PMA ’69 All Out For Mistahs, Offsprings

THE CLASS OF 1969 OF THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY IS GOING ALL OUT FOR ITS CLASSMATES AND CHILDREN RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN THE 2010 ELECTIONS, PMA ’69 CLASS SPOKESPERSON GEN. VIC TIANGCO ANNOUNCED TODAY. AMONG ITS CLASSMATES OR MISTAHS ARE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE LOREN LEGARDA, SENATORIAL CANDIDATE MIRIAM DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO, MAYORALTY CANDIDATE GEN. RENE AGUDA OF PASQUIN, ILOCOS NORTE, REELECTIONIST CONGRESSMAN DON MENDOZA IN BATANGAS AND MARGE DEFENSOR IN TAGUIG CITY. SENATORS LOREN AND MIRIAM ARE ADOPTED MEMBERS OF THE CLASS.
Tiangco emphasized that its adopted members are dyed-in-the-wool ‘69ers, having been associated and supportive of the class for a long time.
Senator Miriam has been a contributor to the Cadet Corps AFP as early as 1965, being close to several PMA classes. She was also the editor of the femmes (ladies) issue of the Corps Magazine in 1969, the official organ of the PMA, the same time she was editor of the Collegian of the University of the Philippines (UP), and corps sponsor of the UP Vanguards. The Class recognizes Miriam’s scholastic achievements as legendary.
On the other hand, Senator Loren has been associated with the class as far back as the 1970s when she was an outstanding student at the UP College of Mass Communication. Like most 69ers, she graduated at the top of her National Defense College Class. Through her projects, the class of ’69 has been involved in various environmental and socio-civic projects projected effectively by the mass media. Not many know that Loren sings with the class band, the Sounds of 69 which specializes in rock and retro music of the 60s and 70s.
The class of ’69 takes pride in being the first PMA class to command the AFP, the PNP, and all the three branches of service: Army, Air Force and Navy. Its PNP Chief Gen. Larry Mendoza is the present Secretary of Transportation and Communications. Its AFP Chief Gen. Benjamin Defensor is Ambassador and Chairman of the Asia Pacific Counter Terrorism Task Force. Its Army chiefs are Generals Jimmy de los Santos and Greg Camiling while its Navy chiefs are Admirals Willy Wong and Vic Hingco. Among its members are former LTFRB Chief Gen. Tom Lantion, former LTO Chief Gen. Rey Berroya, Baseco head Boy Maligalig, former Petron Chairman Amb. Joey Syjuco and DOTC Usec Cris Abanes. A class member, colorful rebel Alex Noble is pushing for a federal system of government, especially for Mindanao.
Tiangco said the class is waiting for the March 26 start of the local campaign so they can effectively mobilize their leaders in the urban, transport and agrarian sectors to campaign for classmates and children in the local level. Its progenies are creating political waves. Reelectionist Mark Mendoza of Batangas, is running practically unopposed while Marge Defensor in Global City is hailed as the Second Miriam. She is running with reelectionist congressman Jett Reyes. The candidates are supported by the United Brotherhood of Uniformed Personnel, the biggest and most organized Philippine fraternity of servicemen, retired soldiers, policemen and relatives.