My PMA Cadet Years (Yearling) - Spending Time With Families

January 1997

1 to 2- Celebrated the new year with my family.  I also went to see my friends in high school to have a quick catching up with them.   Although having all those moments with friends and family, still I hadn't cleared my mind of my rotting math subject (differential calculus).  Since I needed to pass it so I'll continue being part of class 99 or else I'll be "turned back" being a yearling again, joining the class of 2000. 

3- Maximized my stay by meeting friends in college (former school), before riding a poker plane to Manila.   It was my first time to travel with a smaller plane of the Air Force (being used to commercial airlines or C-130) and remembered one thing, stopovers... a lot of them. hehehe.  Then my routine: arrived in Manila, then went to the bus station in Pasay for Baguio.

4 to 5- Since I arrived in Baguio a day earlier before the termination of our holiday break, I got to stay in foster parents house, my first.  I met my foster sisters and bro (meg, tatin and noni) and got acquainted with them.  They were kids when I remembered them back then, and out of curiosity, looking at their facebook accounts, it's just amazing how they have grown and became fine ladies and lad.  Just too bad, I hadn't stayed long enough in PMA to know them well.

But nonetheless, I'm glad that I've met a good family.  Never had they let me feel different or awkward during my stay in their home.  They were hospitable and accommodating to me.  And that's a good sign, it just means that PMA cadets do have good reputation and are trustworthy people. 

    

Fit just right... hmmm.

12- We had this event in the academy called Supergames where all yearling cadets (2nd years) bond with their foster family through games and sharing the food they brought for lunch and snacks.  It was held in Camp John Hay, outside PMA, the very purpose of which is to give the event a relaxing air and everyone to just have fun.  Our class was divided to two teams, blue and red.  And the blue team won... guess what, I was wearing red ha ha ha.  But hey, we had our consolation... we and our families had fun.

Just spectating...

Teaching our foster bro how to boodle fight in a picnic.

A pose with our foster family.

14 to16-  Nearly forgot we had basic tennis lessons in our Physical Education.  Um, let me correct that, completely forgotten, for until now I still don't know how to play the game. hehehe.

18 to 19-  We were allowed to apply for leave for the weekend, so got my second sleepover at my foster parents.  Again, I stayed with noni in his room at the attic.  Then we visited his lola in the morning, where they were usually left to stay.  Noni somehow reminded me of my brother, same his age, so it was cool having him around.  By the way, they usually speak English, so I had my nose covered, just in case I got nosebleed.  My biological siblings don't usually speak English. :))

24 and 25- We personally invited our foster parents to a reception night in the academy.  It was to show them our appreciation for sharing their home to us and treating us as if we were part of their family.  Again, this might mean nothing for some, but for those cadets who were far from home, this is already a big help to keep them going.

26- This was my first religious service for the year due to activities and leaves.  I had been joining the Cadet Christian Fellowship (CCF) since my plebehood.  It was just a small congregation so one can get to know almost everyone attending.  What I liked also with the group was the off-duty bible sharing, praise and worship.

30 to 31- Joined the running events in the intramurals.  I finished 4th among the contenders for the 800 meter run event and the following day, we finished 3rd in the company run.  Running was my sport when I was a cadet.  I may not be the best, but pretty much I can run.  I guess, I was just blessed with a good stamina for it.  Just don't ask me now, I think it's good if I had a decent jog for a month.

In our life, the family always play an important role in the success of a person.  May it be biological or not, people who give us care, acceptance, support and strength to go on with life, that's family.  Yahweh bless.

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