THE PHILIPPINE Military Academy (PMA) announced the holding of its annual entrance examination on August 27 at the Silliman University.

Successful candidates will be provided with a well-rounded and free college education, stipend while studying, and a progressive career as an officer in the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, or Philippine Air Force.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dum/2006/...set.aug.27.html

Stipends were used by my uncle ____ who was orphaned at the age of 10 to support the studies of his 4 brothers in university. One was a delinquent who was in university for 15 years bumming around. Who knows what he's doing. He he he. All of them are now successful and enjoying lucrative trades and professions.I was there in university only for 14 years. Who knows what I'm doing too. He he he. Kung may tiyaga may nilaga. (If there's a will, there's a way)Nobody goes hungry in the Philippines kung masipag ka o nagtatrabaho ka. (if you're hardworking or working) General Biazon was diyaryo-bote retailer (recycle trash and bottles) before he entered the military. Now my uncle is general. Big time! Pero clean at madasalin. (But clean and prayerful). He's Catholic. I'm Protestant. We get along well together. And we came to a conclusion that the terrorist Catholic priest Luis Jalandoni is suspect and unrepentant together with the Catholic bishops who support the godless NPA. And Only Usama and Al Qaeda are the most intolerant of bigots.

Thousands of youths take PMA entrance exams


By Nancy C. Carvajal
Inquirer
Last updated 08:14pm (Mla time) 08/27/2007


MANILA, Philippines -- Despite news of young officers being killed in the on-going war in Mindanao, the Philippine Military Academy’s admission test this year still attracted thousands of youths, including two of triplet sisters from Caloocan City.

Jennylyn and Jomelet Eneria, 16, of Deparo, Caloocan City, were among the nearly 1,000 applicants who were at the Philippine National University gate on Sunday to take the test that would be the key to a full scholarship in the country's premier military school.

PNU is one of the 29 test centers for the PMA entrance test nationwide.

According to the mother of the sisters, Melanie, who accompanied her daughters to the testing center, her children decided to take the tests due to economic reasons. Should they pass the entrance exams, the two, who are now enrolled as freshmen accounting students at the University of Caloocan City, would be assured of free high quality college education.

"We are not sure if we could still afford to send them to school later, but if they make it to the academy, they would be assured of a college education and a good job after graduation,'' Eneria said.

A PMA graduate is guaranteed a job in the military after graduation and a career as officer in the Philippine Army, Navy or Air Force.

The graduates are automatically commissioned as second lieutenants in the Armed Forces of the Philippines upon graduation. At present, women officers are not sent on combat missions.

But even if they were, Melanie had a balanced view of the dangers of military service. "Kahit saan ka, kung oras mo na, wala ka nang magagawa [Wherever you are, if it’s your time to go, you can’t do anything about it]. At least, they died for a noble reason," she said, referring to the soldiers who recently died in the war in Mindanao, while pursuing the Abu Sayyaf extremists.

She disclosed that one of her daughters almost did not make it to the test because according to the cadet officer who took the height measurements, she was a half inch short of the required height.

But this was eventually cleared up. "How can she be shorter when she is just as tall as her sister? As triplets, they grow together,'' she explained.

According to Colonel Ramon Loria, head of the PMA Academic Group, all applicants had to undergo a Limited Physical Examination or LPE before they would be allowed to take the written examination.

In the LPE, Loria said, the applicants heights were measured.

All male applicants should be at least 5'4" tall or 162.56 centimeters, while female applicants should be at least, 5"2" or 157.48 centimeters.

"We immediately reject applicants who do not make the height requirement to save time and effort for both parties,'' Loria said.

Also disqualified are male applicants who wear earrings and have tattoos, according to Loria.

Loria also said this year's number of applicants was bigger compared to last year’s.

"We have more than 7,000 applicants, but only 10 percent could move forward for the medical examinations to start in October,'' Loria told the Philippine Daily Inquirer while he checked on the progress of the test.

He said that final figures were not yet in but "this year’s batch may have the biggest number of woman applicants."



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