As this year’s batch of Lakas Tipon Alagad ng Bayan (Laon Alab) of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) proudly march during their commencement exercises on Sunday, March 6, Pampangueños equally stand erect and share the joy and pride of Cadet First Class Angelo Edward Buan Paras, the class valedictorian.
Paras, a native of Apalit town, topped this year’s 196 graduating cadets of PMA.
Governor Lilia G. Pineda extended her congratulations to this year’s PMA topnotch and said that the entire province takes pride in Paras’ achievements.
“Masaya tamu ngan uling ing cabalen tamung Edward Paras yang menguna karing mag graduate ning PMA.”
The governor added that this accomplishment is no mean feat for the young cadet from Apalit town and stressed that the province should give him the proper accolade and recognition.
“Truly, wherever a Kapampangan goes, he would always prove his worth,” she added.
President Benigno Aquino III, a fellow Kapampangan, will present Paras with the Presidential Saber Award during the commencement exercises at the Borromeo grounds at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City this coming Sunday.
Paras would also be receiving 14 other awards which include JUSMAG Award for being the top graduate of the Philippine Navy; Australian Defense Best Overall Performance Award – No. 1 in Navy Core Courses; Philippine Navy Saber; Department of Tactical Officers Plaque; Academic Group Award; Humanities Plaque; Mathematics Plaque; Natural Sciences Plaque; Social Sciences Plaque; Computing and Information Sciences Plaque and Management Plaque among others.
Paras was a second year computer science student at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City when he decided to enter the military academy.
Meanwhile, Cadet First Class John Rigor C. Guiang of Pinian, Zamboanga del Norte will be receiving the Vice Presidential Saber for being the class salutatorian; CFC Jayson Cortez Luna of Enrile, Cagayan will be the recipient of the Secretary of National Defense Saber after landing third overall in their class.
The other top graduates are CFC Aljay Cabriga Diño of Naic, Cavite, fourth; CFC Rigor Narag Pamittan of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, fifth; and CFC Janice Banaga Matbagan of Sagada, Mountain Province, the only female in the top 10, sixth; Bobby Gabayno of Cainta, Rizal, seventh; Ramon Engay of Tuao, Cagayan, eight; Norman Carual of Albay, ninth; and Jason Pariñas of the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija, tenth. (Pampanga PIO)
