Perfect example kung paano magpakalalaki sa Honor Code

May isang case din dati, Graduating Cadet na rin nagRESIGN...NOON MESS formation, OC (Officer in Charge of the Day) :did you shave? ( direct question, asking the cadet kung nag nagshave for noon mess formation) CADET DUGOMON: yes sir OC: ar...e you sure? CADET DUGOMON: yes sir, this MORNING. Ayun reported for Honor Violation and was found guilty by the Honor Commitee, the cadet RESIGNED. Klarong klarong may violation ang Cadet, quibbling kase, walang bayag sumagot ng NO SIR, 3 demerits lang sana, parang late for formation/ class/ duty 8 demerits lang sana. 

Ako nga, si Cdt 2CL COMETA way back 1995 di natakot sumagot sa TAC-O ko dati nung tinanong ako ng direct question kung uminom ba ako ng intoxicating liquor after noon mess, isang malaking YES SIR sagot ko, na alam kong 181 touring hours, 51 demerits and 181 confinement days kapalit nun.,.. Dahil siguro bilib TAC-O ko at may bayag ako, hard labor na lang ako sa kanya hanggang maka graduate ako. 

(Grabbed from a Facebook post of a cavalier Cometa)

Photo grabbed from Kawal Pinoy facebook page

PMAyers are posting their cadet photos in defense of PMA and the Honor Code

(Re-Post from the facebook wall of an icon from PMA Masikhay Class of 1999 - Jake Miranda)

Photos of Cav. Miranda's Foster Family,
 uploaded by a foster-sister.

The case of Cadet Cudia is putting the PMA and its Honor Code in the spotlight this week. Before you set your mind to calling PMA graduates and cadets as hypocrites for not following the Honor Code outside the walls of the Academy, let me explain to you what the Honor Code is.

It is a simple school regulation like a rule in your school handbook. But it is unique in two ways-its source of authority and purpose. The code is preserved through the Honor Committee, which is a group of cadets elected by other cadets to ensure everyone abides by the code. What is the purpose of the Honor Code for the cadets? It is a means to instill discipline amongst cadets that during their stay in their Academy, there is no theft of property, there is no lying and misleading information spread around, and there is no cheating during examinations. Your word is your bond.

The PMA does not exclusively own the Honor Code. Almost all military academies, the West Point, Annapolis and the Air Force Academy of the United States in particular, have an honor code. Did you know that the fabled Gen. Douglas Macarthur who was then Superintendent of West Point, created the Honor Committee of cadets?

We, the CADETS, do not lie, cheat, steal nor tolerate those among us those who do so.

Yes the Code is just for the cadets, but each graduate that steps out of the Academy keeps that as a guide as he progresses in his military career. Whether or not he becomes the ideal officer and gentleman, well, we are all imperfect. That includes you and me.

Fifteen years ago I found myself in a similar situation. Like Cadet Cudia, I was a graduating navy cadet, the Deputy Baron, and was in the top 5 of the class. In an unfortunate miscalculation of time, I came back late from a holiday pass. With my rank and class ranking to lose, I could have made up a story and lied about why I was late.

But I did not. I accepted my fate, and yes I lost my rank, got demoted and ended up outside of the coveted Top 10 ranking. After serving the mandatory punishments, I graduated with my class with head held up high and a new respect for alarm clocks. I ended up marrying the cause of why I was late from my pass, Daphne Ruiz Miranda.

It is unfortunate that Cadet Cudia’s case is stirring protest about the Honor Code. I pity him. Like all graduates and even ex-cadets, I know he still respects and loves the Academy. I believe he is not supporting the actions of his relatives who are putting his case on social media. He may be the only one that can put an end to this assault on the PMA and the Honor Code.

Has anybody asked where Cadet Cudia is now?

(Follow-up Post)

Gentlemen and ladies, I just wish that the sweeping statements and generalizations will stop.

Sirs and mesdames, let me give you some numbers. From 1906 to 2013 there have only been 9,525 graduates of the Academy-what we call the Long Gray Line. That gives you an average of just 95.25 graduates per year.

