FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — The Philippine Military Academy here will formally accept 208 fourth-class cadets who will comprise the PMA Class of 2014 during reception rites in the Academy’s hallowed grounds on April 1.

Vice Admiral Leonardo Calderon Jr., PMA Superintendent, said the new batch of cadets is composed of 181 males and 27 females.

The final list of those who will enter the premier military school in Asia this year was a product of a series of deliberations and selection conducted by the Cadet Procurement Board headed by the PMA Superintendent.

The selection process for PMA cadetship started when thousands of young hopefuls took the highly competitive PMA examination last August 30, 2009 in 31 testing centers nationwide.

After the reception ceremony, the cadets will be subjected to the so-called eight-week beat barracks to acquaint the plebes with military life.

Calderon said the number of new cadets could still increase since there are still 177 applicants who are in the process of submitting their individual and medical requirements.

The upcoming military officers and leaders will be subjected to rigid academic and physical trainings in the four years of their stay in the Academy, where they will be molded into becoming responsible and dedicated leaders of the country.

The national government is spending at least P2 million for each cadet to complete their four-year Bachelor of Science in Military Science course prior to their being commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants  and Ensigns of the Armed Forces.

Calderon said there are over 1,000 cadets currently enrolled in the Academy.

Earlier, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo created a committee led by Dr. Consuelo Estepa of the University of Sto. Tomas School of Graduate Studies to review on the current PMA curriculum so that subjects on information and communication technology can be incorporated.

During the 1990s, the Academy’s curriculum was heavy on engineering courses before it was revised to give emphasis on human sciences. This will be again revised to conform with the times, especially with due consideration to information and communication technology.