Female cadet from Batangas leads PMA Class of 2026

A female cadet from Batangas is leading this year’s Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Talang Dangal Class of 2026, along with four other female cadets in the Top 10.

Class valedictorian Cadet First Class Christine Kaye Librada received the Presidential Saber, Philippine Army Saber, Joint US Military Assistance Group Award, and Australian Defense Best Overall Performance Award.

The daughter of a retired military officer, Librada hails from Lipa City and studied BS Psychology at the De La Salle University in Manila.

She will soon join the Philippine Army upon her graduation from the PMA, which will be held on May 16.

“Regarding my experience, it’s different for every year because we serve different roles, depending on what class we are in [...] These concepts are not something you can touch easily when you are outside of the academy,” Librada said during the presentation of the top graduating cadets in Baguio City.

“So learning all of these from the academy is such a blessing, given that we are able to experience what it is like to lead not only small units but also the entire CCAFP or the Cadet Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which is a regimen,” she added.

The other top 10 graduating cadets of the Talang Dangal Class of 2026 are:

• 2nd: Cadet 1CL Mark John Vincent Utlang Catacutan
• 3rd: Cadet 1CL Thomas Edgar Isla Sepulchre
• 4th: Cadet 1CL Ian Harold Durana Hubilla
• 5th: Cadet 1CL Maeg Adriene Pajarillo Bermudez
• 6th: Cadet 1CL Cherry Mae Panag Geco
• 7th: Cadet 1CL Elixa Anya Lumbang Hernandez
• 8th: Cadet 1CL Catherine Liesha Beloa De Chavez
• 9th: Cadet 1CL Cedric Cyril Guingguing Polizon
• 10th: Cadet 1CL Mark Clement Dequinto Centina

De Chavez – who ranked eighth – urged other women to join the PMA, especially that five female cadets made it to the Top 10. The PMA Talang Dangal Class of 2026 is composed of 207 cadets – 142 men and 65 women.

“My message to the younger females who also want to venture or want to take the PMA challenge, don’t let others or even yourself limit yourself. Let the PMA be the one to sort out or decide if you are eligible or can take this PMA challenge,” she said.

“In my case, I doubted myself because back then I was not that physically sufficient. But I let the PMA be the one to assess if I’m eligible to take the PMA challenge, and now here I am,” De Chavez added.

‘Unique’

PMA Superintendent Vice Admiral Caesar Bernardo Valencia said the distribution of the members of the Class of 2026 among the branches of service will be equally divided.

“For this particular class, nagbago na (there is a change in the) distribution of branches of service. Usually, it’s 50-26-24 meaning 50% goes to the Army, 26% goes to the Navy, and 24% goes to the Air Force,” Valencia said.

“But for this particular class, the higher headquarters has directed that the distribution of branch of service will now be more equally divided. Meaning 35% goes to the Navy, 35% goes to the Army, 30% goes to the Air Force,” he added.

The curriculum was also updated with lessons on artificial intelligence, python programming, and unmanned systems, Valencia said. — JMA, GMA News