ANGELES CITY – The Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) urged yesterday qualified youths – for the first time including gays, lesbians and those whose height is at least five feet – who are interested to join the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to prepare for entrance examinations slated on Aug. 26.
But for Aeta cultural minority leader Robert Serrano of Marcos Village in Mabalacat, Pampanga, the reduced minimum five feet height requirement still discriminates against most members of his tribal group.
“Even male Aetas rarely hit five feet in height, yet some of us would be interested in joining the PMA if we possess the rest of the qualifications,” he said. Most adult Aeta folk stand from four to four and a half feet only.
The PMA recently announced change in its height requirements, opting five feet as minimum for either sex, from the previous 5’4 for male and 5’2 for female applicants.
The Nolcom, which has jurisdiction over all regions north of Metro Manila, including Baguio City where the PMA is located, issued yesterday a bulletin saying there will be 37 venues within its area for the examinations.
“The PMA entrance examination this year consists of Algebra and Geometry, Grammar and Composition, Reading and Comprehension, Verbal and Numerical Reasoning and Pattern Analysis,” the Nolcom said.
“Grab the opportunity to have a promising career as an officer of the Air Force, Army or Navy by taking the entrance exam of the PMA on August 26,” Nolcom said.
The 37 examination venues in North Luzon will include the cities of Baguio, Laoag, Dagupan, Tuguegarao, Cabanatuan, Tarlac, San Fernando in Pampanga and the towns of Bontoc in Mountain Province and Bayombong in Nueva Vizcaya, Nolcom said.
Regardless of sexual orientation and with five feet as minimum height requirement for either sex, the examinations are “open to all Filipino citizens aged 17 to 22 years old by April 1, 2013 who are single and has never been married, not exceeding six feet and four inches tall, at least a high school graduate, of good moral character, has no pending administrative or criminal case and physically and mentally fit for active military service.”
“Those who are interested and qualified are advised to submit a fully accomplished application form along with a copy of an authenticated birth certificate and certified true copy of High School Form 137 to the Office of Cadet Admission of PMA two weeks prior to the exam date,” the advisory said.
It stressed that the application form would be downloaded from PMA’s official website – www.pma.ph .
“Aspirants may also apply online, for details regarding this mode of application please visit the said website or call the PMA’s Office of Cadet Admission via the following numbers: (074) 446-8002, (074) 447-3690 local 6751 and 6752, and cell phone numbers 09273810493 or 09494270584,” Nolcom also said.
Nolcom stressed that “aspirants who successfully hurdle the test shall undergo complete physical and medical examination at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center to determine their medical conditions as well as their psychological and physical readiness to undergo a rigorous military training.”
Earlier, the PMA announced it would not refuse gay and lesbian applicants and would lower the height requirement for new cadets.
PMA Superintendent Major Gen. Nonato Peralta Jr. said that turning away applicants because they are gay or lesbians is a violation of human rights.
The PMA, however, was reported to have drawn the line on cross dressing and public display of affection among gays and lesbians which are prohibited in accordance with PMA regulations.
The PMA will now also accept foreign applicants as long as they would satisfy the same basic requirements for Filipinos.
