Several questions have cropped up recently regarding the Honor System to the the extent that one is left to wonder whether there is really a need for it or it is just another pain in the neck. Some have taken it as a kind of a Damocles’ sword hanging over their head. As one cadet simply put it, the Honor System is guided by only one principle – that of conformity. It’s either you conform with what ever policies the committee has set or you pack your bag and leave before they start kicking you out. Nevertheless, questions go hand-in-hand with interest. We ask questions to clarify matters and to understand our place and role in the system.

Let me start by describing what the system is all about and how it actually works. Nobody is born an honorable man. He did not just come out from nowhere to declare that he shall not lie, cheat, steal nor tolerate any of these. The attainment of such is an ongoing educational process. Just like other ethical standards, it varies from society to society. What might be perfectly honourable for some might not be so for others. To set rigid standards of honor is impossible. Stealing would be perfectly acceptable in society of thieves but never for others.

Consider the mission of the Philippine Military Academy – “To instruct, train and develop the cadets so that each graduate shall possess character. the broad and basic military skills and the training essentials in the successful pursuit of a progressive military career.” Just like other professions, the Armed Forces want and need officers of character – men who would not easily bow down to temptations that will always be present in the field. As such, we are filled with idealism and all the goodies that the academy can offer before we are finally sent to the field.

The Honor System is no guarantee that we will not be dishonest in the future. We are not knights in shining armor but the system does give us a taste of what it is like to live an honourable life and be among honourable men.

The Honor System is a covenant among the cadets. We have agreed among ourselves not to lie, cheat, steal nor tolerate any of these violations to our own advantage. Putting aside the long run goal of the system. It is also there to serve practical purpose. How would you feel if you were among men whose words can not be relied upon, nor people who would cheat you out of contention just as soon as they get their chance? Remember that academy life, no matter how competitive and rigorous it is, is no contest compared to what we will be facing outside its four walls.

As an agreement, the system should work for the whole group. Everyone concerned should take a hand in upkeeping the system. As such, the responsibility should not be left to the Honor Committee alone. There is no question about 25 heads being better than one, but surely, 817 heads should be better than 25. Hence, the committee should and must not be referred to as the police of the Cadet Corps. It is not there to dictate and think for the Corps nor to go looking for violators of the code.

Not to confuse form”with “substance,” remember that form “per se” is how the substance is implemented. Water takes the form of any container that it is placed in. Nevertheless, no matter how intricate that vessel is, water will always be two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. Honor takes the form of the code in order to simplify matters. It must always be taken in the spirit by which it has been formulated. What does it mean? Does it mean strict adherence to policies set forth by the Honor Committee? Yes, if you are referring to the spirit by which those policies have been based upon. No, if it means blind or passive conformity to mere standards of action set forth by the Honor Committee.

When we talk about honor, we do not refer to something tangible, The extent of being an honorable man cannot be measured. It is something that cannot be judged solely through observing another person’s actions. One’s acts do not always reflect one’s thoughts, does it? Such is the case when we talk about conformity that is derived from fear of sanctions. The question is whether the system will exact the same respect from the cadets once the sanction will be removed.

To delineate duty and honor is quite a formidable task but not really impossible. They almost always go hand-in-hand, and they should if we are to achieve the ultimate goal of the academy – to develop men of character and integrity. However, the system should never be used to ferret out violations of regulations. There are ways and means of doing this, but the Honor System should never be one of them. Love and not hatred is a necessity if you really want to internalize the system. Hence the drive towards a better understanding of the role of the Honor System in the mission of the academy.

The effectiveness of a certain system could best be assured if it provides for sanctions. Violations of regulations lead to demerits, punishment tours and other forms of punishment according to the gravity of one’s offense. However, the Honor System provides for only one form of punishment for violators – dismissal from the academy, no matter how trivial or insignificant the circumstances surrounding an Honor violation, the same punishment is dealt out. The question now is why the system does not provide for graduated punishments. The provision in our code could best answer that question “we shall not tolerate any of these.” As honorable gentlemen, we have agreed among ourselves not to lie, cheat, and steal. To further strengthen our belief in each other’s words and actions. we came up with the non-toleration clause. If there is a rotten apple in a whole basket of good ones, we ought to pick it out so as not to lower the quality and price of what we’re selling. The same is true for honor.

The Philippine Military Academy is an investment in national security. The Filipino people spends thousands of pesos for the cadets’ training. It is only fair that we give them what they expect to have. Basically, the system is there to ensure a pure crop of men whose words and actions Can be relied upon. And To everybody’s content, it is working. Umali WPE