THE MAPITAGAN @40

By Miguel Jose S. Rodriguez

The number 40, when applied to a measure of time, is very significant to many people of all ages, that even the Bible has it mentioned 146 times. In sum, whether it be days or years, the number 40 basically refers to a period of testing, trials, and triumph.

Nowhere is this number of greater value today than to a motley group of 146 lads who, on April 1, 1976, from diverse backgrounds, suddenly looked alike (after the haircut), and behaved alike (after the shock and awe), and after having gone through the same four-year mold, come out almost alike, exactly 40 years ago, give or take 40 days.

Thus, was born the PMA Class of 1980, and the world was never the same again. Well, at least for us 146 peoples, that is.

As we celebrate our Ruby Anniversary, we look back and realize that 40 years are not enough to erase those wonderful moments in time, when we lived a life reckoned from the mess to mess, with every Saturday adding to our past, and every month filled with memories that last. Sounds familiar? It should.

Life in the Academy was totally different, and it didn’t matter where we come from. Ours was a life of change, as we left at the end of each day, some weak habits of thought or of play. Indeed, no other words could have described us more.

For ours was a time of change, and externally as well. Happiness was when the M1Garand was replaced by the M14, anything for a few pounds less (still holds true today). Happiness when our slide rule gave way to the Casio fx calculators and “sliding” became relevant only at the mess hall.

Our Spanish subject gave way to Mandarin, in prep for the Chinese expansion 40 years later, though we never got past “Ni haw ma?” and “Wo hen hai.”

Unforgettable were the weekly trips to SLU when we ran our Fortran or Cobol programs in such huge computers that can now fit into our hands.

Happiness when gabardine white pants took over the cotton starched ones. No more creases, except on the face of our upperclassmen.

It was pure bliss then, beating everybody else to the telephone, where we learned how to say, in the sweetest words, “Manang, mabilin ti zone?”

And receiving four Pemesco letters at the same time was such extreme joy that is forever denied to the cadets of today.

When the buddy system paired us with the firsties, that was heaven, for the yearlings couldn’t get their hands on us, though not all the time. In fact, they loved us so much that many of them joined our class as we graduated, thinking maybe it’s more fun to be Mapitagan, than Matapat.

A total of 106 cadets, plus a Malaysian Jack Yaakub, graduated that fateful February of 40 years ago. Of that number, 50 joined the Army, 27 the Constabulary, 17 went to the Navy, and 12 to the Air Force. Of the four US Service Academy graduates, Mike Asuncion, Manding Guzman, and Mike Agudo joined the Navy, while Jun Sanchez went to the Army.

The Corps of Professors were enriched by the entry of Mon Loria and Orly Beltran from the Army; while from the Air Force, Van Solomon, Noel Manabat, and Aurelio Tiangco transferred to the Constabulary. Ditto the Navy, with Jeeves Ubalde later adding the P to his PN; much later, Paco Francisco, Jufel Adriatico, and Efren Yebra, all from the Army, laterally entered the Constabulary.

Over time, a total of 38 mistahs left the service, who are now successful businessmen, successful golfers, or model husbands.

The 40 year period was indeed one of trials, tribulations and triumps. We grieve the loss of 13 mistahs who made the ultimate sacrifice for love of country and fellowmen.

We beat the odds, dodged the bullets, and the media, went from peacemakers to peacekeepers, and back again, and gave our all for the peace and security of our country and people.

By the time we retired, we were all holding positions of major responsibilities, and rallied behind our marcher, 4-star PNP Chief Nick Bartolome, 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.

We have 11 (and counting) CAVALIER, Outstanding Achievement and TOPs awardees in the person of Nick Bartolome, William Campos, Noel Coballes, Larry Cruz, Nes Eloja, Gerry Layug, Jess Lomeda, Greg Macapagal, Jojie Segovia, Edmund Tan, Efren Yebra. The next 40 years will definitely see more added to this list.

The class became even distinguished by the entry of our honorary members: USec Nabil Tan, Gov Art Yap, Congressmen Joey Salceda, Ricky Sandoval, Joey Zubiri, Commissioner Ed Escueta, BGen Ordi Sta Ana, MGen Buboy Salazar, Nicky Valdez, Willy Lee, Maria Elena “Balsy” Aquino-Cruz, Aurora Corazon “Pinky” Aquino-Abellada, Tim Orbos, Dr. Manuel Chua Chiaco of the Heart Center, DZRH mainstay and Cong Angelo Palmones, Industry Leaders Henry Sy Jr., Raymund Yap, Defin Lee, Anthony Almeda, and our latest inductees: Dr. Frank Gali of the VMMC and businessman Danny Saberon.

