President: CAESAR RONNIE F ORDOYO

Secretary: EDMUND C TAN

Mapitagan Christmas Party 2024

The Mapitagans celebrated Christmas 2024 with a simple dinner cum party on 7 December 2024 at the Social Hall of the Villamor Airbase Golf Course (VABGC), attended by 30 Mapitagans and 31 Ladies 7 of them widows. A thanksgiving mass was first held at 4PM, before the start of the party with a message from our Class President, Ces Ordoyo.

Dinner was a senior-friendly buffet catered by VABGC, with three lechons served along with fresh tuna sashimi sliced from a whole tuna fish that came all the way from General Santos City courtesy of the PCG.

To make the celebration livelier, 5 parlor games were staged with the winners rewarded with cash prizes. Also, a raffle was held sponsored by an honorary Mistah, with Manding Guzman winning the grand prize of P5K while five others won P1K each.

After all the fun and laughter of the parlor games and singing accompanied by the Air Force Band, those who brought presents were called to gather for the exchange of gifts. The party culminated when everyone was invited to join the singing of Christmas carols to mark the joyful season.

Noel Manabat’s Passing

Just after the weekend of the Class Christmas 2024 celebration, sad news dampened our spirits in this joyful time of the year with the passing of our esteemed Mistah Noel M Manabat, who joined our Creator on 11 December 2024.

The necrological service for Noel was held in the evening of 16 December at the Cosmopolitan Chapels, Araneta Avenue, Quezon City where his remains had lain in repose. On 19 December 2024, he was finally laid to rest at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani.

A true embodiment of courage and integrity, Noel served the Philippine National Police with unwavering dedication and honor. His legacy as a patriot and leader will forever inspire us all.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his loving wife, Benerva, and family during their difficult time. May Noel rest in eternal and perfect peace.

Updates on Status of Mapitagans

ARMY Group

The status of the Army Group who are based in the Philippines:

➢ Manny Amat is fully retired and is enjoying farming in Dolores, Quezon.

➢ Dante Balao is currently working as a Professor at the College of Forestry and Environmental Management, Cabagan Campus, Isabela State University, after retiring twice, in 2011 and in 2020.

➢ Orly Beltran is fully retired doing apostolic duties and so with Boy Bolo.

➢ Bong Cabantac is a Consultant on-call at MMDA.

➢ Bobby Calleja is also fully retired, doing apostolic duties.

➢ Juni Carbonell was appointed recently as the Special Presidential Representative to PVAO with the rank of Assistant Secretary, and as Chief of Staff of PVAO.

➢ Noel Coballes is still AVP for Corporate Security, Asia Brewery Incorporated after he retired as the CG, PA in February 2014.

➢ Dante Costes spends his retirement nowadays karaoke-singing which he enjoys so much.

➢ Rainier Cruz III is Commissioner of the National Commission of Senior Citizens with a fixed term of six years until October 2027.

➢ Ed Del Rosario, after serving as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development until 2022, is now fully retired and enjoying life like the dickens!

➢ Nene Delos Reyes is also fully retired and is enjoying life with families especially with his grandkids.

➢ Nestor Eloja had retired early from the service, is currently working in some faith-based NGOs in Davao City where he is residing.

➢ Mandy Espineli is currently working for the Office of the President as the Presidential Adviser for Special Concern holding the rank of Under Secretary.

➢ Emil “Gupix” Gupana is a full-time retiree, enjoying his pension.

➢ Gerry Layug is a Trustee of AGFO since 2020 and was just recently elected as the President and Chairman of the said Association for 2025.

➢ Onell Lleno now devotes three quarters of his time preforming apostolic duties to four grandkids, while one-fourth is for golf and fellowship with the Mapitagan Golfers.

➢ Mon Loria serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of RPMI, a micro financing company, and recently was elected as the President of the Baguio Pine City Lions Club.

➢ Mar Mendoza is fully retired but not retarded by doing daily exercises like brisk walking, bicycling with a road bike, scootering around with a Yamaha NMax155cc, and riding his Suzuki 1000cc VStrom XT Adventure bike.

➢ Ces Ordoyo, our Class Prez, retired as the Commander of SOLCOM, then worked as VP Security, PAL from 2014 until 2023. He is currently working as VP Security of Pure Energy Holdings Corporation.

➢ Ric Pasamba is fully retired doing nothing daw, according to him . . .

➢ King Reyes is also fully retired and enjoys communing with nature in his sugar plantation in Murcia, Negros Occidental.

➢ Jun Sanchez is also retired but keeps himself busy as the Treasurer of the Class.

➢ Jojie Segovia is a private citizen as he claims. . . meaning he is into something that we don’t know. Hehehe.

➢ Jude Tadeo became a lawyer and previously worked in DND but now no more. We wonder where he is connected nowadays.

➢ Dante Taliño is always in his hometown in Bayambang, Pangasinan, doing apostolic duties as a full-time retiree.

➢ Ted Torralba after working for some time in the government, is now fully retired and enjoying his free time to the max, doing also apostolic duties.

2➢ Jeff Tupas optionally retired in 2002 to work as a Security Expert in some private companies and government institutions. Currently, he manages his three companies engaged in security and a trading corporation.

➢ Herbert Yambing is currently a Security Consultant to 8 private companies and plays golf with Mistahs in his spare time.

➢ Cesar Yano is still working with the government since 2016 and is currently the Presidential Assistant – Chair, GPH Peace Implementing Panel for GPH-MILF Peace Agreement.

➢ Missing in Action with no contact at all is Willy Campos. Hope someday he will resurface and connect with us.

NAVY/COAST GUARD Group

Out of the 17 living Mistahs of the Navy, seven have been living abroad after retiring early from the service. Of the 10 who are based in the country, their status:

➢ Edgar “Bogs” Abogado used to work as Technical Manager of AMARR Marine Inc., and as Marine Manager of SOUTH PACIFIC Inc., but is now fully retired. His activities nowadays include playing golf, doing apostolic duty and being a full-time family driver.

➢ Mike Asuncion still works as an Honorable Judge since 2011 at the RTC of Antipolo, Branch 99. He has barely any time for love as he himself prepares decisions of his many cases. If some Mistahs will invite him out to relax, he is ready and willing daw. Calling the PNP Group. Hehehe…

“houseband” and “bodyguard” to his wifey who is the Administrative Officer and

➢ Hermie Colina is currently doing security and compliance consulting on the side when not playing golf and does apostolic duties looking after his grandchildren and traveling at times.

➢ Manding Guzman is currently a Senior Adviser/Consultant to two private companies. He prides on the achievements of his kids with now two lawyers in the family. Buti na lang nagmana kay Ching!

➢ Mike “Ige” Rodriguez currently works in many capacities as Project Director of the National Govt Admin Center, New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac; as a Board Member and GM, New Clark Govt Center Corp; President, Gaqued y ang mgaCuyonon; Member of the Advisory Council of PNP Maritime Group; Member BOT and Pres, PFAC Foundation; and Member BOT and Vice Chairman, PFAC.

➢ Ed Tamayo currently is a Director of the Board of PETFI (PMAAAI Educational Foundation) and recently was elected as Trustee of AGFO to serve for three years until 2027.

➢ Edmund Tan serves as Director/Trustee of PMARAI, AGFO and AGFO Foundation, the Maritime League, and the CG Credit Cooperative, among others, aside from being the Class Secretary. He is quite busy but still manages his time operating his two companies as President/CEO: a trucking company and a shipping agency.

➢ Zyril Carlos and Mon Muyargas have no updates while Tino Pereyra has been missing in action for quite a long time already. Hope he is fine and doing okay with his corny jokes.

➢ Ome Carbonell, after being a commercial pilot of PAL and Singapore Airlines for a long time, is now fully retired, travelling around with 2 wheels, 4 wheels, and 3even with no wheels. He enjoys his retirement by spending quality time with his grandchildren, mistahs, and friends.

AIR FORCE Group

The Air Force Mapitagans are all enjoying their retirement through a variety of activities, i.e., playing golf, local travels, foreign travels, and grandchildren duties.

➢ Larry “Cru” de la Cruz enjoys playing golf to keep his fitness. His well-tanned skin speaks for itself as to how often he plays golf.

➢ Nes Deona manages his retirement by playing golf, singing the karaoke, traveling, and enjoying lots of free time.

➢ Macky Macapagal, as a retiree and a Senior Citizen like all of us in the class, gets entertained by playing golf when not on duty with his apo. Macky beams with pride of his 4 children, who are all professionals.

➢ Douglas Macatol who lives in General Santos City, is non-entity in our activities.

➢ Epoy Marayag has been a home body since retirement, enjoying the comforts of his home and family.

➢ Romy Prado who has retired early from the service, is still reeling from the loss of his wife Elena but is slowly recovering from the pain and some woes.

➢ Eldon Nemenzo is an extraordinary miracle having to live this long after suffering from a stroke more than 10 years ago and is bedridden. We continue to pray for a miracle for Eldon to recover and live longer.

PNP Group

Those still working in the PNP Group are:

➢ Nick Bartolome who is fully retired and honored as the first Tarlaqueño to become C, PNP, still commutes between Davao/Cotabato and Manila/Tarlac, working as a Consultant on Security Agency and Construction Company, while managing his agro-business and poultry farm.

➢ Gil Meneses is a practicing lawyer and advises some Mapitagans on legal matters, aside from serving as Chairman of PMAAAI Truth and Justice Foundation, as well as the Corporate Secretary of the PMA Foundation.

➢ George Regis is the Executive Assistant, Department of Public Order and Safety of the Quezon City Local Government Unit.

