FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City -- President Gloria Arroyo, Armed Forces of the Philippines commander-in-chief, will formally commission 226 first-class cadets as new 2nd Lieutenants and Ensigns of the AFP during the graduation of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Mandirigmang Sibol ng Dakilang Lahi (Masidlak) Class of 2010 this Monday at the Borrmeo grounds here.

President Arroyo will be the guest of honor and speaker during the graduation, which will also be attended by top government and military officials to confer on members of the graduating class various awards and AFP commissionship.

Out of this year’s graduating cadets, 122 young officers will join the Philippine Army, 59 cadets, the Philippine Navy, and 45 cadets, the Philippine Air Force.

Before joining the PMA graduation rites, the President will fly to Mount Data, Bauko, Mountain Province to inaugurate the newly-rehabilitated Halsema Highway, one of her State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) projects in the Cordillera.

Earlier, the P1.4 billion allocated for La Trinidad, Benguet, to Mount Data, Bauko, Mountain Province, was completed several years ago, while the Mount Data to Bontoc and Bontoc to Banaue, Ifugao sections of the road, funded through the initiative of the President, in the total amount of P1.9 billion, is nearing completion.

It has been a tradition during the PMA graduation rites that the commander-in-chief will be the guest of honor and speaker to outline her marching orders for the incoming officers of the premier military school in Asia.

Cadet first-class Ireneo Belen, a 23-year- old lad from Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, will be this year’s top graduate of the Academy and will be honored with many awards that include the Presidential Saber, Philippine Air Force Saber, Distinguished Cadet Award, among others.

Vice-Admiral Leonardo C. Calderon, PMA superintendent, said this year’s graduating class is one of the most talented and cooperative to enter the hallowed grounds of the Academy, thus, top military officials said they are hopeful that they will become dedicated and responsible military leaders of the country in the future.

Before being formally given assignments in the military service, the 227 first-class cadets will first have a month-long break to join their families and loved ones before reporting to active duty to start their career.

Belen, a son of a tricycle driver and a housewife, cited his success in the Academy, was triggered by his desire to become a breadwinner for his family, considering that he was able to experience difficulties in life as he tried to work himself to achieve quality education.

Before entering the PMA, Belen entered college in Dumaguete City and worked as a messenger for a law firm during the day and attended classes at night with a still uncertain future.

When he passed the entrance examination of Asia’s premier military school, the incoming young officer admitted a change in his vision to the future, which could help his family move out from the shackles of poverty that hounded them for the past two decades.