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Cadet Life was one of the
most colorful episodes of our lives, literally and figuratively.
The very moment we first stepped down on the grounds of PMA, everything
went in color. The aura around us, the pine
scented air, the |
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It all started on April
1, 1954 when a diverse bunch of 100 & 16 aspiring cadets
reported at the Philippine Military Academy in Fort del
Pilar, Baguio City.We were ready. Ready, we thought, to tread
the uncharted waters of our lives to seek a piece of our own
destiny. To most it was a great leap into the future. Early in our
young lives many never thought of pursuing a military career.
There were those who liked to be engineers, some, lawyers, others,
doctors and other professions. But for reasons as varied as the 116
of us, we were all there by choice, to prove our mettle to deserve
the government scholarship and to be capable leaders of men who will
fight our country's war. |
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We were plunged into a sea of the unknowns. Just like a thirsty green sponge we were expected to absorb everything at the quickest possible time: bugle calls, plebe knowledges, names of all members of the cadet corps, military drills, general orders, (No. 1) "To guard my post and all beautiful ladies in view." and much much more or else.!.?.! Our life in the Academy was regulated by Bugle Calls. Each specific call signaled the time to wake up, Reveille; to eat, MessCall ; to sleep, Taps, and more than 20 more bugle calls. We had to remember and distinguish one from each other. Plebes were not allowed to wear timepieces. But we could tell how many more minutes up to the last second until Recognition Day! |
| Of all the the Bugle Calls, Taps was the most unforgetable.
Until now it makes us reminisce and remember. At the end of that
first "Reception" day, as we lay in our bunks, the haunting tone
of taps sounded. For many of us that was the first time we were away
from home. Homesickness hit us hard however we were happy to the thought
that on that day we passed one crossroad of our life and the future was
dawning. |
| We were expected to know by heart voluminous tons
of Plebe knowledges: prayers, poems, quotations, and many questions
only upperclass cadets wanted to know. "How's the cow?" "Sir,
she walks, she talks, she's full of chalk....". "Do you know me?".
"Cadet Renato S de Villa, Sir, from the seacoast province of Batangas."
"What's S for?" "Dumbguard Lapera will find out, Sir." We erased
from our vocabulary the phrase, "I don't know, Sir." How gratifying
to hear a hint of satisfaction from an upperclassman, "Go 'head." Aht
two! aht two! double-timing with knees up to waist high. "Wipe that smile
on your face, Ducrot!" |
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Plebes of Delta Co. after
Beast Barracks. Out of this sample of 21, only 12 graduated as
Class '58. The overall class attrition rate was 65%. |
We had our
annual military maneuvers in the lowlands with San Fabian as
our base camp. "It's better to bleed in training than in
combat." Although blank ammo were used
accidents did happened -- 15% acceptable. No KIA nor MIA
but in one " encounter" Vic Meneses and three others were peppered
with cal.30 gun- powders. In one live firing exercise,
the whole 81mm mortar gun crew were nearly wiped out by a premature
air burst: Nes Isleta, Rading Infortuno,
and two others have until now 81mm shrapnels in their craniums.
Their minds are sharper than ever, though. The shrapnels within still
sparkle, I believe.
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After each grueling day's events,
we had time to frolic and tease the camera man. Tomorrow is another
day. |
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balmy wind --- all of these in technicolor
just like the Philippine tricolor as it welcomed us and waved
from its pole. Even the barking or the growling of the Class '55
Firstclass Cadets who warmly welcomed us was in color! You believe
it? It was an exaggeration, but the effect of that initial
shock treatment in the "Reception" was so powerful. It awakened
all our senses! This hastened our metamorphosis from Plebes to professional
soldiers.