1,216 aspiring military officers pass PMA entrance exam

BAGUIO CITY — Around 1,216 young men and women passed this year’s Philippine Military Academy entrance examinations, the military school announced on Thursday.

They make up 4.78 percent of the 25,452 qualified applicants who took exams in 48 testing centers from July to September 2026, said Navy Lt. Commdr Jermaine B Dacanay, acting chief of the PMA Public Affairs Office. 

The number of passing applicants in 2026 was lower than the 5.28 percent passing rate in 2025, Dacanay said. “This year, PMA received 36,596 online applications,” he said. 

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READ: PMA entrance exams for eastern Mindanao cluster set on July 11-12

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“All 1,216 passers will undergo a comprehensive and rigorous selection process to determine who will compose the incoming PMA Class of 2031, tentatively set to convene in May 2027,” Dacanay said. 

They will go through a “meticulous” screening phase from October this year to April 2027, “which includes a Complete Physical Examination, Medical Assessment, and Neuropsychiatric Evaluation” to ensure that “only the most qualified—physically fit, mentally prepared, and morally grounded—will earn the privilege of becoming part of the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines and the honor of setting foot on the hallowed grounds of the Academy, ” Dacanay said. INQ 

Tying for highest-ranking examinee were Jillian Alexis Chan Lapada of the Philippine Science High School in Baguio, and Gabriel James Valdez of the Philippine Science High School in Ilocos Sur. 

They were followed by Francesca Marinella Estacio Aquino of  Saint Pedro Poveda College in Quezon City and Zeke Marcus Esperancilla Macadat of Cainta Catholic College in Cainta, Rizal, who tied for second place. 

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The top three is Justyn Carlo Barsalote Apilat of Precious International School of Davao in Davao City. John Matt Rivas Amaza of Philippine Science High School in Koronadal and Art Dominic Nasdoman Gubiaon of Philippine Science High School in Cagayan Valley both placed fourth.

Ranked fifth was James Kieffer Bullecer Taglinao of  Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan in Cagayan de Oro, followed by sixth placer John Benedict Padernilla Porras of Philippine Science High School Main Campus, seventh placer Paul Nathan Lorenzo Santiago also of Philippine Science High School Main Campus, and eighth placer Kurt Rafael Balai Calingacion of Highway Hills Integrated School in Mandaluyong City. 

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Ranked ninth was Sofia Venize Carasi Barola of Philippine Science High School in Baguio City, with the 10th place shared by Philip Arthur Tabang Acidre of Philippine Science High School in Leyte, Bai Zharean Jathiya Sinsuat Ante of Albert Einstein School, Inc. in Cotabato City, and Tyron Beltran Liquigan of Philippine Science High School in Cagayan Valley. 

READ: Only 5% of applicants passed this year’s PMA entrance exam

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“These top performers exemplify the Academy’s vision: to attract and select the best and brightest through a stringent and merit-based recruitment system,” PMA said in a statement./coa