School Feeding at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City

The Philippine Military Academy is the premier military school of our country. It produces the future officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The AFP has three branches of service, namely, the Philippine Army, the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force.

We went up to Baguio City Friday evening, Sep 5, 2003. Baguio City is the summer capital of the Philippines. It is up in the mountains and has cool weather.

We left Manila at 9:30 pm Sep 5 and arrived in Baguio City at 3 am Sep 6, Saturday.

My high school classmates and I were guests of Commodore Franklin Mangonon, Assistant Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy. He is a commodore in the Philippine Navy. He and his wife are both our high school classmates. They booked us in a roomy cottage at the Naval Base in Baguio City.

We attended the Recognition Ceremony of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2007 from 10 am to 12 noon of Sep 6, Saturday.

We watched a beautiful parade and a touching recognition ceremony at the parade grounds.

While in an octagon formation at the grounds, this year's set of plebes were sorrounded and individually recognized by each of the upperclassmen.

We went to the open house of the cadet barracks afterwards. I cannot imagine myself being that neat with my things!

We watched the Silent Drill of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2006 at 10-11 am of Sep 7, Sunday. This is a dazzling show of precise formations and movements without any audible commands. Quite impressive and thrilling!

While walking at the PMA gounds after the silent drill, we asked one of the cadets if we can observe them take their lunch. He said that civilians are not allowed inside the Mess Hall. (They do not call it a cafeteria.) One of the doors of the Mess Hall was partly open, so my classmate and I peeped in.

The tables are all set. The macaroons for dessert are already laid out in saucers. No other food is visible.

Elmer Alcala, one of the food servers, was stationed near the door, so we fired our questions before he had a chance to close the door. From him we found out that:

The cadets have exactly 30 minutes to eat their lunch, from 1200 hrs to 1230 hrs.

The seating arrangement is by companies. There are eight companies, namely Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf and Hawk. Each table seats 10 cadets belonging to the same company but from mixed years, plebes and their upperclassmen. Elmer Alcala (23 years service) is a food server assigned to the Echo and Foxtrot companies dining tables.

The budget for the cadet meals is 80 pesos per day. (There are 54 pesos to a US dollar)

Marketing is done everyday at the Baguio City Market.

The lunch to be served that day will consist of boiled rice, mongo beans and dried meat. Dessert is one macaroon. Drink is iced tea.

The menu does not repeat in two weeks.

We asked him to show us the kitchen. Granted.

Wow, several huge rice cookers! Huge vats also for stir-frying and sauteing.

All male cooks and staff. We were introduced to one person who has rendered service for 33 years already!

We saw fresh native tuna fish in a huge container in the kitchen area so we assumed that those will be served in the evening meal.

We had no time to go down to the baking and refrigeration area because lunch will be served in a short time.

We waited outside to watch the cadets march in formation to go inside the Mess Hall.They all looked healthy and fit, males and females alike, so they are surely eating right.

After they were all in, the doors were closed.

We walked the grounds again, and asked some cadets we met if they are not eating their lunch. They said they are on Early Mess.

When I go to the PMA again, I promise I will have an interview with the nutritionist-dietitian.

PMA Recognition Day: September 6, 2003

Ang Sep 5 evening at 9 pm alis sa Scout Castor, naging 9:30 pm kasi na-traffic sa EDSA si Felix at sinundo pa niya si Dennis sa ABS-CBN. Tapos ang traffic pa. Hatinggabi nasa Tarlac pa lang kami.Kaya 3 am Sep 6 na kami dumating sa Naval Base.

Wow! Ang laki ng cottage! 5 rooms. A masters bedroom with a bathroom.Two sets of 2 bedrooms with a shared bathroom. Dennis and Felix took one bedroom in one set. Pinky and I took a bedroom in another set. Para tig-isang bathroom kami. Ayos. Tatlo ang beds in our bedroom. Kumuha pa si Pinky ng isang blanket in the other room para tig-dalawang blankets kami, kasi ang ginaw, brrr!

