Poor boy from Dumaguete tops PMA 'Masidlak' class

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City , Philippines  – A son of a tricycle driver from Dumaguete City topped this year’s graduating class of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) here.

Eraño Belen, 23, of Calindagan, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, will lead the 226-strong”Masidlak” (Mandirigmang Sibol ng Dakilang Lahing Kayumanggi) class of 2010 during the commencement exercises on March 1.

Belen recalled the hard life he and his family have endured, including sharing a single meal a day several times, but these difficulties did not stop him from dreaming big.

“When we were able to eat, we only had salt to go with rice,” he said.

Belen, a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo, was named after the late head of the INC.

He encouraged everyone to always put God first in whatever endeavor and nothing will fail.

“Every Visayan must dream big and do everything to succeed,” he said.

Belen, who will be commissioned as second lieutenant, said he once dreamed of having an education at the PMA.

“We were brought up to dream to have a good education,” he said.

Belen’s younger sibling will also graduate in October from the Negros Oriental State University, where the PMA topnotcher previously enrolled as a BS Electronics and Communications Engineering student before entering the PMA.

Aside from receiving the Presidential Saber from President Arroyo, Belen will also receive the Achievement Award for Academic Excellence, Philippine Air Force Saber, Academic Group Award, Natural Sciences Award, Air Force Professional Courses Plaque, JUSMAG Award, AGFO and Australian Defense Best Overall Performance Awards.

The other graduates in the top 10 include Froilan Binlingan Pinay-an of Hungduan, Ifugao; Nolito Ebal of Opol, Misamis Oriental; Jhonson Gonzales of Pamplona, Camarines Sur; Jacob Kho of Baguio; Joel Perante of Tacloban City; Erwin Villanueva of Dasmariñas, Cavite; Alfie Agarao of Carles, Iloilo; Karen Padayao of Ormoc City; and Ric Joven of Surallah, South Cotabato.

Two cadets from the Cordilleras also landed in the top ten of the graduating class of 2010.

Second placer Pinay-an flunked the PMA entrance examination thrice before he was finally admitted to the premier military school in the country. 

Pinay-an studied hard and by his second year, he was in his class honor roll on his way to becoming 2010’s salutatorian.

Kho, a BS Biology cum laude graduate from the University of the Cordilleras and a resident of Baguio City, placed 5th.

“I was dreaming of becoming someone to save lives (as a doctor) now I am ready to take lives,” he said.

Kho did not pursue medical studies due to lack of funds.

“Then the opportunity to apply at the PMA came, I took it,” he said.

Kho, who like Belen is going to the Air Force, said he is prepared to die, and if the time comes he wants to die in the line of duty.  

“Handa na ang loob ko diyan (I’m ready for that), physically, mentally and emotionally,” said Kho.

PMA’s brightest

PMA superintendent Vice Admiral Leonardo Calderon described the Masidlak Class of 2010 as “the brightest class” he has known since the 1990s.

He said this class has three “Starmen,” which is equivalent to cum laude, namely: Pinay-an, Gonzales, and Ramon Mallare. There was no Starman last year.

Calderon said that the graduating class includes 31 female cadets, one of the biggest batches of female graduates since women were accepted at the PMA in 1997.

“They are also the most cooperative class I’ve seen” in terms of providing discipline to the cadet corps, Calderon mused.

The Masidlak class is a living example of humility, excellence, respect, honor, duty and love of God and country, Calderon said.