There were eight years that the Academy did not produce graduates, all because the Corps of Cadets fought in the wars. Appreciate the fact that 10% are killed in the line of duty and service within 5-10 years after graduation, you have the remaining 90% continuing on to serve the AFP and government. Eventually some will resign, get separated, and retire early, so let's say that is another 20%-30%. So there may be only 60%-70% left of each class.

Now will you quickly brand all 60% or 57 graduates in each class to be rogue and worthless?

Let's look at how many currently serve in the AFP. Sixty percent of "in service" classes from 1981 to 2013 gives you 3,750 active officers (as the AFP grew in this period, so did the PMA). By the way, these 3,750 PMA graduates compose just 25% of the whole officers corps in the AFP. Yes they are the leaders of the AFP, and are responsible for the actions of other non-PMA officers in the Corps. Those currently serving in government as private citizens number few to count.

Now, sirs and mesdames, will you be so quick to assume that each of them or a majority of them are astray and corrupt?

The Honor Code again is a beacon for graduates and even non-graduates. Admittedly, some will be lost and there are some who have broken rank. But a great majority of the Long Gray Line stand firm.

You know what? The idealism is rooted not just in the Honor Code but the fact that there is no other school in the country that expects its graduates to bear arms, face death in the eye into dense jungle, rough seas and windy skies. Yes the price to pay for Two Million Pesos-the cost of each PMA graduate.

Most have argued on the basis of wasting such a sum of money. To save Two Million Pesos just to save one cadet's career, is to devalue the other graduates, all the graduates. Is it really worth it, you think?

PMA graduates themselves fully understand that they are indeed government scholars-much has been given and so much more is required. We do our very best as mere mortals. We certainly are not the source of corruption. Like you, we aspire to walk the straight path. Is it ever that easy and simple?

Get to know a PMA graduate, and you will have a better appreciation of what we are, and who we are, and what the Honor Code is. Don't just settle for reading about us in the news, sirs and mesdames.

Mabuhay po tayong lahat!

LETTER FROM UNCLE BOBO

(Source: Uncle Bobo's Facebook Fanpage)

Ako'y nalulungkot sa nangyayari ngayon sa aking pinakamamahal na akademya...ngayon lang nangyari ang ganitong pagkakataon na naipawalas sa buong sanlibutan ang patakaran na nagsisilbing gabay sa katinuan ng aking mga pamangkin...kahit ako'y hindi exempted sa regulasyong ito at hanggang ngayon ay ito lang hinding hindi ko pinagsawalang bahala kahit ano pa mang mangyari. nadeficient na ako, nag removals, nag explain ng sandamukal na offense, nag touring, at naturnedback ng ilang beses...pero buo pa rin ang tiwala ng mga mistah ko dahil never akong nag violate at kinuwestyon ang honor code dahil kung naviolate ko yun, wala nang uncle bobo...sa kabila ng lahat, nais kong sumaludo sa lahat ng mga mistah, grumadweyt man o hindi at higit sa lahat sa mga naging pamangking kong pumasyang nag resign dahil sa paglabag sa honor code habang nasa loob ng akademya - dahil pinatunayan nyo ang mataas at nakatitindig balahibong respeto nyo sa ating kinagisnan at pinakamamahal na alma mater. sa lahat ng mga fans kong mga sibilyan, isipin nyo na lang po na ang lahat ng mga regulasyon na pinapatupad ng PMA para sa amin ay para po sa kabutihan ng ating mga susunod na mga leaders ng AFP, upang maging handa sila sa mga susunod na hakbang nila sa pagserbisyo sa ating bansa na may disiplina, integridad at may buong tapang na maglingkod sa inyo habang kayo ay mahimbing na natutulog sa gabi...meron man sa aking mga pamangkin ang nagkamali pagkatapos nilang grumadweyt, ngunit hindi eto matutumbasan ang mga sakripisyo ng mga higit na nakakarami sa kanila lalo na sa mga nagbuwis ng buhay para sa kapakanan ng ating bansa at alam kong alam nyo iyon. tao lang po kasi sila, hindi sila superheroes. salamat po! <hikbi>

THE BAR OF EXPECTATION IS TOO HIGH FOR PMA

(words from a former Cadet, about the PMA Honor Code)

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Cadet Corps, this is a long post, but please allow me to raise a few points.

