22.

Worse, not even the Commander-in-chief, President Rodrigo Duterte, is sure to award outstanding PMA graduates and declare them Second Lieutenants or Ensigns. There is nothing final yet on who will be the guest of honor and speaker, said PMA spokesperson Captain Cherryl Tindog.

Normally, the President as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces awards the Presidential Saber to the class topnotcher, the Vice President awards the Vice President’s Saber to the number 2 graduating cadet while commanders of the major service commands – Army, Philippine Air Force and Navy award the Major Service Sabers to graduates topping the Army, Air Force and Navy courses.

But not even major service commanders are sure to be present on the graduation rites of the members of MASIDLAWIN class of 2020 (Mandirigmang Isinilang ng may Dangal at Lakas Upang Maging Tanglaw ng Inang Bayan) added Tindol.

The graduation rites though will be livestreamed via the PMA’s official facebook page. Journalists are also not allowed to cover the yearly event, the PMA advised. Even the presentation of the top ten graduates and awardees on May 20 will be virtual as members of the media were already asked Thursday to send their initial questions to the topnotchers and other awardees via SMS/ Viber and they will be answered by the topnotchers and other awardees on camera.

Tindog reiterated that PMA (Fort del Pilar), which shut down its doors from tourists and the public on March 16, remains closed and follows strict measures to prevent the spread of the corona virus within the Academy and the community.

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN