In line with our celebration of our “Golden Plebo” on 01 April 2026, I wish to compile a “Mapitagan Trivia”, something to be proud of, with our decent and humble distinction – outlined for our class writers (Rodriguez and Lleno) to expound and publish their essay in the 2026 1st quarter issue of the Cavalier Magazine.
May I invite you all to add …
I. Cadetship:
– Starman: Deona
– Magna Cum Laude: Meneses
– Cum Laude: Sarmiento
– US Service Graduates: Sanchez (West Point), Agudo/: Guzman (Annapolis), Asuncion (USCG).
– Foreigners: Yaakub of Malaysia; Ringstad of USA (DNF)
- Nemenzo: editor-in-chief of the Diamond Edition of the Corps Mag.
II. Military Service:
– As Service Commanders (hindi na masama hehe):
– Army: Coballes (22 Jan 13 to 07 Feb 14, US War College Hall of Famer).
– Air Force: Dela Cruz (9 Jan 12 to 30 April 14)
– PNP: Bartolome (8 Sept 11 to 17 Dec 12, the only 4-star in the class).
– Coast Guard: Tan (24 Jan 12 to 14 Dec 12)
– PMA Superintendent: Abogado (10 April 13 to 17 Feb 14)
– Area Commanders:
– EastMinCom: Segovia/Cruz RG III
– WestMinCom: Coballes
– SolCom: Ordoyo
– Attaches:
– USA: Yano (as non-resident for Canada)
– France: Ordoyo
– Brunei: Torralba
AWARDS:
Distinguished Conduct Star (2nd highest award for Combat): Eloja & Coballes.
III. Civilian/Private Lives:
Government Service:
– Del Rosario: as the first Secretary of Human Settlements and Urban Development of the Philippines (2020 to 2022).
– Carlos: as Sayong’s first USec at his department.
– Cruz RG III: Former Director of BuCor and as incumbent Commissioner for Senior Citizen
- Tan: Former General Manager of Cebu Port Auhtority (Oct 2013 to Dec 2016).
– Yano: Former Under Secretary for OPNS, DND; and the incumbent Presidential Assistant on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU)/Chair for the GPH-MILF Peace Accord
-Torralba: Former ASEC for SA&IA, DND
– Carbonell, Juni: Incumbent PVAO ASec
– Espinelli: as USec of PBBM
– Asuncion: the Present RTC Judge of Antipolo, Branch 99.
– 2nd Generation PMA Graduates: we produced 10 graduates (with a total of 25 offsprings who are now serving in the military at different branch and technical services; full colonels na anak ni Herbert and Dante).
– Yebra: his son, USec Rainer, topped the 2009 Bar exam (a total of 28 lawyers in our class, to include children and honorary members).
- Agudo: his son Karl is a graduate of USAFA Class 2011, now holding a squadron commander position.
– Talens: twin daughters (Vicky and Tricia) as 2018 graduates of USCG, both varsity in swimming.
May mga anak na doctors: Prado, Manabat, Macapagal, Ordoyo, sino pa? May I get their names please? As proud to have doctors as adopted mistahs in our ranks: Doc Chuck and Doc Gali
- With Doctorate Degrees: Bartolome (PhD in Criminology); Agudo, Doctor of Science in Electrical Engineering (George Washington University);
- With published Books: Nemenzo (Diamond Edition of Corps Magazine Compilations); Lomeda (A Time to Heal);
- Bartolome: his wife, Noemi, became the mayor of Alamada, North Cotabato. (not to mention that 3 mistahs lost in their bid: King of Murcia, Ariel of Magarao and Efren of Paracale).
- Ramos: his wife, Lou, is a consul in Austria.
- Sarmiento: with wife Mae are the owners of Tamarind @SMAura and Lime & Basil @Tagaytay (ano pa nga? Wala na yun nasa Mega? Kami dati sa SM@Camp Aguinaldo haha)
- Rodriguez: with wife Aleli are owners of “By the bay, Jacana bed & breakfast” in Puerto Princesa.
– World Shoot Participants that represented the country in an international competition: Cruz RG III, Segovia, Sarmiento and Baraquiel.
– Best Golfer: Regis perennial champion. Laban sila?
– Hole-in-One: Diciano (5), Torralba (3), Sarmiento (2), Cabantac (1), Regis (?) sino pa? (Si Bumanglag ‘79 daw had 9, mag overtake dyan si Sammy in due time hehe)
– Baraquiel: his daughter Sunshine is a professional lady golfer, who competes and won in local and international tournaments.
– Played in St Andrews: ???
CAVALIER AWARDEES:
- Bartolome: 1999 & 2006 (with two awards among the few)
- Eloja: 1986 (combat operations)
- Macapagal: 1989
- Segovia: 1993
- Layug: 2002
- Abogado: 2009
- Yebra: 2012
- Coballes: 2013
- Lomeda: 2019 (Cybersecurity)
- Did I miss someone?
PMAAAI OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
- Sec. Del Rosario: 2020
- Bartolome: 2012
- Tan: 2012
- Coballes: 2013
- Dela Cruz: 2013
OTHERS:
- Layug: Incumbent President of AGFO
- Tamayo: Incumbent President of PETFI
- Loria: Incumbent President of Lion’s Club of Baguio City
- Javier: Former President/CEO, Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Incorporated (PSMBFI)
- Ontog: Former Director of NICA
- Campos: TOPS Awardee 2003
- Carbonell Ome: Captain, PAL/SQ B747/B737 PAL EX AB320/A321
- Mendoza: Former District Collector, Port of Manila, Bureau of Customs
- Ramos: Former Managing Director, Philippine National Bank (Europe) and Head of Office PNB(Europe), Paris.
- Tadeo: Former Director, Legal and Legislative Affairs, DND
MAPITAGAN MONUMENTS:
- Villamor Air Base Golf Course: Maptagan Fountain
- Fort Del Pilar: Mapitagan Picnic Groove
- Camp Macabulos, PNP Tarlac City: The Mapitagan Loop.
- Veterans Memorial Medical Center: Mapitagan Ward (c/o Doc Gali), natuloy ba ???
SUMMARY:
By the time we retired, we were all holding positions of major responsibilities, and rallied behind our marcher, 4-star PNP Chief Nick Bartolome (who became our class president and the president of PMAAAI in 2010), and our 3-star PCG Commandant Edmund Tan, CGPA Noel Coballes, CGPAF Larry Dela Cruz, TDCS Greg Macapagal, PMA Supt Bogs Abogado, ComSolCom Caesar Ordoyo, CGs EastMinCom Jojie Segovia and Ranier Cruz, as well as PNP Deputies Emil Sarmiento and Ager Ontog.
We had 19 2-stars and 27 1-stars. Some may not have made the star, but for us, it really didn’t matter. We all served and we served well.
PMA’s Mapitagan Class of 1980 