Pinky, nagugutom ako. May dala akong adobo. (Isang manok, ipinaluto ko sa garage canteen namin.) Sige, let's. Niyaya namin ang boys. May kanin?, tanong ni Felix. Kung gusto mo, magsaing ka. (May isang kabang bigas dun sa dining area.) Ayaw.

Natulog kami at 4 am. Maliwanag na nga kahit pinatay namin ang ilaw. Nagising naman kami at 7. Kinatok sila at 7:15. May water heater at hair dryer ako kaya ready kami ni Pinky sa sundo at 7:45 am. Sa banyo sa master's bedroom siya naligo, ako sa banyo namin. Ayos!

Kasabay naming dumating sa Ifugao Lodge (bahay nina Franklin) ang mga galing Manila, sina Wilma, Ella, Girlie and husbands. Kasunod ang pamilya ni Arlette. Breakfast na. Sarap ng corned beef, longanisa, eggs sunny side up, rice and papaya. Nauna na kaming nag-coffee.

Lalakad daw sina Ed Rodriguez and Ben de Leon to the parade grounds. Sama ako. Palusong na lakad naman iyon, kaya ko. Iwan mo na ang Harry Potter book, ako na magdadala, volunteered Felix. Sige.

Nabanatan na agad ako ni Ben dun sa lakad na iyon. Dapat daw mag-adopt ako dahil matandang dalaga ako. Hindi oy, matandang binata po ito.

Naks, special seating kami as Guests of the ASUP, two rows in the center, na nadagdagan pa ng another row in the next section. Pinky sat on the aisle seat on my left, Arlette on my right. Eto na ang mga nanggaling lang sa Agoo. Pasok si Loida sa aisle namin. Beso-beso si Loida kay Pinky, sa akin, kay Arlette. Sumunod pumasok si Christine sa aisle namin. Beso-beso si Christine kay Pinky, sa akin. Kinamayan ni Arlette si Christine while introducing herself, "I'm Arlette." "I know", sagot ni Christine. Sabay na-realize ni Pinky at ni Arlette na hindi pala nila nakilala si Christine! Hagalpakan!

Kodakan, kodakan. Daldalan. Oy, quiet na, program na. Aba't special mention ang UP Prep, kakatuwa. Si Felix, bida, kasi named as head of the UP Prep delegation.

Upo, tayo kami. Exercise, bulong ni Arlette.

Siempre, kilig ako sa parada, lalo na sa adjutant's strut. Walang alikabok ngayon. Putik, meron, kasi basa ng ulan ang grounds. Panay ang palakpak namin sa lahat ng in-execute na commands.

Dumating at nakapanood ng parade ang mga pamangkin ko, pero di nakuha ang Harry Potter book kasi di pala dinala ni Felix sa parade grounds. Ay, mali.

Na-mention ang Oakwood dun sa speech ni Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon. Kamag-anak ba ninyo, Ben? Uy ang ganda naman ng ibinigay ni Pat na cadet teddy bear kay Mrs de Leon.

Sasabihin ko kay Pat, gusto ko rin yung cadet teddy bear. Kaya lang, baka ang isagot sa akin e humanap muna ako ng vice admiral ko, sabi kokay Arlette.

O, naka-octagon formation na ang plebes. Ana B, tingnan mo, sobrang liyad nung two cadets. Parang hihimatayin na. Pag nag-collapse kaya sila diyan, may demerits?Asos, ang mga inosente! E liliyad pala talaga yung mga plebes para i-congratulate sila nung upperclassmen dun sa recognition ceremony!

Very plaintive ang melody nung PMA song. I wonder what the lyrics are.

Pinayagan nang pumunta ang parents dun sa grounds. Aalis na rin ang mga pamangkin ko. Sorry, wala dito si Harry Potter, hahanapan ko na lang ng way kung kelan dadalhin sa kanilang bahay.

Yung mga paalis na prep 65, pinabalik para mag-picture sa grandstand. Gusto daw nila, may kasamang cadets. Tawag ng cadets si Franklin, may babae pa. O, dalian na natin ang posing, naghihintay na ang parents ng mga iyan!

Nag-announce ng open house until 12:45 p.m. Hindi pala sila interesado. Tena, Pinky! Sa Ifugao Lodge ko kayo ipasusundo, sabi ni Pat.

