| Philippine Military Academy | |
| Native Name: | Akademiyang Militar ng Pilipinas |
| Motto: | Courage Integrity Loyalty |
| Type: | Service academy |
| Established: | October 25, 1898 |
| Superintendent: | RAdm. Caesar Valencia, PN [1] |
| Head Label: | Commandant of Cadets |
| Head: | BGEN Julius A. Tomines, PA |
| Address: | Fort Gen. Gregorio H. del Pilar |
| City: | Baguio City |
| Province: | Benguet |
| Country: | Philippines |
| Campus: | Fort Gen. Gregorio H. del Pilar |
| Free Label: | Alma Mater song |
| Free: | "PMA, Oh Hail to Thee." |
| Colours: | Gray |
| Nickname: | PMA Cavaliers - "Mistah" or "Bok" |
| Affiliations: | NDCP, AFP |
The Philippine Military Academy (Filipino; Pilipino: Akademiyang Militar ng Pilipinas / Spanish; Castilian: Academia Militar de Filipinas) also referred to by its acronym PMA is the premier military academy for Filipinos aspiring for a commission as a military officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).[2] It was established on December 21, 1936, by the virtue of National Defense Act of 1935. It is patterned after the United States Military Academy, in West Point, New York.[3] The academy is located in the city of Baguio,[4] and serves as the primary training school for future officers of the AFP.[5] [6]
The academy traces its roots to 1898, when Emilio Aguinaldo decreed the establishment of the Academia Militar in the Philippines.[7] [8] The present academy serves as a national historical landmark for historic contribution and its “long and unending line of quality military education.”[9] The campus is a popular tourist destination in Baguio.[10]
Cadet candidates for admission must undergo and pass series of testing (Written, Physical, Medical and Neuro-Psychiatric); around 400 men and women enter the academy each June.[11] [12] Students are officers-in-training and referred to as "cadets" or collectively as the "Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines" (CCAFP).[13] Tuition and monthly allowances are fully funded by the government in exchange for an active duty service obligation upon graduation.
The academic program grants a Bachelor of Science in National Security Management with a curriculum that maintains a high level standard of cadet's performance in academics, military tactics and sports & physical fitness. Cadets are required to conform with the Honor Code which states that "We, the cadets, do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us those who do." PMA bases cadet's development in four aspects: character, academics, military and physical.[14] Graduates are commissioned as second lieutenants in the Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force and as ensigns in the Philippine Navy.
Despite the limited baccalaureate offered, the academy consistently places in the top 100 Universities and Colleges in Philippines for its quality education and management.[15] PMA is ISO 9001:2015 certified.[16]
An Officer's School of the Philippine Constabulary was established on February 17, 1905, within the walls of Intramuros in Manila.[17] This school was relocated to Baguio on September 1, 1908, at Camp Henry Allen where it would stay for many years to come. On February 4, 1916, a cadet academy denominated the Academy for officers of the Philippine Constabulary was created for training and instructing cadets and preparing them for service as commissioned officers of the Philippine Constabulary or of any other armed force of the Philippine Government which might later be created.[18]
Just months later, on October 23, 1916, during the 4th Philippine Legislature session, Senator Hadji Butu Abdul Baqui, representing Mindanao and Sulu, sponsored his first bill, Senate Bill No. 9 creating a law establishing a military academy in the country and to require military instruction in colleges and universities. On the same day, he also sponsored Senate Bill No. 10 creating a law to establish a naval academy. Three months later, US President Woodrow Wilson congratulated Senator Hadji Butu "for being the first among those in the upper house to introduce measures for their establishment", saying that military or naval training will be a good thing for the young men of the country.[19]
On December 8, 1928, the academy was renamed as The Philippine Constabulary Academy.[20]
The National Defense Act was approved on December 21, 1935, creating the Army of the Philippines and incorporating the Constabulary into that organization. The Act also established a Constabulary Division within the PMA and a Philippine Military Academy (PMA), but specified that the PMA operation was not a Constabulary function.[21] The PMA was modeled after the United States Military Academy with officers from the Philippine Scouts and regular United States Army as instructors and members of the general staff.[22] PMA Class of 1940, with 79 graduates, was the pioneer batch to complete four years of training. Quirico Evangelista and Reynaldo Mendoza of Class '40 composed the PMA alma mater song, "PMA, Oh Hail to Thee."
With the outbreak of the Second World War, training was disrupted at the PMA with Classes 1942 and 1943 being graduated prematurely and assigned to combat units in Bataan and other parts of the country. Many of these young officers perished in the war.