First of all, let me say that I do not count myself among the graduates of the Bright Beacon of the land. My only claim lies in being issued a cadet serial number, and the privilege of being incorporated into the Cadet Corps, Armed Forces of the Phil...ippines.

However, it doesn't stop me from cherishing the brief stay that I had as a possible officer in the making that was aborted by circumstance, the corresponding will to become one and quite possibly, destiny.

In light of the recent events involving a cadet's questionable response to the possible infraction of rules, which led to the current state of affairs, once again - raising blood pressure levels among graduates, former cadets and the communities surrounding the Cadet Corps throughout generations - we find ourselves being lumped together with hypocritical wrongdoers claiming a moral high ground, citing the Honor Code.

I would also bring to your minds a few points to consider in responding to these assertions - wrongfully made at all of us who once were men and women of the Dress Gray cloth.

First of all, let's look at statistics.

Out of the possible candidates that vie for a rank to be filled in the Cadet Corps are at least ten to fifteen thousand people nationwide with a grade point average of 88 plus to qualify to take the exam. Less than half pass, and out of that, even less are given the chance to be physically examined for admission into the CCAFP.

That's quite an achievement in itself.

On admission, a large number, statistically do not go beyond beast barracks, plebe year, and even upperclass years for various reasons.

I don't have statistics for the ratio of original entrants and turned back graduates that were commissioned into the various services, but I imagine the numbers are quite significant.

Granting, all of them made it with all of those challenges, and observing the honor code all throughout, the assumption should be that they will remain trustworthy, ethical and morally responsible for observing the rules and the Code throughout the years in formation in Loakan, and therefore, in their respective careers.

But the reality is - a lot do not, in varying degrees.

I do not wish to say that the Academy was deficient in providing them the training to become the officers that they are expected to be, but neither is a mother who raised five children, and one of them turned out to have criminal tendencies.

They, like us, had more or less similar circumstances in upbringing - but beyond that, each individual had a choice on what decisions to make - from the thoughts that they harbored, to the actions they took, the habits that were ingrained, the character that they gained and hence, the destinies that awaited them because of that.

We all have those choices - to do what is right, or to lapse into the convenient and possibly unethical and wrong.

And these choices appear daily, before the time that each individual entered the portals of Fort Del Pilar, and after leaving the Fort to go where life takes each everyone of us.

These cumulative choices are what make each and everyone of us - individually and collectively. But there are no assurances of accountability beyond the Cadet Corps, which is why a code is insufficient beyond the Academy.

Second - PMA has had to make do with available raw material. Let's just say for the sake of the discussion, around twenty percent entered with comparatively "pure" consciences, untouched by the vagaries of life. There's a greater number of 80 per cent that had to be "straightened'. When they graduated or left, who continues with the maintenance of the "straightening"?

More importantly, what about the rest of the country? Which institution is to provide the "straightening" or ethical strengthening?

And curiously, as we are being pilloried for having Honor Code observing public servants in uniform, are there also numbers on the graduates of the various institutions that went on to public service that have fallen very short of public expectations of government servants?

And furthermore, what other government agency requires that their public servants take the risk of losing their lives in the service of the people? The only other profession that I know of that are now at risk are either lawyers or radio news anchors. But not on a day to day basis.

The bar of expectation for the sons and daughters of the Academy is, to my view, a bit too high. The Academy has done (and continues to do) an excellent job. by comparison, in training for that brief period of the lives of the qualified few that went on to risk their lives in service.

But in the years that follow, to insist on the very same standards for them without a means to check them properly is virtually impossible. More so, for the rest, who had virtually no means of rigid ethical disciplines in place.

PMA is responsible for training. To expect transformation of the individual by her is not fair, as it is not her job anymore.

But is it possible for transformation to occur?

Allow me to cite an ancient text which could spell a difference - this may become familiar with the rest of the moviegoing world because of a forthcoming movie starring Russel Crowe - In Genesis 6:9:" These are the descendants of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. "

With a constant consciousness of being watched by a Creator God at all times, it becomes nearly impossible to continue with wrongdoing. Happily, this is a venue for the transformation to become a reality, if only we all respond properly.