O, saang company barracks mo gusto, Pinky? Kahit alin. Sunod na tayo dito sa mga Hawks. Wala kaming anak, puwede bang makisali sa inyo? Biro namin sa sinusundan. Akyat sa nearest barracks. Isa lang ang pupuntahan natin, magkakapareho lang iyan. Sa first room, pasok kami. Sunod yung isang cadet. DY ang nametag. May classmate kaming Francisco Dy. Is this your room? Yes Ma'am. What year are you? I am a turned back, Ma'am. What is that? If you fail one subject, you have to repeat. Oh, so you are Class 2007? Yes Ma'am. Which is your bed? Yung nasa dulo. May we see your locker? Binuksan. You don't have a computer? Only upperclassmen are allowed to have a computer, it is a privilege, Ma'am. Kodakan muna.

Nagpasukan yung family nung roommate niya. From where are you? Antique. Where is your family, are they coming? No, Ma'am. O, sige, adopted ka na namin.Wala kaming anak. What is your first name? Alfie. Spontaneous burst of song kami ni Pinky. "What's it all about, Alfie? . . ." Tinapos namin yung song.

Aba, binuksan ang locker, may kinuhang envelope sa ilalim ng mga damit. There is only one copy, but he would like us to have his treasured Incorporation issue of The Corps. I was touched. Pina-autograph namin, and I took his pictures while he was addressing the envelope To: Tita Pinky and Tita Anna, the date, and his signature. O sige, babay na.

Lakad na kami to Ifugao Lodge. Nag-consider ng pagsakay sa jeepney, and who was there kundi ang mga pamangkins! Oy, tena kayo sa Lodge at kunin na ninyo si Harry Potter5. Lakad kami. Kaso, nowhere to be seen ang book sa Lodge! Bigo na naman sila.

Sama na kayo sa amin papunta sa lunch, yaya nina Arlette. Sakay kami ni Pinky. Right daw sa aviary. Walang right dun sa aviary exactly. Nag-right sa gawing unahan pa, at naligaw. Balik, ikot uli. Tawag kay Pat. Asos. E turn left pala dapat dun sa aviary. Akyat sa picnic grounds and up to the Superintendent'as Quarters dun sa ituktok.

Wow, sarap ng lunch! Sinigang na tiyan ng isda, kare-kare, kamayan salad, inihaw na isda, hipon, manok, at ano pa nga ba?

Dala pala ni Felix si Harry Potter5 dun sa ituktok. Talaga naman.

Nung marinig ni Pat ang kuwento ng aming adopted cadet, dapat daw inimbita namin sa lunch. Pero hindi bale at iimbitahin na lang sa dinner. Sabi nga raw ni Franklin, dapat yung cadets na walang visiting families ay imbitahin.

Pagkatapos kumain, nag-singing and dancing. Chips and salsa, lanzones and rambutan naman ang binanatan.

Nandun pala kami sa location nung tanaw sa malayo na big letters PMA. Nasira ng bagyo yung M. Pagbasa ng plaque, uy o, Sup. Rufo de Veyra. Pinsan ni Mila de Veyra Astorga Garcia, sabi ni Pinky. 48th Superintendent of PMA.

Darating daw si Franklin, hahabol. Nag-delay na lang ng check-in yung pupunta sa Baguio Country Club (except Wilma who needed to sleep, na sinamahan na ni Ella). Eto na po si Commo in his white uniform. Oy, pose tayo. Kodakan again.

Naglabas ng mga bote. Ayun, e di iniwan namin ang inuman boys.

Ang plano, check-in, tapos shopping sa Good Shepherd and Mines View. Biglang nabago in transit. Dumerecho sa Good Shepherd, tapos sa Mines View. Kaya nakapamewang sa inis si Ella sa Cottage 103 nang dumating kami. Naghintay pala na daanan siya! Kaya siguro to cool off, siya ang nag-tour sa akin sa Baguio Country Club. Ang ganda talaga dun!

Dun na kami nanggaling to go to the dinner at the Superintendent's Quarters again.

Ipinasundo daw ni ASUP yung adopted cadet namin ni Pinky, pero isinama ng kaklase sa labas. Di bale. Basta enjoy naman yung bata.

Masaganang hapunan. Ang sarap nung pasta. May fresh greens salad, mechado, ano na nga yung iba?

Dun kami nakiumpok ni Pinky kina Ria, Arlette, Andy and Len. Kaya pala nawala si Arlette, naligo dun sa huge bathroom ng quarters.

Malakas ang tawanan dun sa table ng boys, na sinalihan na rin ng girls.Nadinig ko uli si Miss Remember the 'R' ni Wilma nung lumapit ako para mag-request ng hatid to the Naval Base.

Photo op daw muna sa office ni Franklin. Ayun, punta kaming lahat sa headquarters. Browse muna sa Hall of Valor. Then to the one star room of Franklin. Siempre, naupo ako sa table ni Commo at nag-pose na Comma! Si Commo ang photographer ko. Marami kaming group pictures doon. Nangalay si Dennis sa pagladlad nung flag ni Franklin.Binigyan kami ng publications to read.

Uwian na. Kay Arlette kami sumakay, che-check-in sila sa Naval Base. Sila Dennis at Felix, alsa balutan naman to Cottage 103. Habol ni Christine: breakfast daw sa Cottage 103. Di ako nag-oo, dahil silent drill ang pangarap ko for the next day.

Nag-kuwentuhan at kumain pa kami nina Arlette ng raisin bread saka ube jam sa round table ng aming dining room. Maaga kinabukasan ang plano nilang alis.

Nagkuwentuhan pa kami ni Pinky sa aming room bago natulog.

PMA Silent Drill Day: September 7, 2003

Gigising ako nang natural, but in time for the silent drill, iyan ang resolve ko for Sep 7.

Nagising ako ng di ko maintindihang ingay.Na tumigil din, kaya nag-snooze ako. Eto na naman. What is that racket? Pinky, ano bang alarm yang sinusian mo? Ang ingay! Ang lakas ng tawa namin ni Pinky. Bangon na. Silip sa bintana. Sus, yung helicopter pala. Nag-landing, and now, about to take off. Sinundo siguro si Vice Admiral de Leon!

Ang pamilya Umali, paalis na pala. Iniwan sa amin yung raisin bread saka ube. Ang adobo, Ana B? Kinuha ko. Bumili naman siya ng kape sa katabing tindahan. Masaganang almusal na kami.

Tawag ang Wilma. Breakfast daw. Kagigising pa lang namin.

O, Pinky, buti pa pasundo tayo at bitbitin na natin ang lahat ng gamit natin para di na pabalik-balik dito. (Ang alam namin, uuwi na kami that night.) Okay sa kanya

Nag-text ako kay Pat at 8:30 am requesting sundo in time for the Silent Drill at 10 am. Tapos, ligo at ligpit kami ni Pinky. He, he, he, apat yung bathrooms, dalawa na lang kami.

Nung ilabas ko sa salas ang bags ko, siyang dating ng sundo ni Joel. Ayos! Nag-check out kami. May idinaang pagkain sa Cotttage 103. Discouraging pa ang comments ng boys. Yung silent drill ay tulad rin daw ng parada kahapon, wala nga lang sound. Ngek! Basta. Matagal ko nang pangarap yang silent drill na iyan.

Joel, derecho mo na kaming ibaba sa Parade Grounds, ha? Yung bags pakituloy mo na sa Ifugao Lodge. Thanks.

Eksaktong alas diyes kami dumating. Ay , bakit deserted yung grounds? Baka daw wala. Hindi a, sabi ni Franklin 10 oclock. Nagtanong sa nakasalubong na cadet. Excuse me Sir, will there be a silent drill? Yes, at 1000 hrs.

Puesto na sa grandstand. Tinanong yung babaeng officer-in-charge. Bernadette yung name kaya tinatawag ni Pinky ng Addette. Major pala siya. We asked if we can bring our seats down, akala pala tinatanong namin if we can sit dun sa blue seats way down. Sila daw ang uupo dun. Stay where we are kami.

