GATE Hails New PMA Grad from P'sinan

Lingayen- - -“Dream big and never stop dreaming.” This was cited by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. before this year’s graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and some members of the lower class who all hail from Pangasinan as they paid a courtesy call on him on March 18.

Members of PMA Class of 2015 pose for posterity with Pangasinan
Governor Amado T. Espino during their courtesy call recently at the Capitol
in Lingayen, Pangasinan. Espino, a member of PMA Class of
1972 was joined by PMAers like former Provincial Director Sonny
Verzosa (PMA '84) , Laoac Mayor Silverio Alarcio, Provincial
Police Director Rey Biay (PMA'86), and others in welcoming the new
alumni called Sinag Lahi.

The governor, who is a member of Class Masigasig in 1972, commended the Sinaglahi Class of 2015 as he rekindled precious memories in his time when the PMA was once dubbed, “Pangasinan Military Academy” owing to the fact that a great number in his batch and even the preceding years came from Pangasinan.

Gov. Espino pointed out that the PMA is the best institution in the country where everything was provided and discipline is best learned.

Furthermore, the provincial chief executive urged the latest batch of PMA graduates to stand firm and faithful even as he revealed that frustrations may come citing for example the Mamasapano tragedy where lives were sacrificed.

Citing his experience as a military man to include the ups and downs, Gov. Espino challenged the younger mistahs to give their best shot.

“Whatever your ranking inside the academy will no longer be important because your performance outside the institution is more valuable now,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ret. Col. Mariano “Sonny” Verzosa who belongs to Class ’84, congratulated the new batch of PMA graduates as well as the members of the lower class for giving honor to the province.

Verzosa urged all young Pangasinense mistahs to continue reaping accomplishments for the province and join hands with other institutions and the government to usher in genuine development for the province.

In return, Lt. Benjamin John P. Cantor, Sinaglahi Class 2015 rank 14 from Bugallon town, spoke on behalf of the group as he pledged to render quality service to the country.

Other class members who paid courtesy call on the governor are as follows: Jomel G. Banila of Dasol; Robert Royce De Guzman, Bayambang; Jeffrey Ladislao, Binmaley; Danjo Lagula, Natividad; Orlando Lictawa, San Quintin; Leonard Allan Gacayan, Binalonan; Keith John Pascua, Mangatarem; Giovanni Payomo, Sual; Jefferson Sacopla, Mangatarem; and Kelvin Verzosa, Labrador.

Joining the governor in welcoming the PMAers were PSSupt Reynaldo Biay, Laoac Mayor Silverio Alarcio, Col. Carlos Resurrecion, Major Ryan Celino and Col. Popoy Oro, who are all graduates of the PMA.

PIO/RBernardino