By J. Irving

Gaya yun time na mapapasabi ka sa sarili mo, “Mistah ko yan!” every time you watch the 4am weekday news at DZRH. hehe

A Tribute to Golden Plebes of 1976

As we prepare to reminisce and celebrate for being the Golden Plebos next year, on 01 April 2026, it is only fitting that we look back with pride and gratitude on the remarkable journey we have taken together as members of the PMA Class of 1980 – “Mapitagan”. Ours is a class that has lived up to the meaning of our name — respectful, honorable, and dignified — with achievements spanning cadetship, military service, government leadership, and distinguished civilian life.

To mark this milestone, we present our “Mapitagan Trivia” — a proud compilation of noteworthy distinctions and accomplishments that reflect our humble yet shining legacy. These serve as a testament to our shared values, lifelong friendships, and unwavering service to God, country, and people.

I. Cadetship: Seeds of Excellence

Our journey began in the hallowed grounds of Fort del Pilar, where we forged discipline, courage, and camaraderie. Among us shone bright stars of cadet leadership and academic excellence:

Baron: Colina

Valedictorian: Lorenzo

Starman: Deona

Magna Cum Laude: Meneses

Cum Laude: Sarmiento

U.S. Service Academies Graduates: Sanchez (West Point) Agudo and Guzman (Annapolis) Asuncion (U.S. Coast Guard Academy)

Foreign Cadets: Yaakub (Graduate/Malaysia), Ringstad (Resigned/U.S.A.)

From these formative years, the spirit of Mapitagan was born — a spirit that would later define our careers in service.

II. Military Service: Leadership in Command

Through the decades, the Mapitagan class produced commanders, leaders, and warriors who served with honor in the Armed Forces, the Philippine National Police, and the Coast Guard.

Service Commanders:

Army: Coballes (22 Jan 2013 – 07 Feb 2014), U.S. War College Hall of Famer

Air Force: Dela Cruz (9 Jan 2012 – 30 Apr 2014)

PNP: Bartolome (8 Sept 2011 – 17 Dec 2012), the class’s lone 4-star general

Coast Guard: Tan (24 Jan 2012 – 14 Dec 2012)

PMA Superintendent: Abogado (10 Apr 2013 – 17 Feb 2014)

Area Commanders included Segovia, Cruz (RG III), Coballes, and Ordoyo.

Military Attachés in key foreign posts:

Yano (USA/Canada)

Ordoyo (France)

Torralba (Brunei)

Gallantry Awards:

For Valor: Bolo, who rescued Bishop Escaler and 10 others from MNLF lost command without any casualties from his troops and hostages.

Distinguished Conduct Star (2nd highest combat award): Eloja & Coballes

These names and deeds remind us that Mapitagan stood steadfast in both peace and conflict — warriors in the truest sense.

III. Civilian and Private Life: Service Beyond the Uniform

Even after our active military years, many of us continued to serve the nation with excellence and integrity.

Government Service:

Del Rosario: First Secretary, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (2020–2022)

Carlos: First Undersecretary in the same department

Cruz (RG III): Former Director of BuCor; now Commissioner for Senior Citizens

Ontog: former Director General of NICA

Tan: Former GM, Cebu Port Authority (2013–2016)

Yano: Former DND Undersecretary; now Presidential Assistant on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity

Torralba: Former Assistant Secretary for SA&IA, DND

Carbonell, Juni: Incumbent ASec, PVAO

Espinelli: Undersecretary for Special Concerns under President Marcos Jr.

Asuncion: Presiding Judge, RTC Antipolo Branch 99

We are also proud of our second-generation Mapitagans — 10 PMA graduates, composing the 25 military offspring (now with two full colonels Col Marc Anthony Yambing of the Air Force and Col Michael Deon Costes of the Medical Corps), squadron commander and U.S. service academy alumni. Among them:

Agudo’s son, Karl: US Air Force Academy (USAFA) Class 2011, now squadron commander

Talens’ twin daughters (Vicky & Tricia): 2018 US Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) graduates and varsity swimmers

Yebra’s son, Rainer: Topped the 2009 Bar Exam; now a USec at DOTr

In our class and among our families, there are 28 lawyers and several medical doctors, serving the nation.

Some of our mistahs themselves earned doctorate degrees and published books:

Bartolome: PhD in Criminology

Agudo: Doctor of Science, Electrical Engineering (George Washington University)

Nemenzo: Editor-in-Chief, Diamond Edition of the Corps Magazine

Lomeda: Author of the book, entitled “A Time to Heal”, a narrative of the Pata Island Massacre where 119 Army troopers died in a single day, on 12 February 1981, to include the battalion commander.