Pinky, ayan na yung band. Bakit? Akala ko ba silent? Tanong sa cadet. Silent pala, meaning no commands. Pumuesto na yung two platoons. Bakit naka-gray pants yung isang platoon? For distinction daw, sabi nung cadet na sila daw ang nagturo ng silent drill dun sa Class 2006.

Oo nga naman. Ganda tingnan nung interplay of gray and white as they move. Teka, puwede bang pumalakpak?

Kilig na kilig kami ni Pinky!Yung pasahan ng rifles. Pinapaputok pa nga! Yung concentric circles formation. At lalo na yung heart formation nila. Iniwan ang mga caps in the heart shape on the grounds, tapos binalikan at isinuot uli, after sending flying kisses to the crowd.

Ang ganda pati nung annotation! We will congratulate the writer, declared Pinky.

Joint effort pala ng Class 2006 yung annotation, we found out after the drill.

We got to go. Closed yung restrooms nearby, dun daw kami sa canteen pumunta. Nadaanan yung Mess Hall, door slightly open. Sumilip, and the rest is history. Kumpleto ang research sa cadet feeding, may trip to the kitchen pa. I did not dare ask if we can take pictures, at baka mabolilyaso pa.

On to the canteen for the deferred trip. We got sandwiches and drinks to go. Naupo sa stairs ng building opposite the mess hall. Nakipag-kuwentuhan sa mga Nanay ng cadets. They are waiting to take pictures of their children marching to the mess hall.

Isang taon palang di makauuwi yung plebe! Sabi nga nung Cebuanang Nanay ng isang female plebe, umiyak daw yung anak niya at ang sabi ay miss na niya ang mga kapatid, bakit hindi isinama nung Nanay? Ipinangako na lang niyang dadalhin sa Pasko. Napanood daw nila yung final initiation early that morning, sus paikot-ikot ng martsa at pagulong-gulong daw sa putik yung mga plebes, nakakaawa.

Lakad kami ni Pinky. Maraming kaming nadaanang families eating in their vehicles. Tuwang-tuwa kami dun sa isang truck na may hammock pa! May little kid in full ranger camouflage uniform, future soldier?

Kumakain si Joel nang dumating kami sa Ifugao Lodge. Nanood din daw siya ng Silent Drill. Binalikan niya raw kami, kaso, di niya kami nakita kasi nandoon kami sa Mess Hall.

Text ni Pat, pahatid kami kay Joel sa Baguio Country Club. Sa Cottage 103 kami bumaba. The lawyers were cross-examining Loida. Ipinagtabuyan kami sa Club. Gusto ko pa naman yung danggit with sinangag na lunch nila, pero pinalayas talaga kami. For the boys daw iyon. Humirit pa ako ng "Boy ako!" E si Pinky daw, hindi.

Dun kami nag-lunch sa Club. Dalawang round tables kaming pinagtabi. Sali si Pinky dun sa selections ng other table. Sa table namin, I had pizza, the Mangonons had soup, salad and pancit. Naakit ng pancit yung kabilang table, ipinagpapalit yung lumpia at sinigang nila.

Dun sa lunch rin namin nalaman na iba na pala ang plano. Kinabukasan na uuwi. At na-assign na kami kung kanino makikisakay, kasi hindi bababa yung sinakyan namin paakyat. (Bagong service vehicle iyon ni Franklin.)Naka! Nag-check-out na kami! Dun daw matutulog sa salas ng Ifugao Lodge. Uuwi na lang ako sa sister ko sa Pacdal. Si Pinky, sasabay daw kina Ria pababa that night. Settled.

After lunch, balik sa Cottage 103. Tapos na ang for the boys. What next? Trip down memory lane daw sa Session Road. Nakisabay lang ako sa kanilang car, bumaba na sa Pacdal Circle.

Pagdating ko sa bahay ng sister ko, higa agad. Hindi na nakausap ang inabutan ko ng Harry Potter5. Nagluto na ng hapunan ang sister ko. A thick fog enveloped the area, ang ginaw! They gave me their warmest blanket, sarap mamaluktot! We had an early dinner at 6 pm. Tsismisan kami ng sister ko. (Nagpunta sa wake ang brother-in-law ko.)

