PMMA Class 2014 Top Grad is a Woman
PHILIPPINE MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY (PMMA), the country’s premier merchant marine academy has a woman cadet for its top graduate this year.
PMMA superintendent Rear Admiral Richard U. Ritual said that the valedictorian for PMMA graduating class Sinag Balangay 2014 was female cadet and Magna Cum Laude Laarni Grace Pangilinan, 23 from Valenzuela City.
Ritual said that there are no restrictions being imposed by the school for female midshipmen as he called on international maritime industry and stakeholders to respect gender equality rights in male-dominated shipping operation business.
“Our graduates constantly serve as Ambassadors of Goodwill, for they circle the different parts of the globe on board various international seagoing vessels bringing with them the positive tenets inculcated upon them during their Academy days, which is “Righteousness, Humility, and Courage,” Ritual said in a statement.
In her valedictory address, Pangilinan narrated in Pilipino the challenges she experienced during her internship aboard an international oil tanker.
“Nais ko pong ipamulat sa lahat na hindi hadlang ang pagiging babae upang makasabay sa pagsasanay ng mga lalaki hindi lamang dito sa loob ng PMMA kundi sa barko man. Hindi ko hinayaang maisip ng mga tao sa aking paligid ang kahinaan ng isang babae,” she said.
Pangilinan was the second female cadet to top a graduating class since the PMMA first opened its doors to female applicants in 1997. Eight years ago, Cadet First Class and Magna Cum Laude Zulaika Mariano Calibjo led as the first woman to top the 2006 graduating class of PMMA, one of Asia’s oldest maritime institutions.
President Benigno S. Aquino III represented by Transport and Communication Undersecretary Edwin Lopez was the guest of honor during the PMMA’s 191st Commencement Exercise for 228 graduates held at the PMMA Complex in San Narciso, Zambales.
“Maging bahagi man kayo ng Navy, Coast Guard o maging international seafarers, patuloy sana kayong maninindigan sa ngalan ng ‘Katwiran, Kababaang-loob at Kagitingan –ang mga katangiang isinalin at hinubog sa inyo ng PMMA,” Aquino said in his speech delivered by Lopez.
Other Magna Cum Laude awardees this year for Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) were Cezan Pulo, Zhet Chloe Valencia, Christopher Alcon and Crystal Joyse A. Reyes while cadets Patrick John Alilam and Cris Lloyd Vinluan received the Cum Laude award.
For Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMar E), Magda Cum Laude award was given to Nathaniel V. Doctolera while Cum Laude graduates were Adrian Ramirez, Francis Jason Catipay, Francis Parena, Allan Gallarte, Mark Anthony Reyes and Christopher Gobway.
The Presidential Saber Awards were given to cadets Christian Brizuela, Carlos Bayate and Gallarte while Jhonson Palao-Ay Jr received the PMMA Superintendent Saber Award.
Other PMMA awards were given to Master in Ship Management graduate Eduardo Meneses, Jr and Master In Maritime Education and Training graduate Loren Naquiuta. The prestigious PMMA Alumni Association Academic Excellence Awards were given to Pangilinan and Doctolero.
The academy was created by virtue of a Spanish royal decree in 1820 as the Escuela Nautica de Manila but was temporarily closed during the Philippine Revolution and skipped three school years before it was reopened by American officials on Dec. 15, 1899, as the Nautical School of the Philippine Islands.
Since its establishment, the PMMA has been producing efficient and well-trained merchant marine officers who are considered by many to be among the world’s best. As evidence of its prominence, local graduates have constantly spearheaded the Philippines’ efforts in International trade and have also served as auxiliary officers servicing naval needs in times of emergency.
Aside from ship officers, the Academy also trains its students in other fields of marine service, like marine surveying, port supervision, shipping office administration, ship management and others.
The academy offers two degree programs such as the Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) major in navigation and seamanship, and the Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE), major in steam engine and electrical engineering.
The BSMT programme is designed to prepare PMMA Midshipmen for duties as deck officers aboard ships after graduation. It is a four-year residency course consisting of a three-year academic studies (1st, 2nd and 4th year) and one year apprenticeship training (3rd year) as deck cadets on board commercial vessels plying the international sea lanes.
The BSMarE programme is designed to prepare PMMA Midshipmen for duties as Marine Engineers aboard ships. This four-year residency course consists of three years of academic studies (1st, 2nd and 4th year) and a year’s apprentice training (3rd year) as engine cadets on board commercial vessels plying the international shipping lanes.
