The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) formally welcomed 367 incoming cadets of PMA Class 2030 during the Oath Taking Ceremony and Reception Rites held at Borromeo Field, Fort General Gregorio H. Del Pilar in Baguio City on Saturday, May 23, 2026. The class is composed of 290 male and 77 female cadets drawn from various regions across the country.
The ceremony marked the official transition of the young recruits from civilian applicants to members of the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines (CCAFP) New Cadet Battalion, beginning what the Academy describes as a demanding and life-changing journey toward becoming future officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
One of the Most Selective Admission Processes in Philippine Military History
The 367 cadets who were formally received represent a highly filtered group drawn from an initial pool of 33,640 applicants nationwide. Of those, 24,630 qualified to sit for the PMA Entrance Examination 2025. Only 1,436 passed the examination and proceeded through the Academy's rigorous multi-stage screening process, from which the final batch of Class 2030 was selected.
The figures highlight the intensity of competition for a slot at the country's premier military institution. Fewer than two percent of all original applicants ultimately earned a place in the incoming class.
In terms of regional representation, the largest contingent of incoming cadets came from the Cordillera Administrative Region, accounting for 12 percent of the class. The National Capital Region (NCR) and Region IV-A (Calabarzon) each contributed 11 percent, reflecting the broad geographic diversity of the class across Luzon and beyond.
Second Class Cadets of Class 2028 Lead the Reception Rites
In keeping with PMA tradition, the incoming cadets were formally received by their Second Class Cadet Squad Leaders from PMA "SIKLAB KASILAG" Class of 2028. The reception rites serve as the symbolic handover of responsibility, with upperclassmen assuming the role of mentors and disciplinarians in the early stages of the new cadets' military formation.
The ceremony at Borromeo Field marked the first formal occasion in which the Class 2030 members participated as members of the Cadet Corps, setting the tone for the years of academic and military training that lie ahead.
Commandant of Cadets Addresses Incoming Class on the Weight of the Moment
In his opening remarks during the ceremony, the Commandant of Cadets emphasized that the day represented far more than a ceremonial occasion for the incoming cadets. He described the reception rites as the beginning of a fundamental personal transformation.
"The Reception Rites marks a life-changing milestone — it marks the official beginning of your military career. This is not merely a ceremonial event, rather, it signifies your transition from a carefree civilian life into the disciplined, demanding, and regimented life of a cadet."
The Commandant did not elaborate further in the official release, but his remarks set a deliberate tone for the start of cadet life — one that underscores the Academy's emphasis on discipline and institutional commitment from the very first day.
PMA Superintendent Outlines Vision for 21st-Century Military Officers
PMA Superintendent Vice Admiral Caesar Bernard N. Valencia PN delivered a message to the parents and families of the incoming cadets, outlining the Academy's evolving academic and military training framework designed to meet the demands of a rapidly changing security environment.
"The academy is aggressively undertaking initiatives to enhance our academic and military curriculum, elevating it to be at par with the highest international standards. Your children will be trained not just in the classic arts of war, but in critical and systems thinking, cybersecurity, international defense, and strategic leadership. We will always endeavor to provide them with the best education and training the nation can offer, ensuring that when they graduate, they are fully equipped to protect our nation in the 21st century."
Vice Admiral Valencia's statement reflects the Academy's ongoing curricular modernization, which places increasing emphasis on non-traditional domains of security such as cyber threats, international defense frameworks, and systems-level strategic thinking alongside conventional military training.
Class 2030 to Undergo Enhanced BS Management in Security Studies Curriculum
As members of PMA Class 2030, the incoming cadets will pursue the enhanced Bachelor of Science in Management major in Security Studies — the same curriculum introduced for PMA Classes 2028 and 2029. The program represents a significant shift in how the Academy structures the academic formation of its cadets.
According to the Academy, the curriculum is designed to equip future AFP officers with competencies directly relevant to modern warfare, territorial defense, and the evolving operational environment. The program also aims to develop knowledge and skills in areas such as strategic leadership and critical thinking, ensuring that graduates are not only militarily proficient but academically prepared for the complex security challenges of contemporary service.
The integration of cybersecurity and international defense components into the curriculum signals a deliberate move by the PMA to align its academic offerings with the realities facing the AFP in both domestic and regional security contexts.
Class of 77 Female Cadets Among the Largest in Recent Years
The composition of PMA Class 2030 includes 77 female cadets, continuing the Academy's trajectory of increasing female representation within the Cadet Corps. While the PMA has accepted women since 1993 following a landmark Supreme Court ruling, the proportion of female cadets in each successive class has drawn consistent attention as an indicator of the institution's evolving culture and inclusivity.
The PMA has not released specific historical comparisons in this announcement, but the presence of 77 women out of 367 total cadets — representing approximately 21 percent of the class — reflects continued progress in gender representation at the country's foremost military academy.
PMA Reaffirms Commitment to Developing Leaders of Character
In its official statement released through the Office of the Chief Public Affairs (OCPA) of the PMA, the Academy reaffirmed its institutional mandate to develop leaders of character who are operationally ready upon graduation.
The statement noted that the young men and women of Class 2030 "have answered the call to serve," and that the PMA "remains committed to caring for them and ensuring that they are trained to become leaders of character and operationally ready officers prepared for the demands of military service."
The statement was authorized by LCDR Jesse Nestor B. Saludo PN of the Office of the Chief Public Affairs, PMA, and released on May 23, 2026, coinciding with the day of the ceremony.
PMA Class 2030 is expected to graduate in 2030, at which point its members will be commissioned as officers of the AFP across the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, and other branches of the armed services. Their four-year journey at Fort Del Pilar officially begins with the oath they took on Saturday at Borromeo Field.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of OCPA, PMA