As retirement came, it appeared that some of us didn’t know what it meant, and continued to serve in other capacities, notably Sec Ed Del Rosario of the Dept of Human Settlements and Urban Development and his Chief of Staff Zyril Carlos. The Defense Department has USec Cesar Yano, ASec Ted Torralba, Director Jess Lomeda having done his share as Chief of the MIS Service, Over in OCD, we have three regional directors: Bong Cabantac, Dante Balao and Buboy Salazar. Ranier Cruz did his stint as Head of BUCOR, and Edmund Tan was head of the Cebu Ports Authority in the very lonel place called Cebu. Ager Ontog was Chief of NICA where Sammy Diciano, Ariel Bernardo, Melchor Fajardo and Gil Pacia still do what they do best.

Our class produced six lawyers: Gil Meneses, Jess Atoc, Jude Tadeo, Jun Ancheta, Jeeves Ubalde, and our lone judge, Mike Asuncion.

In the private sector, Hermie Colina became director of Philip Morris International. Tony Baraquiel sits as Director of the Public Safety Savings and Loan Association. Caesar Ordoyo is Vice President of PAL, and Noel Coballes a top honcho of Asia Brewery. Jeff Tupas specializes in Security Agencies Operations while Noel Dominguez put up his own Pest Control business in the USA that helped many alumni in that part of the globe. Nes Deona is Gen Manager of Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corporation based in Clark. Mike Rodriguez is Project Director of the MTD-BCDA Joint Venture at New Clark City, the developer of the National Government Administrative Center and the site of the 30th SEA Games, and Emil Sarmiento is VP for Government Affairs of the Philippine Practical Shooting Association. Ome Carbonell alternates between sailing his yacht and flying the 747 in order to support his yacht. As for Jess Lomeda, he is the most sought expert in cybersecurity; he was pirated from DND to serve as chairman of the board of Kerberus Corporation, the VP for Cybersecurity of 5GS (formerly known as G4S, the armor cars that reload cash at ATMs) and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of PT&T, one of the bidders in the 3rd Telco.

Nick Bartolome and Jess Lomeda served as President and Vice President, respectively, of the PMAAAI, Juni Carbonell as Director of BIRC, and Gerry Layug as Director of the AGFO, bringing great honor to the class.

Since biblical times, the period 40 years represents how long it takes for new generations to arise (Numbers 32:13). We see this happening now as we sit back, and let our grown up children handle the hot seat, with the likes of:

  • LTC MARC ANTHONY A YAMBING PAF
  • LTC MICHAEL DEON COSTES MAC
  • MAJ DOMINIQUE M SUGON (FS) PA
  • CPT CHARLES DENNIS I TAN PN(M)
  • CPT ROBBIE CRUZ (INF) PA
  • CPT JAMES WHIRLWIND O SALAZAR (INF) PA
  • CPT RAYMUND DEREK P CARBONELL (SC) PA
  • CPT JOSIF GINO C JUBAS (INF) PA
  • CPT LEE VAN JAN S MARAYAG PAF
  • CPT NOEL CHRISTI MACAPAGAL (MC) PAF
  • CPT JULIUS YANO JAGS
  • CPT LEONARD REY MANABAT (MC) PA
  • CPT KARL AGUDO USPAF
  • LT JOEY LITO S MARAYAG PN
  • LT KEVIN DWIGHT CJ V LOMEDA PN
  • LT RUSSEL JOHN BAUTISTA PN
  • LT VICKY TALENS USCG
  • LT TRICIA TALENS USCG
  • 1LT LOU CHRISTOPHER DELA CRUZ PAF
  • 1LT GERARD EMMANUEL P LAYUG DS
  • LTJG EDGARSON GIL ABOGADO PN
  • LTSG JOHN TEO GUZMAN PN
  • 2LT DRUCILLE EVA SUGON PA
  • 2LT MARIELLE JEN D BERNARDO MAC

For indeed, there is no greater happiness than seeing our children once at play, now assuming positions of great responsibility, and proving to be better copies than their fathers.

This is who we are after 40 years. We may be the old age of youth, but definitely, we are the youth of old age.

We are kept young by our equally young wivws, the love of our lives, our forever Kaydet Girls, who have supported us through the years, who been very patient trying to mold us some more, and still years younger than their age. And that’s our secret and guarantee that we will last and enjoy the next 40 years.

And in case any one of us forgets the way we were, just listen to any Barry Manilow song, and it will come back . . .