After the war, the academy was reopened on May 5, 1947, at Camp Henry T. Allen in Baguio and, due to its increasing need for larger grounds, was soon moved to its present location at Fort General Gregorio H. del Pilar, Loakan, some ten kilometers from downtown Baguio. The main building, Melchor Hall, was completed in 1949 under the supervision of military engineer Lt. Pacifico C. Cabrera, a decorated WWII hero, who later as a full colonel, became Chief of Engineers of the AFP. During the 1960s, as a need for more well-rounded individuals was found to be desirable, and socio-humanistic courses were added to the school's curriculum.
On 18 March 1987, the PMA was targeted by a bomb attack that killed four people, namely a colonel, two enlisted men and a civilian woman, and injured 38 people, including 17 civilians. The explosion occurred at a grandstand during a rehearsal for the annual graduation ceremonies that were to be attended by President Corazon Aquino. Some sources suggested that "disgruntled military elements" may have been responsible.[23]
During the August 1987 Philippine coup attempt, all 863 cadets of the academy mounted a silent demonstration of support for the coup before donning combat gear and reiterating their support over the radio. After a briefing by two senior Reform the Armed Forces Movement members, the group set out at midnight on 29 August to launch a takeover of Baguio, only to abort the plan after being informed by sentries of the coup's failure. The incident prompted Vice President Salvador Laurel and other government officials to launch a dialogue with them, while the academy administration suspended classes for two days and confined the entire student body inside the campus for 90 days.[22]
In 1993, the PMA admitted its first female cadets and introduced specialization based on branch-of-service. Senator Santanina Rasul authored Republic Act 6949, the law recognizing March 8 each year as National Women’s Day in the Philippines and together with the late Senator Raul Roco authored Republic Act 7192 or the Women in Development and Nation Building Act. The RA 7192 outlawed discrimination against women, opening the doors of the Philippine Military Academy to women, and mandated that a substantial portion of government funds at all levels be used for programs that would benefit and develop women's capabilities. Senator Rasul is the daughter in law of the late Senator Hadji Butu who authored the bill in 1916 to establish a military academy. The first female cadets graduated from the academy in 1997.
In 1998, a proclamation by President Joseph Estrada, while acknowledging the academy's roots lay with the 1905 founding of the Philippine Constabulary school, changed the official celebration day of the academy to October 25, in honor of the Academia Militar which was established on October 25, 1898, in Malolos, Bulacan. Other sources have since acknowledged this change.[24] [25] The Academia Militar was opened during the establishment of the insurgent First Philippine Republic. It was closed on January 20, 1899, before the Philippine–American War and thus was the first ever all-Filipino military academy to be established.[26]
The academy also has a museum exhibiting historical weapons and tanks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.[27] The Air Power Park was opened on February 18, 2022, to exhibit a collection of retired aircraft of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). The collection included the SIAI Marchetti S.211, Cessna T-41 Mescalero, Bell UH-1 Iroquois, SIAI-Marchetti SF.260, Northrop F-5, McDonnell Douglas MD-520MG Defender, Vought F-8 Crusader, and MBB Bo 105.[28]
Headed by the dean of academics, the academic program has both military and civilian male and female instructors. It has the following seven departments:
On June 1, 2019, the PMA upgraded its academic curriculum; every cadet now focuses on national security management in response to the growing national security threats at home and overseas. Upon completing the 4-year program, cadets graduate and earn the degree of BS National Security Management and commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant or Ensign in the service branches of the Armed Forces by the authority of the President.[30]
This program is headed by the Commandant of Cadets and is responsible for the professional military training, character development, leadership, and physical training of the cadets. The mission of the Tactics Group is likewise carried out by the tactical officers who are responsible for the different companies of the Cadet Corps. This group is made up of the following departments:
Unlike other colleges and universities, cadets are not referred to as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors. They are classified as fourth class, third class, second class, and first class cadets.
The Cadet Corps is organized into a brigade. The highest ranking cadet, the Brigade Commander, is traditionally known as the First Captain or "Baron".[32] The brigade is organized into four battalions. Within each battalion there are two companies. Companies are lettered A through H (Alfa to Hawk). First class cadets hold key leadership positions within the brigade from the First Captain down to platoon leaders within the companies. First class cadets hold the rank of cadet captain and cadet lieutenant. Second class cadets hold the rank of cadet sergeant and serve as squad leaders, third class cadets hold the rank of cadet corporal, and fourth class cadets as cadet private.[33]
The Philippine Military Academy is governed by an honor code, and it binds the cadets to the following principle — “We, the cadets, do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate among us those who do.”. Cheating, lying, and stealing are major honor code violations. Cadets who will be charged for violating the honor code are subjected to series of trials conducted by Cadets from Honor Committee. When a cadet is found guilty for violating the honor code, he/she will be banned from cadetship. One of the most sensationalized cases was during 2014; the lying case of ex-cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia.[34]
On October 23, 2019, two videos, dated 2017 and 2018, of hazing by the cadets were uploaded on social media. The 2018 video shows a plebe-cadet being punched and kicked by an upper class cadet. Another upper class cadet wearing earphones is seen in the background of the video. In the video, two plebe-cadets were doing squats; when one of them collapses, he is kicked as punishment by an upperclassman. The attack stops when someone opens the door to inspect the room. The 2017 video shows four upperclassmen with two plebes. An upperclassman is seen using his helmet to repeatedly hit one of the plebe's hands and the back of the other plebe. While the upperclassman was hitting the plebes, the other upper class cadets in the background were seen watching and laughing, actively bystanding and allowing the hazing to continue.[35] [36] [37]
Of the six upper-class cadets seen attacking the plebes in the video, five were transferred to the PMA holding center while the academy investigated the incident; on the other hand, the sixth cadet was discharged from the academy due to an "Honor Code" violation.[35] [36]
See main article: List of Philippine Military Academy alumni.
