BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A cadet from San Enrique town in Negros Occidental topped the Philippine Military Academy “Masaligan” Class of 2021, and the simple graduation rites will be held on May 10 at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
PMA Class 2021 valedictorian, Cadet 1st Class Janrey Cabaneru Artus, 25, will be commissioned as a junior officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and will join the Navy.
Artus is also a recipient of the Presidential Saber for being number one in the Military Precedence List, Philippine Navy Saber for being number one graduating cadet joining the Navy, Australian Defense Award as best overall performing graduate of the Philippine Navy, Spanish Armed Forces Award for having the best overall rating in all Socio-Humanistic subjects offered by the Academic Group, the General Antonio Luna Award, Academic Group Award, and the Jusmag Award.
He will also receive the Humanities, Department of Leadership, Mathematics, Computing and Information Sciences, Management, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and the Navy Professional plaques.
Before he entered the premier military institution, Artus took up Chemical Engineering at the University of the Philippines–Visayas and was a university scholar.
Artus contributed to the development of the online Cadet Corps AFP Disposition Form and in the revision of the Honor Code and System Handbook and Pamphlet, the PMA said during the presentation of the top performing cadets that was streamed live on the PMA official Facebook yesterday, and attended by PMA Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Ferdinand Cartujano, and other military school officials.
A PROUD MOMENT
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson congratulated Artus for being the summa cum laude and class valedictorian. “Today is a proud moment for the province of Negros Occidental…graduating from the Philippine Military Academy is remarkable in itself, but you tested your limits and emerged top of your class. With this feat, you will be an exemplar and an inspiration to all the Negrenses, particularly to our youth.”
“It is also noteworthy that the name of your class, Masaligan, of which you are the frontrunner, means trustworthy, reliable, and honorable in our local language. With this, I hope that you will fully embrace such honor through your fervent commitment and allegiance to our people and Constitution,” Lacson said in his congratulatory message.
Of the 164 graduates, 26 are women. Eighty-two of them are joining the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy – 46, and Philippine Air Force – 36. They will join the AFP, either as Army and Air Force lieutenants or Navy ensigns.
TOP TEN
The other cadets in the top 10 are 1CL Daryl Brix Colita from Tabuk City, Kalinga – salutatorian, 1CL Valerie Mae Dicang from La Trinidad, Benguet – rank 3, 1CL Jan Hernan Perez, Alabang Hills, Muntinlupa City – 4th, 1CL Christine Joyce Andog, Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija – 5th, 1CL Feljoy Ending, Oroquieta City in Misamis Occidental – 6th, 1CL Harold Mars Sastado, Batangas City – 7th, 1CL Pamela Calleja from Malinao in Albay – 8th, 1CL Michael Angelo Madriaga, Tabuk City, Kalinga – 9th, and 1CL Shirley Fatima Lim from Tacloban City – 10th. Cadet 1CL Mae Pearl Alarcon Agustin, 25, from Malinao, Aklan, meanwhile, will receive the Military Justice Award.*