We also share pride in our spouses and families:

Noemi Bartolome: became Mayor of Alamada, North Cotabato (with mistahs who aspired but lost to be mayors: Reyes of Murcia, Negros Occidental, Yebra of Paracale, Camarines Norte and Bernardo of Magarao, Camarines Sur)

Lou Ramos: incumbent Philippine Consul of Austria, based in Vienna

Sarmiento family: Owners of Tamarind @ SM Aura & MOA and Lime & Basil @ Tagaytay

Rodriguez family: the owner of “By the Bay, Jacana Bed &Breakfast” in Puerto Princesa

Ramirez: owner of Maria Fatima Farm Resort at Labo, Camarines Norte

Adriatico: owner and CEO of Adriatico Builders, a home construction company

In sports and recreation, Mapitagan continued to excel — representing the Philippines in World Shooting Competitions (Sarmiento, Rainier Cruz, Segovia and Baraquiel);

Achieving multiple Hole-in-One record: Diciano with 5, Torralba with 3, Sarmiento and Ancheta with 2 each and one each for Cabantac and our best golfer George Regis; nurturing talents like Sunshine Baraquiel, a professional golfer competing internationally.

IV. Honors and Awards: A Legacy Recognized

Cavalier Award Recipients:

Bartolome (1999 & 2006),

Eloja (1986),

Macapagal (1989),

Segovia (1993),

Layug (2002),

Abogado (2009),

Yebra (2012),

Coballes (2013),

Lomeda (2019 – for Cybersecurity)

Rodriguez (2026 nominee)

Campos (TOPS 2003 Awardee),

PMAAAI Outstanding Achievement Awardees:

Del Rosario (2020),

Bartolome (2012),

Tan (2012),

Coballes (2013),

Dela Cruz (2013)

Our mistahs also took on leadership as presidents, in professional organizations:

Layug: incumbent President of AGFO

Tamayo: incumbent President of PETFI

Loria: President of Lions Club Baguio

Javier: former President/CEO of Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Incorporated (PSMBFI)

and others who led in government and corporate roles:

Ordoyo – former VP for Security of PAL

Carbonell: Captain, PAL/SQ B747/B737 PAL EX AB320/A321

Macatol: helicopter pilot of Pacquiao

Mendoza: former District Collector, Port of Manila, Bureau of Customs

Ramos: former Managing Director, Philippine National Bank (Europe) and Head of Office PNB(Europe), Paris.

Dominguez: former owner of a Pest Control Company at Los Angeles, who accommodates mistahs and other bugobugos who are lost in USA haha

Antonio: Doctor of Chiropractic, United States of America

V. Monuments of Legacy

Our name is etched not just in records but in stone and memory:

Mapitagan Fountain of Larry Cruz – Villamor Air Base Golf Course

Mapitagan Picnic Grove of Bogs Abogado – Fort del Pilar

Mapitagan Loop of Nicky Bart – Camp Macabulos, PNP Tarlac City

Mapitagan Ward of Doc Gali – Veterans Memorial Medical Center

VI. Summary: The Mapitagan Legacy

We are even very proud of our former mistahs who did not graduate with us but stood up to become what they are; and also the twenty five well-chosen adopted mistahs composed of distinguished congressmen (past & present), successful businessmen, government/corporate career-men and avid golfers. All dependable and tested … most importantly, doctors (Chua Chiaco, Gali and Sta Ana) who cared and will continue to care for our health in our old age and last but not the least, a priest who will oversee our spiritual journey in the last stage of our lives …

We are proud of becoming lolos and lolas, having bloodlines to continue the Mapitagan legacy; Yambing, Ancheta and Costes with the most number of grandchildren – having 9 each and potential for becoming the first great-grandfather. To those who have less than them and those in waiting-coaxing their children to hurry up …

We will continue with our regular fellowship … a key ingredient for a better, happier and longer life.

We all saw that every Mapitagan had served with distinction — many in positions of major responsibility. We rallied behind our marcher and leaders:

4-star PNP Chief Nick Bartolome, PMAAAI President (2010)

3-star commanders: Tan (PCG), Coballes (PA), Dela Cruz (PAF), Macapagal (TDCS), Abogado (PMA), Ordoyo (SOLCOM), Segovia & Cruz (EastMinCom), and PNP Hq Deputies Sarmiento and Ontog.

We produced 19 two-star generals and 27 one-stars, yet beyond the stars, our true measure lies in faithful service — to duty, honor, and country.

We are Mapitagan. We served. We endured. We excelled. And as we stand at our golden milestone, we look back not only with pride, but with gratitude for the journey and the bond that time can never break.

Long live Class “Mapitagan” of 1980!