The following list are incomplete:
| Name | Term | Notes and | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capt. Manuel T. Sityar | 1898 | (1898 Revolutionary Army School) | |
| Capt. Arthur S. Guthrie | 15 Apr 1905 – 14 Nov 1905 | Philippine Constabulary Officer's School | |
| Maj. Thomas I. Mair | 15 Nov 1905 – 4 Mar 1907 | ||
| Capt. John B. Bennet | 5 Mar 1907 – 30 Jun 1907 | ||
| Capt. Charles J. Kindler | 1 Jul 1907 – 30 Aug 1907 | ||
| Lt. Col. Thomas I Mair | 31 Aug 1907 – 23 Dec 1907 | ||
| Capt. James F. Quinn | 5 Jan 1908 – 11 Sep 1908 | ||
| Capt. John B Bennet | 12 Sep – 11 Dec 1908 | ||
| Capt. James F. Quinn | 12 Dec 1908 – 14 May 1910 | ||
| Lt. Col. John R. White | 15 May 1910 – 21 Aug 1910 | ||
| Lt. Col. Edward N. Griffith | 15 May 1910 – 21 Aug 1910 | ||
| Capt. Charles K. Kilbourne | 1 Oct 1910 – 1 Jan 1911 | ||
| 1Lt. Joseph B. Pate | 11 Mar 1911 – 2 May 1911 | ||
| 2Lt. Frank M. Sowers | 3 May 1911 – 17 Aug 1911 | ||
| Maj. James F. Quinn | 18 Aug 1911 – 17 Feb 1913 | ||
| Lt. Col. James C. Rhea | 30 May 1913 – 14 Dec 1913 | ||
| 1Lt. Floyd O. Tobey | 22 Dec 1913 – 29 Apr 1914 | ||
| Col. John R. White | 30 May 1914 – 22 Sep 1914 | ||
| Capt. Jean A. Jeancon | 22 Sep 1914 – 17 Nov 1914 | ||
| Maj. George S. Holmes | 18 Nov 1914 – 3 Sep 1917 | ||
| Maj. Harry G. Upham | 4 Sep 1917 – 10 Mar 1918 | ||
| Capt. Antonio Costosa | 5 Mar 1918 – 9 Mar 1919 | ||
| Maj. Clarence H. Bowers | 10 Mar 1919 – 15 Aug 1921 | ||
| Capt. Jose N. Evangelista | 16 Aug 1921 – 22 Jan 1922 | ||
| Col. Ralph W. Jones | 23 Jan 1922 – 25 Dec 1923 | ||
| Maj. Jose N. Evangelista | 26 Dec 1923 – 31 Mar 1924 | ||
| Maj. Dorr H. Malone | 28 Apr 1924 – 15 Sep 1924 | ||
| Maj. Charles E. Livingston | 16 Sep 1924 – 30 Jun 1927 | ||
| Lt. Col. Luther R. Stevens | 1 Jul 1927 – 31 Dec 1927 | ||
| Lt. Col. Robert A. Duckworth Ford | 1 Jan 1928 – 28 Dec 1932 | Philippine Constabulary Academy | |
| Col. Orville M. Johnson | 29 Dec 1932 – 21 December 1935 | ||
| 21 December 1935 – 18 May 1936 | start as Philippine Military Academy | ||
| Maj. Telesforo C. Martinez | 1936 | ||
| Capt. Calixto Duque | 1936 | ||
| Lt. Col. Pastor Martelino | 1 Jun 1936 – 31 May 1940 | ||
| Maj. Alejandro Garcia | 1 Jun 1940 – 31 Aug 1940 | ||
| Col. Rafael Garcia | 1 Sep 1940 – 26 Aug 1941 | ||
| Col. Fidel Segundo | 27 Aug 1941 – 14 Dec 1941 | ||
| Lt. Col. Ramon Enriquez | 5 Nov 1946 – 28 Apr 1947 | ||
| Lt. Col. Tirso G. Fajardo | 28 Apr 1947 – 26 Mar 1951 | ||
| Lt. Col. Patricio B. Borromeo | 26 Mar 1951 – 31 May 1955 | ||
| Col. Marcos G. Soliman | 1 Jun 1955 – 3 Jun 1958 | ||
| Col. Oscar Rialp | 4 Jun 1958 – 2 Nov 1958 | ||
