President Rodrigo Roa Duterte serves as the guest of honor and keynote speaker during the commencement exercises of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Mabalasik’ Class of 2019 at the Fort General Gregorio Del Pilar in Baguio City on May 26, 2019.
The graduating class comprises of 261 cadets who shall join the ranks of those serving in the different branches of service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) namely the Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Navy (PN), and the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
Cadet 1st Class Dionne Mae Umalla, who hails from the Ilocos Sur province, is this year’s class valedictorian. She is the fifth female to have topped a graduating class since the PMA started accepting women in 1993.
This year’s class name stands for ‘Mandirigma ng Bayan Lakas at Sarili Iaalay para sa Kapayapaan.