➢ Efren Yebra is the founding Chairman of The Camarines Norte Minahang Bayan Consumers Cooperative. Together with Gil Meneses, Jeff Tupas and Dante Costes, formed the MYTC 80 (Meneses, Yebra, Tupas, Costes) Trading Corporation, to help the development of small-scale mining industry of Camarines Norte province through the establishment of “one stop mining shop”; and the submission of proposed amendments to the People’s Small Scale Mining Act (RA7076) which will regulate small scale mining operations.

The others have not worked anymore and fully retired but doing other things like:

Sammy Diciano on his “apostolic” work in New York, same as Tony Baraquiel, Vic Caragan, Bong DA, Leo Kison, Benj Mantele, Ager Ontog, Gil Pacia, Arnold Perez, Danny Siongco and Raffy Torres; Jayvee Javier paints in his spare time; Roque Ramirez is busy attending to his farm and resort in Labo, Camarines Norte; while others are part time-retired and part time golfers like Paco Francisco and Emil Sarmiento. Last time we heard is that Jufel Adriatico is busy managing his build-and-sell housing business; Fajie Fajardo and Nolet Ojeda are just plain houseboys (hehehe); while Romy Palaroan continues in trying to improve his singing at home. No word has been heard from Nelson Nario since his retirement in 2011.

Mistahs Living Abroad

➢ Oby Antonio is still working as Chiropractor and about to start his functional medicine practice in Wisconsin, USA.

4➢ Mike Agudo is retired and living in Phoenix, with his wife Ruby. Both are taking care of their son with special needs.

➢ Jun Ancheta is in Richmond, Canada; retired and enjoys playing golf three times a week.

➢ Alex De Guzman and wife Cora are in Los Angeles, California; both still working as nurses.

➢ Noel Dominguez is contemplating of retiring in Catanduanes where he is building a vacation home which he hopes can withstand typhoons; and travel back and forth to US (Fontana, CA) as his health may permit (God Willing). He is enjoying life and living healthy while waiting for a grandkid.

➢ Gene Enriquez is in New York, undergoing physical therapy 3x a week, after a minor stroke. We pray for Gene’s full recovery and healing.

➢ Timmy Garrido is in Richmond, Virginia; fully retired but babysits his grandkids, travelling between East and West Coast when requested.

➢ Tony Joco is in New York with wife Ruth, and is still working.

➢ Jess Lomeda is fully retired now and is currently based in Canada with wife Blue. If needed, Jess is still open to work in cybersecurity for the Philippine government.

➢ Delfin Lorenzo Del is in California and still working . . .

➢ Bobbie Ramos is in Vienna together with Lou, fully retired but enjoys serving as Attache at the Philippine Embassy thereat.

➢ Alan Sta Ana is in California, perhaps still being chased by women (or the other way around). Hehehe…

➢ Van Solomon is in Miami, still working and maybe will retire in a few years. He has two kids and two grandkids.

➢ Edwin Talens with wife Marian, are in San Francisco as empty nesters. Both are still working. Their twins who graduated from the US Coast Guard Academy are now Lieutenant Senior Grades.

➢ Mervin Tiu is missing up to now, last known to be somewhere in Florida, USA.

➢ And last but not the least, Jack Yaakub, our Malaysian classmate, is relaxing and gallivanting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He has been in contact with some of us. Hoping to see him again and join us in the PMA Homecoming 2025!

Mistahs Who Have Gone Ahead to the Great Beyond

Of the 111 of us that graduated as a Class on 18 Feb 1980, 22 of our dear classmates have gone ahead of us, namely:

1) Manny Arroyo (May 1984); 2) Jess Atoc (Aug 2023); 3) Nestor Bernardino (Feb 2005); 4) Ariel Bernardo ((Nov 2023); 5) Jose “Jun” Briones (Jul 1981); 6) Dippon Carado (May 2024); 7) Carlos “Caloy” Clet (Apr 2009); 8) Lito Cruz (Apr 2005); 9) Adrian Esplana (May 1981); 10) Martin Jubas (Feb 2008); 11) Deogracias Madriaga (Jul 1983); 12) Noel Manabat (Dec 2024); 13) Hermie Navarro (Mar 2015); 14) Ruben Noble (Sep 2011); 15) Santi Pascua (Jan 1994); 16) Silver Primero (Oct 2022); 17) Albert “Bushen” Rivera (Sep 1981); 18) Cecil Sandalo (Oct 2022); 19) Dick Sugon (Feb 2017); 20) Aurelio Tiangco (Aug 1981); 21) Herold “Jibs” Ubalde (Apr 2020); and 22) Eugenio “Jing” Velasco (Nov 2017). May they all continue to rest in eternal peace.

Message From Our Class President

To my esteemed Mistah’s, as we celebrate 45 years since our graduation, let us reflect on the unwavering bonds, courage, and sacrifices that have defined our journey. Together, we have upheld the values instilled in us by the Philippine Military Academy. To all alumni, honorary and associate members of our noble institution, as we commemorate the Academy’s 120th Anniversary, may we continue to honor its5legacy by inspiring future generations to serve with integrity, loyalty, and excellence.

To God be the honor and glory! Mabuhay ang Mapitagan! Mabuhay ang PMA!