Naka-output ako ng toxins of the weekend bago natulog, salamat nang marami.

Sometime during the night, hinubad ko na rin ang sweater na suot ko. Sumobra ang pananggalang sa lamig. Ang sarap talagang matulog sa Baguio!

Wilma's Birthday Celebration: September 8, 2003

I slept overnight at my sister's place in Pacdal on Sep 7 to deliver the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix book na hinihintay ng mga pamangkin ko. So iba ang magkukuwento ng midnight asalto ng grupo kay Wilma.

Maaga kami gumising, naligo at nag-breakfast. For Wilma's birthday, pumitas ng anthuriums at mistle toe ang sister ko sa kanyang garden. With the kids ready for school (in uniform and with their schoolbags and baon) we took a cab to the Baguio Country Club.

Nakatayo sa labas ng Cottage 103 si Ed at si Ben. Nakasilip si Wilma sa window ng bedroom.

Dala ko na ang birthday choir, I announced. Tuloy-tuloy sa loob. Kinantahan si Wilma ng Happy Birthday. Kissed her under the mistle toe, uy, parang Pasko.

Naglakad-lakad kami ng kapatid ko at mga pamangkin (noon lang nakalibot sa exclusive Baguio Country Club) at siempre nag-kodakan.

At exactly 7 am, they brought me back to the cottage dahil papasok na sila sa school.

Profound ang pre-breakfast discussions. Sharing ni Felix this time.

At mas profound ang during breakfast discussions. Na-recall yung pagtakas kay Mr. Rubio nung PMT competitions. Yung panonood ng sine plus the big popcorn pack c/o Wilma's Dad. Saka yung pagsundo ni Christine sa barkada all over AS para maglakwatsa. Yung pagka-founding member ni Wilma ng KM. Yung mga rallies na sinalihan.

Ang visualization of the future. Girlie aimed at marrying either a doctor or a lawyer (yung titulado, para secure ang future.) Ruth did not like to read books with jungle settings. Dapat yung mga cosmopolitan lifestyles lagi, sa New York, Paris etc.

Ang pagiging parents and the lifetime responsibilities. Ang pagsusulit ng buhay sa Diyos pag dumating ang tawag Niya.

Sangkatutak ang messages and calls ni Wilma, siempre, Miss Friendship kasi.

Sarap ng breakfast. Sinangag, pink salmon, bacon, corned beef, danggit, Spanish sardines, pandesal, Mrs D. products, and Wilma's birthday cake, almond encrusted sanz rival, coffee or tea with lemonada. (Earlier I had a spartan omelet and hotdogs with fried rice and Nido sa sister ko.)

When everybody was ready, and the golfers have gone to the course, we went shopping sa Good Shepherd, Mines View Park, and at Camp John Hay.

Pinakamatagal dun sa outlet ng export overruns sa Camp John Hay near the Manor. Which was just fine, because sa Dencio's ang lunch.

Sarap! Sisig, calderetang kambing (na hindi dumating), bulalo soup, pinakbet, inihaw na tuna belly, assorted inihaw in bilao, adobong kangkong, pancit, plain rice. We gave a pancit toast to Wilma, and a kangkong toast, too. Maryosep, natutulog sa pancitan, pupulutin sa kangkungan!

Si Ed ang nanalo sa golf. Panalo lahat sa gulp.Ayaw pasabi ng pinilit na taya kung sino ang nag-blow-out sa birthday ni Wilma sa Dencio's.

Balik sa Cottage 103 for loading and leaving. Pat distributed PMA T-shirts to everybody. Ang gaganda ng colors and designs!

Convoy ang 3 cars starting at 3 pm. Dennis and I rode with Ben and Girlie. Si Loida, Christine and Felix ang passengers nina Ric and Ruth. Si Ella ang passenger ni Ed and Wilma.

Sa Hacienda Luisita dapat ang stop, kaso we had to go, so lumiko sandali sa Shell in Tarlac City bago tumuloy sa Max's.

Masaganang hapunan sa Max's. Ang toast to Wilma ay iced tea at least.

We were in ABS-CBN at 10 pm.