PMA valedictorian urges classmates to uphold academy's values

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Philippine Military Academy Batch 2024 Valedictorian Cadet First Class Jeneth Elumba encouraged her peers to uphold the values of the academy and recalled the obstacles that led up to their graduation.

In her valedictory speech, Elumba urged her peers to always look back to their cadetship in their future service and always practice courage, integrity, and loyalty in that service.

“Today is the day we have long awaited. Let us go forth and serve our nation with the character, skills, and education that the Philippine Military Academy has nurtured within us,” she said.

“Pro deo, populus, et patria. For God, the people, and the country,” she added.

Elumba shared that their experiences during the four-year cadetship were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our class has been commonly known as the pandemic babies since we began our plebehood year during the rise of COVID–19. This period was marked by the introduction of various protocols and safety measures to combat the pandemic resulting in distinctive reception rights quite unique among the other classes,” she said.

She called back to how their class had to add COVID-19 protection to their basic load and adjust to modular and online learning.

She also pointed to the milestones that could not be celebrated with family and visitors. But they nevertheless “found solace” in celebrating with peers.

“[Now], the challenges of waking up to the early mornings of Baguio, the thin air, slopes… our cadetship in general is coming to a close. Today, as we graduate, we stand on the hallowed parading grounds of the Borromeo Field, finally able to see our parents, friends, and loved ones watching us with pride as we reflect on the four years of successes and failures that shaped our journey,” she said.

In her speech, she also thanked her family and friends.

“Throughout my cadetship, I simply focused on enjoying the experience, never imagining that I would have the opportunity to deliver a valedictory speech in front of the President, our Superintendent, and the entire class… However, I must acknowledge that none of these accomplishments would have been possible without the support of my [family]. To my buddies, squad leaders, to my first class, I am also deeply grateful,” she said.

Cadet First Class Janeth Elumba is the daughter of a farmer from Surigao City. She is the seventh female to top a PMA graduating class.

She ranks first among the “Bagong Sinag” Class of 2024, graduating Magna Cum Laude and with the following awards:

• Presidential Saber
• Philippine Army Saber 
• Jusmag Saber 
• Australian Defense Best Overall  Performance Award (Army) 
• Tactics Group Award, and
• Army Professional Plaque

Elumba will be entering the Philippine Army after her PMA graduation.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was present during the graduation rites and delivered a speech calling the graduates to sacrifice for the country in the face of threats to national territory and those who seek to divide the Filipino people.

“We will vigorously defend what is ours, but our conduct is always guided by law and [by] our responsibility as a rules-abiding member of the community of nations," the President said. — DVM, GMA Integrated News

This article PMA valedictorian urges classmates to uphold academy's values was originally published in GMA News Online.