TAGUM CITY—The City Government of Tagum on Monday recognized two Tagumeños who graduated recently in the Philippine Military Academy, the premier military institution of the country and is the training ground for future officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Mayor Allan L. Rellon led city officials and employees in honoring 2nd Lt. Precious Jewel Forrosuelo and Ensign Nonex Miguel J. Miranda who are among the 223 members of the PMA Siklab-Diwa (Sundalong Ikarararangal ng Lahing Bayani sa Diwang Wagas) who recently hold their graduation ceremony last March 16 in Fort Gregorio del Pilar, attended by no less than President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Mayor Rellon said their example is a shining beacon of inspiration for the Tagumeño youth and their perseverance and hard work is worthy of emulation. The two were officially presented a plaque inscribing the full text of the Sangguaniang Panlungsod resolution, which commended their achievement.
Forrosuelo, a graduate of St. Mary’s College of Tagum High School Department, is making history as the first child of a Medal of Valor Awardee—the highest military award given to the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines—to graduate from PMA.
His father, the late Technical Sgt. Claudio Forrosuelo, was killed in a daring tactical assault against 500 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Matanog, Maguindanao on May 3, 2000.
“Expectations were high and the pressure is even greater because they think of me as someone as strong and brave as my father,” the newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Forrosuelo told the Philippine News Agency.
Jewel was only eight years old then, thus not fully understanding what was happening back then and only felt the impact of her father’s death in the years that came by.
“The thought of my father’s sacrifice not only for our family, but for the whole nation uplift me and provided me the motivation to carry on,” she added.
She is among the nine female members of PMA Siklab-Diwa Class of 2014 who joined the Army.
On the other hand, Ensign Miranda is a graduate of Tagum City National Comprehensive High School (he graduated salutatorian in 2006) and a College Graduate student of University of Mindanao Tagum College before entering the PMA.
Ensign Miranda, a son of a public school teacher and a businessman, will be serving under the Philippine Navy.
Meanwhile, the local government also congratulated Katrina Mae Balaga who took home the crown as the Armed Forces of the Philippines Binibining Laang Kawal held last March 19, 2014 in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Manila.
It is an annual beauty contest participated by different universities across the country, which advocates Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Program to the youth as a necessary component in nation-building. | Louie Lapat of CIO Tagum