Will PMA be a gentler, kinder academy with a female commandant at the helm?

COMMANDANT OF CADETS. Colonel Leah Lorenzo-Santiago is flanked by her female classmates at the PMA. With them is outgoing PMA commandant of cadets Colonel Eugene Henry Cabugao.

Frank Cimatu/Rappler

PMA’s first female commandant brings a tough record to the academy, challenging assumptions that women in charge will make military training gentler. She looks ahead to a reunion with her classmates.

AT A GLANCE

• Lieutenant General Michael Logico and Colonel Leah Lorenzo-Santiago discuss the strength and resilience of female military officers, particularly highlighting Santiago's journey as the first female commandant of cadets at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
• Santiago, a member of the 'Magnificent 7,' and her classmates faced challenges during their time at the PMA, with only seven of the original 17 women remaining by graduation, each pursuing distinguished military careers.
• Santiago plans to reunite the 'Magnificent 7,' who have taken various paths in their military and personal lives, showcasing the impact and legacy of women in the Philippine Armed Forces.

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BAGUIO, Philippines – Philippine Military Academy Superintendent Lieutenant General Michael Logico answered my question before Colonel Leah Lorenzo-Santiago could react.

“Definitely not. That’s why I got her in the first place,” he said.

“No. Not gentler,” Santiago said.

If there is one thing I remember about Leah from when I met her 29 years ago, it is that she was anything but fragile or dainty.

She was small and thin at the time, but you could tell she was tough. Her female mistahs were sporting the Demi Moore haircut then, but not her. The hairstyle she had during her installation as the first female commandant of cadets at the PMA was the same one she had when she graduated third in the PMA Kalasag-Lahi Class of 1997.

Right after graduation, she was sent to the battlefield in Mindanao. I remember that she belonged to a team that infiltrated the Abu Sayyaf. For a woman doing that at the time, spying on the group was a life-and-death undertaking. Her exploits caught the attention of the Army chief then, retired general Roy Cimatu, who included her among his aides when he became chief of staff.

Now Santiago is on the path to follow suit. Only the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is needed to make her the first female PMA graduate to become a general.

The announcement of her appointment as commandant of cadets was made on September 26, giving Santiago time to prepare.

One thoughtful gesture was her invitation to all her female classmates.

There were 17 of them when they entered Fort del Pilar in April 1993. They were called the Rasul Ladies, after the late senator Santanina Rasul and Republic Act 7192, or the Women in Development and Nation Building Act of 1992.

The PMA built separate barracks for women and added female tactical officers, but these measures were not enough to keep all of them. Some were wooed by their upperclassmen and eventually decided to leave the academy.

‘Magnificent 7’

Over the next four years, only seven remained.

I can’t recall who first called them the “Magnificent 7,” but the name stuck.

Last Saturday, October 17, two of them joined Santiago at Yap Hall.

Maria Victoria Blancaflor-Agoncillo remained in the Philippine Army and became a tank commander. In 2000, she took part in an operation that overran the Moro Islamic Liberation Front‘s Camp Rajamuda, earning the Gold Cross Medal.

She later rose to lead the National Capital Region’s Regional Community Defense Group. Vicky is also an aspiring writer. Last month, she even made time to fangirl over Jessica Zafra.

Marissa Arlene Andres-Martinez remained in the Philippine Navy. By 2022, she was serving as assistant chief of fleet staff for plans (F-5) of the Philippine Fleet. She also serves as a Navy spokesperson.

Santiago also invited about 100 female military officers to the photo opportunity. There are now about 800 female military officers considered part of the Rasul Ladies.

Santiago said she plans to bring together all the “Magnificent 7.”

The other members have taken different paths since their days at the academy.

Ma. Consuelo “Bon” Nunag-Castillo remained in the Philippine Air Force and became the first female pilot of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing. She later flew with the Presidential Airlift Wing and held senior positions in the defense establishment and the Air Force.

Aireen Somera became a PAF pilot but resigned because of health issues. She married a pilot classmate who also left the military for commercial aviation.

Sheryl Jane Uy-Cabasang suffered serious injuries in a vehicular accident shortly after graduation and was placed on complete disability discharge.

Santiago said Jane was paralyzed from the neck down and is still undergoing rehabilitation. Somera developed arthritis, which forced her to give up flying.

Arlene Orejana-Trillanes resigned from the service and later became dean of a computer college at the National University. She is married to former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

It would be nice if their reunion happened at the PMA, where their roller-coaster journey began. – Rappler.com