Two Cordilleran from the province of Kalinga topped the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) "Sinaglakan" Class of 2021 in a commencement exercise held on July 28, 2021.
Midshipman First Class (MIDN 1CL) Jovy Sallosar Bernardo, from Tabuk City, Kalinga, graduated CUM LAUDE among 162 graduating cadets.
MIDN 1CL Bernardo is an Academic Excellence Awardee, Discipline Awardee, Flag Officer-in-Command (FOIC) Awardee from Vice Admiral Ardeluis Bordado AFP for having the highest General Weighted Average (GWA) among the graduates, and received the Commander-In-Chief Saber award from His Excellency President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Midshipman First Class Agot Sangoy, also from Kalinga, came in second and received the Plaque of Recognition award from the Philippine Navy.
The two Cordilleran, along with Midn 1CL Jasmine Kim Rico from Pasay City in the eighth place, were Philippine Navy (PN) scholars who took up Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering under the PN Midshipman Scholarship Program.
The three PN scholars are set to join the Philippine Navy as Ensigns while 19 will join the Philippine Coast Guard while 121 will join the merchant marine as Officers and Engineers.
The Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) stands as one of the oldest and most illustrious institutions in the Philippines today.
The academy is operated by the Philippine government and is located in San Narciso, Zambales.
Students are called midshipmen but are often also referred to as cadets.
Upon graduation, students are commissioned as ensigns (second lieutenants) in the Philippine Navy Reserve and have the option to join the merchant marine, the Philippine Navy, or the Philippine Coast Guard.
The PMMA, led by Superintendent, Commodore Joel Y Abutal, held its 198th commencement exercises at the PMMA Complex in San Narciso, Zambales, 28 July 2021.
