FORT DEL PILAR, BAGUIO CITY—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered a powerful message to the newly commissioned officers of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Talang Dangal” Class of 2026, urging them to uphold integrity and stand firm against wrongdoing.
“Never lie, never cheat, never steal, and never tolerate those who do. Because silence in the face of wrongdoing is a betrayal of your values, a betrayal of your country, and a betrayal of the very principles that you have sworn to defend,” the Commander in Chief said during his keynote address.
The President emphasized the importance of loyalty to the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, stating that the graduates’ loyalty must not be to any political interest, individual, or ideology, but solely to the Constitution itself.
Before formally commissioning the 207 members of the Talang Dangal Class as Navy ensigns and Army and Air Force second lieutenants, Mr. Marcos reminded them of the PMA’s honor code. The class consists of 142 males and 65 females, with 76 choosing to join the Army, 69 the Navy, and 62 the Air Force.
The name "Talang Dangal" stands for “Tagapagtanggol ng Lahing Dakila at Marangal” (Defenders of a Noble and Dignified Race). The valedictorian of the class, 2Lt. Christine Kay Librada of Batangas, joined the Philippine Army. Her parents, Maribel and retired military officer Julius Librada, were present at the ceremony.
Librada expressed gratitude to the families and friends gathered at Borromeo Field, where the graduation was held. She also briefly recalled Darwin Dormitorio, a freshman cadet whose 2019 hazing death led to significant reforms within the academy.
“As officers of the Armed Forces, we now accept a greater responsibility. We will lead in uncertainty, decide under pressure, and serve something greater than ourselves,” Librada said in her valedictory speech.
“Outside the brick gate, rules may not always be visible, but honor must remain present. May we stay true to our character and grow to be honorable leaders,” she added.
Librada, from Lipa City, is the ninth female cadet to top the graduating class since 1993. She was a psychology undergraduate at De La Salle University before entering the academy.
Families displayed banners and streamers featuring their graduates, while others carried portraits of loved ones who had passed away before seeing their sons and daughters complete PMA training.
Among the most applauded graduates was 2Lt. Reggie Dacwag Bolinget of Baguio City, the class “goat,” or last graduate in the roster. He received loud cheers as he walked onstage to receive his diploma from Mr. Marcos.
According to PMA spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Nestor Saludo, Bolinget is the son of a construction worker and a weaver from Sagada, Mountain Province. In a video presentation shown during the ceremony, Bolinget shared that he grew up in a broken family and was raised by his mother and several aunts, who taught him perseverance.
As the President spoke about honor and integrity, some parents and PMA alumni whispered among themselves about Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a member of PMA Class of 1986 and former Philippine National Police chief, who is now the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over the controversial killings of over 6,000 drug suspects.
However, the President did not mention Dela Rosa during his speech, and PMA spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Nestor Saludo reminded journalists that the day is for the graduating cadets and not for PMA alumni.
Instead, PMA superintendent Vice Adm. Caesar Bernard Valencia highlighted that the Talang Dangal class is the first to undergo digital warfare training. Graduates underwent training in artificial intelligence, data analytics, electronic and hybrid warfare, and unmanned military systems to prepare them for “multi-threat, multi-domain, and technical” conflicts.
Valencia explained that the curriculum changes were made in response to President Marcos’ directive to modernize military training for emerging forms of warfare beyond traditional land, sea, and air operations. The revised curriculum for PMA’s bachelor’s degree in management major in security studies now includes subjects addressing cyberthreats, hostile drones, malware, and disinformation campaigns.
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