PMA ALUMNUS AMONG THE TEN OUTSTANDING STUDENTS CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (OSCAR)

FORT DEL PILAR, BAGUIO CITY – From among the twenty finalists from the different colleges and universities in the Cordillera Administrative Region, 2LT PROLEN A BONACUA PA, member of the Philippine Military Academy Pudang Kalis Class 2013, was awarded as one of the Ten Outstanding Students Cordillera Administrative Region (OSCAR) on April 25, 2013. He will have a chance to represent CAR and PMA in the national level of the search for the Outstanding Students of the Philippines.

As cadet, Lt Bonacua, assumed various leadership positions in the Cadet Corps which aided in his training and development as an officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Their class was the one who initiated the first Stakeholders Engagement in La Trinidad, Benguet, in line with the thrust of the AFP Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan. He graduated as the Number 3 of their class, making him the recipient of the SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE SABER. He also received the EMILIO AGUINALDO SABER, an award given to a cadet who has the highest over-all rating in Aptitude, Conduct, and Leadership. He was a consistent Dean’s Lister during his cadetship in the Academy.

The Ten Outstanding Students Cordillera Administrative Region (OSCAR) is an annual search which recognizes students in the provinces of Cordillera Administrative Region for their Academic Excellence, exemplary leadership and social responsibility anchored on good moral values. The selected ten outstanding students will be representing the region to the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP).

VADM ABOGADO ASSUMES AS THE 55TH PMA SUPERINTENDENT

Fort del Pilar, Baguio City - In a Turn-Over Ceremony held on April 11, 2013 at the Borromeo Field, presided by GENERAL EMMANUEL T BAUTISTA AFP, the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, VICE ADMIRAL EDGAR L ABOGADO AFP formally assumed as the 55th Superintendent, Philippine Military Academy.

Vice Admiral Abogado was born on February 16, 1958 to a humble family in Manila. His military career started when he was appointed as a Cadet of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1975. After benefitting a government scholarship as a Cadet of the Philippine Military Academy, where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree, he was commissioned as Ensign in the Philippine Navy on February 19, 1980. During his early years in the service, he went on to finish his junior billet aboard various ships and performed various duties ashore. On February 23, 2004, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. He earned his first star with the rank of Commodore on 18 November 2009, his second star with the rank of Rear Admiral in 27 March 2011 and third star with a rank of Vice Admiral last 18 January 2013.

To broaden his knowledge and skills as a leader and manager, Vice Admiral Abogado completed numerous military and civilian courses. His military career courses included the Bachelor of Science at PMA in Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City; Naval Officers Qualification Course (NOQC); Naval Gunfire Support Course; Command At Sea Course; Royal Australian Navy Maritime Studies at HMAS Creswell, Australia; Supply Management Course; Inventory Control Officer Course; Consolidated Supply Allowance List Validation Course; 34th Naval Command and Staff Course; and Naval Command and General Staff Course. Aside from his military schoolings and trainings, he also had undertaken his post graduate course in Master in Management at the Philippine Christian University, Taft Avenue, Manila.

As an accomplished skipper, Vice Admiral Abogado commanded the following PN vessels: BRP Gen. Mariano Alvarez (PS 38), BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS 37), BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS 36), BRP Bagong Silang (PG 104), BRP Bagong Lakas (PG 102), BRP Liberato Picar (PG 377), and BRP Filipino Flojo (PG 386).

Vice Admiral Abogado also held positions of major responsibility in shore assignments. He was designated as Commander, Naval Logistics Center in 2005 and became the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Philippine Fleet in 2006. He also assumed significant positions aboard different units of the Philippine Navy. He became the Commander, Naval Task Force 61 and later as Deputy Commander, Naval Forces Western Mindanao in 2007, and Commander, Assault Craft Force in 2008. He became the Deputy Commander; Philippine Fleet in 2009 and Commander, Naval Forces Northern Luzon in 2010. He also became the Chief of Naval Staff from November 2010 to October 2012. He was also designated as Vice Commander, Philippine Navy, from October 01, 2012 to January 14, 2013. Before assuming his current position as the Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy, he was the Commander, Central Command, AFP from 14 January 2013 to 08 April 2013.

PMA PARTNERS WITH BALAY MINDANAW FOUNDATION INC.

Fort del Pilar, Baguio City – In response to the efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the implementation of the IPSP “Bayanihan”, PMA tapped Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc. (BMFI) to initiate activities aligned with the IPSP’s intention of “winning the peace” by formally forging a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the said foundation on January 23, 2013. In the said MOA, BMFI is to provide assistance to PMA to build its capacity in promoting conflict management, peace-building and multi-stakeholders engagement towards its institutionalization in the Academy.

Prior to the said MOA, Balay Mindanaw conducted a seminar among the PMA Class 2012 to help them better understand peace-building and conflict transformation. On May of the same year, their assistance to the Academy was extended to the faculty through the conduct of sessions of training related to peace-building. A follow-up case writing consultation with the faculty was also conducted. The activities were intended to provide the rationale and some approaches of peace-building with the military and the civil society, including some actual experiences on the ground; and to bring to the fore the partnership which was created alongside in doing peace and development efforts from the community to the national and international levels. Just recently, on April 15-16 2013, the foundation once again linked with the Academy by conducting a Curriculum Review and Case Writing-Teaching Workshop.

Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc. (BMFI) is a Filipino Mindanao-based and Mindanao-focused non-stock, non-profit organization. BMFI’s work and its people articulate a sense of fierce pride for Mindanao and a passion for transforming this poorest and most conflict-torn of the country’s region into a “balay”, a true home for its peoples – christians, muslims and lumads, indigenous peoples of Mindanao. It is a non-stock, non-profit foundation primarily engaged in promoting equity-based development and sustainable peace.