Navy Lt. Cdr. Joseph P. Villanueva, acting PMA chief of staff for Civil-Military Operations, said the successful candidates will have the opportunity for a well-rounded and free college education, stipends and allowances, as well as non-cash benefits during their four-year cadetship at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City.

The academy imposes strict cadet admission requirements. The applicant must be a natural-born Filipino citizen, of good moral character, physically fit, single and never married; stands 5’4" for male and 5’2" for female, but not more than 6’4" tall.

The applicants must also be at least 17 years old, but not a day older than 22 years on April 1, 2009, at least a high school graduate with a general average of at least 85%; and able to perform the minimum requirements for a physical fitness test.

Walk- in applicants must bring the following documents for processing: Form 137, National Statistics Office Birth Certificate, and a 2" x 2" ID picture with white background.

Villanueva advised applicants to prepare for an examination on algebra, geometry, English grammar, composition, reading comprehension, verbal/numerical reasoning, and pattern analysis.

Graduates of the academy are automatically given the rank of Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt.) or Ensign and can choose the branch they want to serve in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) -- the Army, Navy, or Air Force -- where they can again avail of future specialization and foreign training to upgrade their military skills.

As career and professional military officers, PMA graduates have the opportunity to study in the premier naval, air force and warfare schools in the United States and other military units abroad.

Application forms are free and available from the nearest AFP and Philippine National Police units nationwide or may be downloaded from the academy’s website at http://www.pma.ph.

The designated examination centers are the Mapua Institute of Technology, Ramon Magsaysay High School (Cubao, Quezon City), Northwestern University (Laoag City, Ilocos Norte), University of Pangasinan (Dagupan City), St. Mary’s University (Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya), Cagayan National High School (Tuguegarao, Cagayan), Wesleyan University (Cabanatuan City,Nueva Ecija)

Tarlac State University (Tarlac City), Fernando Air Base (Lipa City, Batangas), Fr. Saturnino Urios University (Butuan City, Agusan), Camp Evangelista Gymnasium (Cagayan de Oro City), Misamis University (Ozamis City), Ateneo de Davao University (Davao City), Dadiangas West Central Elementary School (Gen. Santos City) , Holy Trinity College (Puerto Princesa City, Palawan).

Divine Word College (Legazpi City, Albay) , University of Nueva Caceres (Naga City), West Negros College (Bacolod City), Central Philippines University (Iloilo City), Southwestern University (Cebu City), Silliman University (Dumaguete City), Holy Name University High School (Tagbilaran City, Bohol).

Leyte Normal University (Tacloban City), Western Mindanao State University (Zamboanga City), MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (Iligan City), Camp Siongco National High School (Cotabato City), Camarines Norte State College (Daet), Notre Dame of Jolo for Girls (Jolo, Sulu), and Batanes National Science High School (Basco).