The Philippine Military Academy's class of 2017 has been making headlines because of the eight female cadets who ranked in the top 10 of their graduating class.
The Salaknib Class of 2017 will be graduating on Sunday, March 12. Of the 167 cadets, 83 are female.
According to ABS-CBN news, these inspiring young women will follow in the footsteps of the first ever female PMA cadet to graduate at the top her class, Arlene A. Dela Cruz, who graduated in 1999. For nearly 20 years, there has been at least one female cadet in the top 10 of each graduating class.
"They deserve it," PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Donato San Juan told Philstar. "They were equally treated (with men), and it so happens that this batch has excellent women."
Here are the top 10 cadets, led by their female valedictorian, Rovi Valino of Cabanatuan City:
1. Rovi Mairel Valino Martinez, Cabanatuan City
2. Philip Modesto Viscaya, Ligao City, Albay
3. Eda Glis Buansi Marapao, Baguio City
4. Cathleen Jovie Santiano Baybayan, San Fernando, Pampanga
5. Carlo Emmanuel Manalasan, Canlas, Pampanga
6. Shiela Joy Ramiro Jallorina, Bagabag, Nueva Viscaya
7. Sheil Marie Calonge De Guzman, Manaoag, Pangasinan
8. Joyzy Mencias Funchica, Butuan City
9. Resie Jezreel Arrocena Hucalla, Compostella Valley
10.Catherine Mae Emeterio Gonzales, Zamboanga City
But it’s also their heartwarming stories, aside from their academic acheivements, that are inspiring many.
Take, for instance, the story of Philip Viscaya’s dad Nestor, who worked hard, planting and selling corn, to provide for his wife and seven kids in Ligao City, Albay.
The cadet who landed the Top 8 position, Joyzy Funchica, also beat the odds to graduate from the country’s top military school.
Born in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Joyzy is the fourth of six siblings. In an interview with ABS-CBN news, she shared how her older siblings graduated from high school but couldn’t go to college due to a lack of funds.
"Ang mama ko, sumasama minsan sa papa ko na nagmimina, nagbubunot ng mga damo, naglalabada, kahit na anong form ng trabaho,” she said in the interview, recalling how she finished high school as the class valedictorian.
She went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in secondary education majoring in mathematics at the Caraga State University.
Sadly, her mother Anita who was so proud of her daughter for making it to the PMA passed away during her sophomore year at the academy.
“Parang gusto ko po siyang maging proud sa akin na habang nakatingin siya sa akin from above, na naging successful ako,” she shared, adding that graduating from the PMA alone is an honor. Landing in the top 10 is just a bonus.
Joyzy also shared that she will be joining the Philippine Air Force along with four other cadets who will be graduating alongside her in the top 10.
“Itong success ko, ino-offer ko talaga sa kanya,” she continued, pertaining to her beloved mom. “Kasi siya talaga ang naging inspiration ko na mas pag-igihin pa ang aral ko dito.”
How to start inspiring academic excellence in your kid
1. Be their champion
Educator Rita Pierson, in a rousing TED talk, stressed the importance of how teaching should not only bring learning, but also joy. She also emphasized the need for parents to “be a champion” for their kids to look up to, inspiring them to be a better somebody.
2. Cultivate curiosity and engagement
According to teacher Ramsey Musallam, educators (and parents) shouldn’t merely impart content and knowledge but strive to become “cultivators of curiosity and inquiry”. Sparking their imagination is just as important as fostering their love for studying.
3. It’s a marathon, not a sprint
Kids born in the digital age grow up accustomed to instant experiences. Often, patience becomes hard to learn because they can access knowledge and entertainment at the click of a button. When it comes to academics, parents need to teach kids to build up endurance instead of focusing on the end result. Enjoying and embracing the learning process is more important than being solely motivated by grades.
Kids must grow up having grit, as math teacher Angela Lee Duckworth said in a TED talk, “Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
READ: Daughter of welder and vendor becomes Nursing Board exam topnotcher
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