Grandmother's death dampens graduation of top PMA cadet

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City , Philippines  – It would have been a perfect day on Monday for 22-year-old Karl Winston de Leon Cacanindin, this year’s topnotcher of “Mandirigmang Sigaw ng Lahi (Masiglahi)” Class 2009 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Not only has Karl topped his class, he also realized his father’s dream of having a soldier in the family, which he failed to be. “An added bonus,” was how Karl’s mother Eleanor described his son’s leading the 184 members of the Masiglahi Class.

But tragedy struck in the family. Karl’s 79-year-old paternal grandmother Victoria died last Monday and will be buried on the day her grandson graduates.

“She just felt dizzy and fell down,” Eleanor said in Filipino. Doctors said the old woman suffered a stroke.

“It is so unfortunate,” said Karl, adding though that he would offer his graduation feat to his lola on Monday.

“We have mixed emotions,” Karl’s father Fortunato said in Filipino. “While we are so proud of the feat of our son, we are so saddened with the death of my mother.”

According to Fortunato, it was his mother who did not want him to become a soldier.

He recalled that he took the PMA entrance examinations in 1981 but failed. He said he wanted to retake the exams when he was in college, but again his mother dissuaded him.

But fate had it that Fortunato’s unfulfilled dream was realized by his son 28 years later. Another son, Paul Ybes, is a PMA sophomore.

An “Iluko” by heart, Karl said he only did his best in all his endeavors at the PMA, especially sports.

Aside from receiving the Presidential Saber Award from President Arroyo, Karl is also graduating magna cum laude – “a rare occurrence in this graduating class,” said PMA superintendent Vice Admiral Leonardo Calderon.

Karl will also receive the Philippine Air Force Saber for topping his class in that branch of military service, as well as the Mathematics Plaque, Jusmag Award and GMA Award for Excellence.

For being a sports enthusiast who figured in a lot of athletic meets such as basketball, athletics and karate outside the PMA, he will also receive the Athletic Saber Award.

Karl, together with 36 of his batch mates, will join the Philippine Air Force, and the rest the Philippine Army (100) and the Philippine Navy (47).