Cadiz City is beaming with pride after knowing that a Cadizeño lad is among the top ten graduating cadets of the premier Philippine Military Academy (PMA), a press release from Cadiz PIO said.
Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr. said CDT 1CL Mark Clement Dequinto Centina of Barangay Burgos really made a remarkable finish at PMA, making his fellow Cadiznons proud of him.
“Centina, who ranked 10th among the graduating cadets of PMA on May 16, is one example that embodies our city’s mantra: ‘Culture of compassion. Mindset for excellence,’” Escalante said. “Truly, he is beyond inspiration.”
Grit and discipline really propelled him to be at the PMA, to be one of top cadets, the mayor added.
When Centina left the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) in the middle of his college journey, he knew he was stepping into a completely different life. One that demanded sacrifice, discipline, and commitment.
Years later, the young lad from Barangay Burgos, Cadiz City would prove that the difficult decision was all worth it.
On May 16, the 24-year-old Cadiznon will graduate from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) as Rank No. 10 of the “Talang Dangal” Class of 2026, earning his place among the country’s finest future military officers.
For Mark, however, the achievement did not happen overnight.
Raised in a humble family, Mark is the eldest of two siblings and the son of a retired Philippine Army enlisted personnel and a sugarcane farm consultant. Growing up, he witnessed firsthand the value of hard work, discipline, and perseverance. Lessons that would later guide him inside the academy.
He completed his secondary education at Negros Occidental National Science High School (NOSHS) in Victorias City before pursuing Bachelor of Science in Economics at UPV in Iloilo.
At the time, he was already in his third year in college when PMA called him up.
Inspired by his father’s military background and his own experiences as a student leader, Mark said his desire to serve the country became stronger during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a student leader, I saw how difficult the situation was for many Filipinos,” he shared. “That was when my desire to serve became stronger.”
Choosing PMA meant leaving behind the comfort of civilian life and embracing the rigid and demanding environment of military training.
Entering the academy during the pandemic also required major adjustments.
Inside PMA, cadets are expected to excel not only academically, but also physically, mentally, and emotionally. Every year brought heavier responsibilities, but for Mark, one of the toughest periods came during his second year as a third class cadet.
“The standards remained, but the responsibilities became greater,” he recalled.
Aside from balancing academics and military duties, they were also expected to become role models for younger cadets.
Despite the pressure and exhaustion, Mark persevered through discipline, patience, dedication, and faith in God. He also credited the support of his family and fellow cadets for helping him survive the difficult moments inside the academy.
For him, simply being accepted into PMA was already a blessing. Becoming part of the Top 10 graduates, he admitted, was something he never expected.
Now set to pursue a military career under the Philippine Army, Mark embodies Cadiz’s mantra of “Culture of compassion and mindset for excellence.”
Beyond the medals and recognition, though, his greatest pride remains deeply personal, seeing his family smile and knowing their sacrifices were all worth it.
“To see my family happy because of the sacrifices and efforts I made is one of the proudest moments of my life,” he said.
Today, Mark hopes his story will inspire fellow Cadiznons, Negrosanons and young Filipinos who may feel limited by their circumstances.
For the lad from Barangay Burgos, who once quietly dreamed of wearing the uniform, his message is simple: humble beginnings should never stop anyone from aiming higher.*
