THEIR graduation may fall on International Women’s Day, but the celebration at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is because the graduates of Batch Salaknib (an Ilocano word meaning “protection”) this year has the most number of female cadets among the top 10 graduates since females were accepted at the PMA in 1993.
PMA Supt. Lt. Gen. Donato B. San Juan said the rankings were based on the four years of overall performance on academics, conduct and physical fitness.
Rovi Mairel Valino Martinez is finishing on top of the 167 strong class dubbed Salaknib, which stands for Sanggalang ay Lakas at Buhay na Alay para sa Kalayaan ng Inang Bayan.
Martinez hails from Cabanatuan City, the youngest child of Ruby and Mariel Martinez, a barangay councilor.
Martinez said her inclination to enter military life stems from numerous stories of her father who, at one time, wanted to be a soldier, a dream frustrated by circumstances.
She was in her third year in an accountancy course at the Araullo University-Phinma when by chance, she, as a working student assistant, browsed through an announcement of a schedule of PMA qualifying exams.
And she whimsically thought, why not?
She said that just on the second day, realizing the grueling physical exercises, she was ready to quit. But a higher-class female cadet told her how so many desire the privilege of being admitted to the academy and with her already in, why give up? This plus her mother challenged her to stay. “I thought, tomorrow the sun will rise again and sundown will come, and it’s a matter of doing the day’s work, and the day will come…”.
That day is coming in a big way on graduation day on March 12 as she receives the Presidential Saber from President Duterte himself, and the Philippine Navy Saber, as part of 11 awards she will be given on stage.
Martinez, who admits being intimidated in the beginning, said, “I was girly and fat and quite feminine in ways so I didn’t think I would make it or wanted to, and others thought so, too. But my mother kept encouraging me to prove everyone wrong, including herself.” She also attributes her success to strict time management.
Martinez, who along with the other awardees who were presented to the media on March 6, said she had not told her parents of the great news. In fact, even at rehearsal the day before, she only knew she was among the top 10 even if there were whispers she was finishing first. Then mistahs lined her up ahead of the others and she thought, maybe it’s true, but until official confirmation, which must have come just before the press conference, she was hesitant to tell her parents.
“I also want to surprise them,” she said. But she was quick to add her parents’ words, that finishing her training alone was already of great pride for them and being No. 1 would be just a great bonus.
From her “girly” days as she calls it, Martinez said she is not only prepared, but willing to go on combat duties and be a company commandant.
Lt. Col. Leah Lorenzo Santiago, who was the first female company commandant way back in late 1997, spoke of her experience as such, saying she did not feel any kind of discrimination and those under her were respectful.
“It’s just in the nature of men to be protective and they would always check if I was all right after any operation,” she said.
Lorenzo-Sebastian was summa cum laude among the first seven female graduates dubbed by the local media as the Magnificent Seven. It was, therefore, a time when there was much hesitation about getting females in combat action and more so as company commandants.
“But in the end, it was based on performance,” she said. Since then, she added, several female officers have been given star awards as company commandants.
Encouraged by this, one by one, the female cadets expressed not only willingness to do the same. Martinez said this was a way of reflecting gender equality in the military. Others said this was actually an aspiration and that it has always been part of their training to be leaders wherever they should go. No. 10 graduate Catherine Mae Emeterio said there is no doubt she would like to be a combat officer because she has been given one of the best professions to influence people.
Cadet Philip Modestano Viscaya, who came second to Martinez, said being relegated below the top finisher is not intimidating, “We will accept it and it will not be a hindrance,” he said. His only fellow top male top 10 ranker who came fifth, Cadet Carlo Canlas, said he was glad to see his female classmates excelling and highly competent.
The rest of the top 10 by rank are: Cadet Philip Modestano Viscaya, Army, cum laude, Bicol, who will be awarded the Vice Presidential Saber; Cadet Eda Glis Buansi Marapao, Navy, cum laude, Baguio City, to be awarded the National Defense Saber; Cathleen Jovi Santiano Baybayan , army, Pampanga, who will take the Australian Defence Best Overall Performance Award and the Natural Sciences Plaque; Carlo Emmanuel Manalansan Canlas, Air Force, Pampanga to receive the Philippine Air Force Saber; Sheila Joy Ramiro Jallorina, Air Force, Nueva Vizcaya, to be awarded the Tactics Group Award, Department of Leadership Plaque, Air Force Prof Courses Plaque and the Aguinaldo Saber; Sheila Marie Calonge de Guzman, Army, Pangasinan, to receive the Army Prof Courses Plaque; Joyzy Mencias Funchica, Air Force, Butuan City; Resie Jezreel Hucalla, Air Force, Compostela Valley, who will get the Management Plaque; and Catherine Mae Emeterio Gonzales, Air Force, Zamboanga City.
Salaknib class has, so far, the highest number of females compared to the 15-percent to 20-percent quota allotted by law to be admitted to the academy.
“We have 24 percent female cadets now,” said San Juan.
Of the 167 graduates, there are 104 males and 63 females. From the original class of 246 in 2013, 137 made it to graduation, while the remaining 30 were turnbacks from previous classes.
Of the graduates, 90 will be joining the Philippine Army with 32 of them females; 33 with 13 females will join the Philippine Air Force; and 44 with 18 females will join the Philippine Navy.
Image credits: Mau Victa