Arroyo, PMA topnotcher agree: We can serve country more

BAGUIO CITY — What do this year’s Philippine Military Academy (PMA) valedictorian, Cadet First Class Rolly Joaquin, and the country’s top politician, President Arroyo, have in common?

Aside from being Numero Uno in their chosen fields, both happen to come from Pangasinan. Now the two topnotch Panggalatoks — as Pangasinan natives call themselves — have another thing to share: public service.

For topping his 139-strong "Maliyab" Class of 2004, Joaquin, a native of Aguilar town, received the Presidential Saber from Mrs. Arroyo during the PMA’s controversial "sit-down" graduation rites yesterday at Camp John Hay’s CAP Building.

In his valedictory address, Joaquin, who is joining his commander-in-chief as an Army second lieutenant, moved the audience to rousing cheers of approval as he vowed that the P2.1 million spent for each cadet in his class "will never be wasted."

"Without you, we are not what we are," he said.

Joaquin also promised that he and his classmates or "mistahs" are ready to sacrifice everything "to serve the interest of the Filipino people and protect our beloved country."

A long-time resident of Aguilar, Jeffran Baraquio said the whole town was proud of Joaquin’s achievement. Baraquio even claimed that his mother broke into tears when news broke out that Joaquin, a neighbor, had topped the PMA merit roll.

Baraquio said it was the second time that Aguilar was put in the spotlight and front pages of the newspapers.

The first was when Angela Baraquio won the Miss America pageant. Angela, who was representing Hawaii, had emigrated to the US from Aguilar.

In her speech, Mrs. Arroyo both challenged and enticed the cadets toward "building the country" rather than "destroying it."

While she challenged them to "return the P2 million" spent for their education, the President also promised her new soldiers "better training, better force protection, more arms and even better pay."

She asked the young officers’ help to fight the twin wars against insurgency and terrorism on one hand and poverty on the other.