But this should not be limited to the sons and daughters of the Academy, but to an entire nation as well - IF we are to transform as a nation.

If for this, I must thank Cadet Cudia for bringing this to the fore - so we can reflect on our actions, rethink our directions, and perhaps, we will all be transformed in the process.

As this is Sunday, I end with a "Happy Sunday" to all of you. And please, have an extra share of sweet.

(former) Cadet Alfonso V. Alvarez C-4460, of the Matikas Class of 1983

SUPPORT THE BEACON, LIGHTEN UP THE FLAME

[ friends, relatives, acquaintances, colleagues - we ask you this little favor:
Change your Profile Picture as well ]

The issue of "2 minutes short from the Honor Code" has been taken advantage by some people especially from the media who wants to be on the spotlight. These are the likes of Anthony Taberna, Karen Davila, Tulfo, a certain Dahli Aspillera, and other reporters who CORRUPT the freedom of the press by giving irresponsible statements such as attacking the Honor Code and the Philippine Military Academy. Understandably, these people are only making business out of the present issue, flaming up stories, turn them into controversies and increase their popularity.

It is very seldom that the sons and daughters of the academy rise up to protect the code and the academy. This is when the foundation and the name of the institution is in danger. PMA is not just about the rigid military training nor the academics nor the brotherhood of mistahs nor is it about a rotting plebe or of good-looking uniform of cadets. The Honor Code is what makes the academy different from UP, La Salle, Ateneo, Mapua or any other public or private tertiary academic institution. PMA cadets, whether they graduate or not, take pride of what the code has thought them. Even those who were discharged because of the Honor Code. I hope even Cadet Cudia have internalized this. Cadet Cudia knows what is in store for him if he opted to face the consequences. 

In the same manner that one will never understand Bushido unless one becomes a Samurai, one will never truly understand our Honor Code unless one becomes a PMAyer. The Honor Code teaches us not simply bravery but true courage. If you erred, have the courage to accept your mistake and face the consequences. Half truth is a LIE. If your handkerchief is in the barracks but when you were asked if you have one and you answered YES - that's already a LIE.

The academy may not be perfect. Her products are not perfect either. But she has instilled something among her graduates that is essential for them as they become officers, generals, congressmen, senators, officials of public and private institutions or simply as citizens. She transforms kids into gentlemen, with honor. But she can only transform so much within four years. She is not an assembly line that replaces the memory card and storage disks of her products. We were transformed but never replaced.  

Some of us who made it through the portals of the academy have committed mistakes or made wrong decisions. That is because we are not perfect as well. But because of the academy, we made a difference, in our own ways. But most of us, made that difference through our lives. So that you may enjoy the freedom you are now very comfortable with, that you have disregarded the sacrifices, the sweat and blood of our brothers who left their family for the good of the country. The same freedom of the press some media personalities are ABUSING right now.

We are not against these reporters, commentators and writers. In fact we admire most of them and many are our friends as well. But some of them may also be lost but they are not forgotten, just like other cavaliers who were placed in bad limelight. In fact the others have been discharged from the service, including Generals.  That's because we never tolerate them, just like how a salutatorian was never tolerated.  No organization is perfect.  No graduates of the academy will be.  We also make mistakes and could even deviate from what the Honor Code has taught us.  But this Code guides us individually and collectively.  In the absence of an Honor Committee in the open world of politics, business and mass media, the Honor Code remains within each of the cavaliers, of each former cadet,  and even passed down to their own families, their work and their communities.  Bits of embers that when placed together creates a flame, a flame that brightens the Beacon of the Land.  These embers will also keep aflame those who are no longer ablaze.

Those embers keep flaming because of the Honor Code.

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OUR APPEAL TO YOU:

If you are among those who have been aflame, inspired, motivated or influenced positively in a way or another by any cadet, cavalier, the PMA or the code, we would like to ask you a simple favor this time.  Support our cause by bringing the message to them.  Join us in this peaceful stand.  Change your profile picture in facebook and in any other social media for at least seven days using your close-up photo with that person in his or her cadet uniform.  If in case you known him after cadet days, then use their cadet profile picture instead.  In this way, you will help us let them know what they didn't know.  You will help us keep the beacon flaming bright.

Maraming salamat...