My PMA Cadet Years (Fourth Class) - Facing Another Year

Greeting the New Year of 1996 was a tough one, specially not being with my family.  Back then, we had a simple Media Noche in the mess hall with our commandant of cadets and officers-in-charge.  After the meal, some "mistah" (classmates) were already rushing towards the phone booths to exchange greetings with their loved ones.  Me, I talked to my family using my iPhone (just kidding, cellphones were not yet widely used during those years), I was actually joining the others, shouting and making noise, greeting everyone a happy new year while going back to barracks.  Lively music and singing filled the hallway of each company.  Others were dancing and doing some comic acts, while some were eating their heart out watching movies in the clubroom... just doing something to have fun and forget the feeling of homesickness.  And yes, we were very brave to do that since all our upperclassmen were still on leave for the holidays.

The following day, we had a privilege to go out of camp (just within Baguio City). Along with some mistah, we were introduced to a family who lived just a couple of meters away from PMA entrance/ checkpoint.  It was a good thing, since they were very accommodating and friendly to us.  Having friends outside the portals of the academy was a great help, especially for us cadets being far away from home, it's a relief from the pressures, boredom, homesickness, etc.

It was the 3rd of January and with cadets following almost the same vacation days as that of the other universities and colleges, sometimes even shorter, upperclassmen begun to return as academics started.  So farewell to being kings and back to being the lowest mammals.  The good thing was, it was a practice that cadets coming from vacation usually bring delicacies and other boodles from their hometown to share it especially to their squadmates.  At least, we had something good to look forward to.  Also, we performed a parade in front of our upperclassmen.  Being all 4th class cadets, we applied what we learned from them and showed them we can also pull off a snappy pass in review.

Then came a memorable Sunday, 7th of January.  It was our class retreat at Betania Retreat House in Baguio City.  Here, our group met Fr. Raymond Santos and Bro. Arnold Almeda.  It made a  big contribution on my part for it strengthened more my will to continue with my cadet life.  Whenever I encountered a challenge or problem along the way, I just hum the song we learned from the event.  I know by then, the Lord was always with me, protecting me from all harm.

Our regular formation every Saturday Inspection

It was a tough month, there were a lot of guard duties, athletic competitions, lessons, exams, term papers and compilations, the consistent "Saturday Inspections", and the unforgiving demerits with touring hours punishment (my first)... Whoa!!! Good thing from time to time, got to receive letters from family and friends, and we were able to watch some theatrical plays performed by a neighboring university (SLU's Le Miserables), with the occasional film showing.  These simple but remarkable things help keep a cadet's morale high... and their sanity to a normal level (just joking).

But to be straightforward, if there was one thing that kept me going during those times, it was my FAITH... that nothing can harm me as long as HE is with me.  And I'm always reminded of it until now.  Yahweh bless.

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