PMA cadets adapt to new learning method amid pandemic

Cadets have to face a new system of learning at the Philippine Military Academy amid the ongoing health crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the valedictorian of the PMA Masaligan Class of 2021.

"When the pandemic started, the method of education at the academy changed, that was one of the challenges we faced as cadets," said Cadet First Class Janrey Artus at the Laging Handa briefing on Thursday.

"Secondly, ang pinakamahirap na part ng aming pagkakadete ay ang pagpe-plebo. Kasi sa pagpasok namin ng PMA, two months kaming nag-base barracks. Ito ang stage ng pag-transform ng isang carefree civilian into a disciplined and well-mannered military officer. Sa pag-adjust sa method of instruction sa PMA, nagkaroon kami ng different programs dahil sa ginawa ng PMA Command," Artus added.

(Secondly, the hardest part of being a cadet is being a 'plebo'. When we entered the PMA, we stayed in the barracks for two months. This is the stage where you are transformed from a carefree civilian into a disciplined and well-mannered military officer. We had different programs from the PMA Command with the adjustment of methods of instruction at the PMA.)

PMA Superintendent Lieutenant General Ferdinand Cartujano said they implemented changes in the system of training following a memorandum order from Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

First is the separation of cadets from the barracks up to the Mess Hall, and the expansion of the coverage of the "All Right" system, where cadets are inspected for liquor, gambling, and maltreatment.

Mentoring and counselling for cadets and upper classes at the Bagui-based academy were also intensified, Cartujano said.

"Imbes na bumaba ang tiwala namin sa sarili namin dahil sa mga pressure na nakaabang sa amin, ang ginagawa po namin mino-motivate tsaka tsina-challenge lang po namin 'yung sarili namin na, as long as binibigay po namin 'yung best namin sa lahat ng mga trabaho, mga assignments na ibinibigay sa amin, alam po namin na ang lahat ng pressure na 'yon magagantihan ng magandang resulta," said the class' Salutatorian, Cadet First Class Daryl Brix Colita.

(Instead of losing our self-confidence due to pressures that await us, what we do is motivate and challenge ourselves, that as long as we give our best to our jobs, assignments given to us, we know that all that pressure will be rewarded with good results.) -MDM, GMA News