PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY, BAGUIO CITY, PHILIPPINES

PMA, Philippine Military Academy is located at Loakan. About 20-30 minutes from the City proper. May be accessible through public transport (jeep). PMA is the Premier Military School in the Philippines. Most of the High Ranking Military and Police Officers are graduates from PMA. My Father was a serviceman, and for the duration of his military service, we were housed inside the "Academy" (for more than 20 years).

So, let's visit PMA..... If you have a private transport, you can go easily through PMA. If you are commuting but have the legs to take a walk, PMA also offers a fresh breeze from the pines.

This is the gate of PMA . I don't remember when this was built, I guess it was after I graduated from college (2000) or so. (Tutel in the pictures, her first time to visit PMA)

From the Gate, the road will take you uphill where you can see a Monument of PMAs "hero", Gen. Gregorio del Pilar. So, PMA compound is also called "FORT DEL PILAR" in memory of the young General who died in Tirad Pass. This is not the original Monument of Gen. del Pilar inside the camp. There used to be a white marble statue of the General, just standing and looking out to the Horizon. The area where it was standing before is now a commemorative place where the class emblems and the names of the "departed" alumni are posted. (see next picture)



This is not the original location of these "class emblems". They used to be located near the "Philippine Map" and they used to be shining all the time. The plebe cadets were cleaning them as often as they could (before), now in this new location, the emblems are starting to rust and turn dark.

The names of the "fallen" comrades are at the right side.

Then the road will bring you to the "Cadets Circle" where you would find "supersized" cadet cap,sword, sword casing and gloves.

At the right of the road is the Fort del Pilar Elementary School and Golden Heart Pre-School where I studied in my early years. The empty parking lot, which is being used to "scan" incoming vehicles during PMA Alumni Homecoming and Graduation is the area where I and my friends sought safety during the 1990 killer quake. I was in Grade 6 that time.

Next you'll see the commemorative monument (where the three soldiers are standing is where the original marble statue was located before). If you place yourself and look at the horizon where the soldiers are facing, you will see "Tirad Pass". This was the best place where the General's statue should have been... we used to climb his statue when I was young and pretend that we are statues like him. The "park" where the tank and cannons occupy at present used to be our play ground where we play "touch-the-body", long jump, high jump, "baril-barilan" (war games), "tumbang-preso" and wrestling. This is also where we set-up our "tent" city after the Killer Quake where we spent 2 months living in military tents.

The parking lot in front of the park is where our house used to be standing. We lived in this area for about 17 years before they relocated us.

We used to call PMA a "small city" because we can practically find everything you need inside PMA. There are churches - Church for Catholics, for protestants and I'm not sure if they also have one for our Muslim brothers today. There is a hospital, Dental Office, Commissary (this is like a small grocery where the cadets buy their necessities like toilet paper, soap, can goods, noodles, etc) a Bowling Alley, a Basketball Court, a Swimming pool, Gym, Amphitheater, Post Office, Water pumping station, Service buses, Museum, a multi-purpose gym for badminton, volleyball, athletics, and many more sports. The whole road stretch of PMA from the gate serves as the jogging route of cadets, military men and running enthusiasts.

PMA Museum. This is now located at the former PMASH (PMA Station Hospital). For a minimal entrance fee you will have the chance to see old pictures of the Academy, some personal effects used by officers and soldiers during WWII, the different uniforms used in the academy for the past generations, a replica of a typical cadet room, and many more.

Melchor Hall. One of the oldest and commonly known Building in PMA. Classrooms can be found in this building. In the middle of the Building are statues of An Officer and A Cadet. When we were young, we have been hearing "tales" from inside the camp that the "Lady of Loakan (white lady)" was seen beside the cadet for many occasions. I was 9 yrs old when I witnessed the truth that the lady indeed exists (saw in a waiting shed located at the park where the tank are currently displayed). I have seen many "ghost" inside PMA during my childhood days, no kidding!

The Sundial. Located in front of the Administration Building and Flag Pole. Beside the Sundial is a fish pond where Graduating Cadets are being "dunked" or thrown by the lower classes as part of their tradition during Graduation.

Oh, there is also a fountain at the middle of each pond.

Air Force Relics.

The Tree House. This could have been the most visited part in PMA. Sadly, some tourist pee inside the tree house making the smell stink and making you wanting to go down immediately.

The Amphitheater.

You can see the Cadet's Barracks/Quarters at the far end.

The Borromeo Field. This field has nurtured and developed the Officers of our country for the past generations. This field is the witness to the hardships and pains that every single cadet went through during their stay in PMA. This field is also their witness to their glory of graduating from PMA. From here we can see the words every PMA cadet and graduate is living their principles -

COURAGE, INTERGRITY, LOYALTY.

PMA has been a memorable home for me and my family. But our stay has ended when my father retired from service. Now, I can only visit and reminisce the times spent in this camp. Find our hiding places during "taguan" (hide and seek), see the trees we used to climb, walk the paths we used to play on, and smile for the times we spent here as a child....

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. 'Till our next travel....