| Capt. Alberto N. Navarete | 3 Nov 1958 – 4 Nov 1958 | ||
| BGen. Manuel T. Flores | 10 Nov 1958 – 28 Feb 1962 | ||
| Col. Eustacio D. Orobia | 1 Mar 1962 – 31 Aug 1963 | ||
| Col. Godofredo F. Mendoza | 1 Sep 1963 – 1 Oct 1964 | ||
| Col. Cesar B. Jimenez | 11 Oct 1964 – 1 Nov 1964 | ||
| Col. Felimon C. Reodica | 4 Nov 1964 – 1 Jan 1965 | ||
| Col. Amos M. Francia | 2 Jan 1965 – 14 Jun 1966 | ||
| Col. Reynaldo A. Mendoza | 15 Jun 1966 – 14 Aug 1967 | ||
| Col. Ernesto F. Santos | 15 Aug 1967 – 4 Apr 1968 | ||
| Col. Cesar M. Garcia | 5 Apr 1968 – 31 Mar 1970 | ||
| Col. Aurelio S. Ugalde | 1 Apr 1970 – 8 Jan 1971 | ||
| Capt. Gregorio P. Lim | 9 Jan 1971 – 1 Jun 1972 | ||
| Col. Ernesto S. Gidaya | 10 Jun 1972 – 1 Jun 1976 | ||
| Col. Florencio F. Magsino | 2 Jun 1976 – 30 Apr 1978 | ||
| BGen. Angel G. Kanapi | 8 May 1978 – 28 May 1982 | ||
| Col. Jose Ma. Carlos L. Zumel | 29 May 1982 – 27 Feb 1986 | ||
| Col. Maximino M. Bejar | 28 Feb 1986 – 29 Feb 1986 | ||
| Col. Rodolfo G. Biazon | 1 Mar 1986 – 22 Jul 1987 | ||
| Cmdre Rogelio A. Dayan | 28 Jul 1987 – 20 Mar 1988 | ||
| BGen. Andrew R. Francisco | 28 Mar 1988 – 31 Jul 1989 | ||
| BGen. Arturo T. Enrile | 1 Aug 1989 – 4 Apr 1991 | ||
| Cmdr. Virgilio Q. Marcelo | 10 Apr 1991 – 31 Jul 1993 | ||
| MGen. Rodolfo S. Estrellado | 1 Aug 1993 – 15 Jun 1996 | ||
| BGen. Victor A. Mayo | 16 Jun 1996 – 21 Jul 1998 | ||
| Cmdr. Juan A. de Leon, Jr. | 22 Jul 1998 – 1998 | ||
| BGen. Jaime de los Santos | 1998 – 1999 | [38] | |
| MGen. Melchor Rosales | 1999 – 2000 | [39] [40] | |
| MGen. Manuel Carranza | 2000 – 2001 | [41] [42] | |
| MGen. Rufo "Rufus" de Veyra | 2001 – 2002 | [43] [44] | |
| MGen. Edilberto Adan | 2002 – 2004 | [45] | |
| Lt. Gen. Cristolito Balaoing | 2004 – 2006 | [46] | |
| Lt. Gen. Leopoldo Maligalig | 28 Jan 2006 – 2008 | ||
| VAdm. Leonardo Calderon | 2008 – 14 March 2011 | [47] | |
| MGen. Nonato Peralta Jr. | 14 March 2011 – 24 November 2012 | [48] | |
| Lt. Gen. Irineo Espino | 24 Nov 2012 – 10 April 2023 | [49] | |
| VAdm. Edgar Abogado | 10 April 2013 – 17 Feb 2014 | [50] | |
| Lt. Gen. Oscar P. Lopez | 17 Feb 2014 – Feb 13, 2016 | [51] | |
| MGen. Donato San Juan III | 12 Feb 2016 – 12 October 2018 | [52] | |
| Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista | 12 Oct 2018 – 1 Oct 2019 | [53] | |
| RAdm. Allan Cusi | 1 October 2019 – 16 Nov 2020 | [54] | |
| Lt. Gen. Ferdinand Cartujano | 16 November 2020 – 26 June 2022 | [55] | |
| BGen. Julius Tomines | June 2022 – 13 Aug 2022 | [56] | |
| Lt. Gen. Rowen S. Tolentino | 13 Aug 2022 – 20 Jul 2024 | ||
| RAdm. Caesar Valencia | 20 Jul 2024 - Present | [57] |
Original copy located in Adams Building, US Library of Congress