The "honors" rendered Soliven represent the last Parade before the Graduation Rites, which have been scheduled on March 12, with the President and commander-in-chief, President Arroyo presiding.
Soliven received the march-past honors from the grandstand, then "trooped" the line on a command car, along with Lt. Gen. Cristolito P. Balaoing, superintendent of the PMA.
Later, at the lunch tendered in his honor by the Academy in the Conrado B. Yap Hall (the mess hall), Soliven addressed the cadets and officers of the PMA Faculty and their guests, exhorting the corps to regain the old glory of the military academy by what they do and what they show in terms of honor, integrity and devotion to their country. "Forget the scandals of the present and the immediate past," Soliven told his listeners. "I’m not here to ask you about what happened to last year’s valedictorian, who received the Presidential Sabre in 2004, and the incident in Fort Bragg, or speak about PMA Class 1971 ‘President,’ that General Carlos Garcia," he asserted. "What’s important is what you yourselves will do in terms of your own character, and what you’ll do. The most vital conquest in your lives must be the conquest of self."
When he exited the Hall after his speech, Soliven was given a standing ovation by the Corps.
Interviewed afterwards, some cadets said Soliven’s address had uplifted the hearts of the cadets, suffering as they had been from the criticisms and attacks on the PMA, the questioning of its curriculum, the lack of "integrity" shown by some of its graduates.
Incidentally, 86 percent of the graduating class has expressed their preference to be assigned to Mindanao immediately after being commissioned in the armed services — Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force.
Soliven, himself an Army officer (his last reserve rank was Captain in the 121st Infantry) from the ROTC — retired — spoke of his own family’s military tradition. His grandfather, Capitan Isabelo Soliven had fought in the Revolution, intelligence chief for the North of the Revolutionary Army, one of the Ilocano James Bonds — who later became Mayor of his own, but died at 33, with one day in office.
His father, Congressman and National Assemblyman Benito T. Soliven who had trained right next door, in Camp Henry T. Allen with the Reserve Officers Service School (with the late President Manuel A. Roxas), then been commissioned a Captain. He had volunteered to fight in Bataan, was promoted to Major in the field then went through the Death March, seven months of terrible Prisoner-of-war camp in Camp O’Donnell, in Capas, Tarlac, then been released already dying of malaria. He died at 43, leaving widow with nine children.
"I’m proud my father went to Bataan, fighting and later dying for our country," Soliven told the cadets.
Soliven also reminded the PMA’s cadet corps to be loyal to the Philippine flag and the Filipino people with the selflessness and valor shown by the Katipunan and the Filipino soldiers who fought the Japanese Imperial Army when the Pacific war broke out on Philippine shores.
Referring to past events involving PMA graduates who have tainted the institution’s name, Soliven told the PMA cadets, now a mix of men and women, that such events – including the Magdalo mutiny in July 2001 — are "not a reflection of the academy and of yourself." He reminded them that "it was in the PMA that you found your soul and it was in the PMA that you found yourself."
According to Soliven, "the PMA will come out all right in peace and war" despite such flak.
"What you make of yourself today is important," he told the officers-in-training at Yap Hall. "Never mind the past. What is important is your character today and what you are going to do when you become officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Your character today (is essential)."
He said integrity towards one’s country and people begins with "integrity to yourself. Do not think what others say of you." What counts in this world, he said is "what you think of yourself as a man or woman of honor." Soliven also said the PMA cadets should have "the integrity of believing that you and you alone will determine what kind of leader (or) officer you would be."
He also told the cadets they must "know to be loyal to each other but not as the expense of the country." There is no loyalty "to man and woman that supersedes loyalty to your country and your people," he added.