Female cadets fill PMA honor rolls

Photo: Sen. Win Gatchalian/Facebook.com

This year’s PMA graduating class broke barriers as eight female cadets finished in the Top 10 of class Salaknib. This is a great feat achieved since the academy started accepting women in 1993.

Out of 167 cadets, Rovi Mairel Valino Martinez finished as valedictorian and was the second woman to do so. She is due to join the Philippine Navy.

There are only two men who finished in the top 10. Philip Modestano Viscaya from Ligao City, Albay who finished salutatorian and Carlo Emmanuel Manalansan Canlas from Lubao, Pampanga who finished fifth place.

Eda Glis Buansi Marapao of Baguio City finished third; Cathleen Jovi Santiano Baybayan from San Fernando Pampanga at fourth; Shiela Joy Ramiro Jallorina of Bagabag, Nueva Ecija at sixth; Sheila Marie Calonge de Guzman of Manaoag, Pangasinan at seventh; Joyzy Mencias Funchica of Butuan City at eighth; Resie Jezreel Arrocena Hucalla of Compostela Valley at ninth and Catherine Me Emeterio Gonzales of Zamboanga City at tenth.

There are 63 women in this year’s graduating batch; this is the highest so far in PMA history.

Female cadets had been consistent in landing the top 10 since 1997.

PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Donato San Juan said, “They deserve it. They were equally treated (with men), and it so happens that this batch has excellent women.”
Previous female top notchers had expressed their gratitude and stated that the PMA is no longer a man’s world and encouraged fellow women to join the academy.