Cordillera - Eight sons and daughters of Cordillera had participated in the
Philippine Air Force Military Pilot Training Class 2023A that was held
on 27 March 2023, at the Philippine Air Force Flying School in Fernando Air
Base, Lipa City, Batangas.
The new military pilots who hail from Cordilleran region were identified
as
1LT CLAYDE THOR N. AGNAYA PAF - Tabuk City, Kalinga
2LT JEPESON A. DAPPAY PAF - Tinglayan, Kalinga
2LT EMERSON D. BANGGUIYAC PAF - Tanudan, Kalinga
2LT GIMALYN W GOLWINGON PAF - Tanudan, Kalinga
1LT JAINYTHE T. LAYONG PAF - Sabangan, Mt. Province
1LT JOVIN CLINE V DICANG PAF - La Trinidad, Benguet
2LT EDMAR N RUMILAN PAF - Itogon, Benguet
2LT JEB B BAY-AN PAF - Kabayan, Benguet
The Philippine Air Force Flying School of the Air Education, Training and
Doctrine Command (AETDC) held the Graduation Ceremony for the Military Pilot
Training "Wings of Tenacity" Class 2023A at Fernando Air Base, Lipa City,
Batangas on March 27, 2023. The ceremony was graced by LTGEN STEPHEN P
PARREÑO PAF, Commanding General, PAF as the Guest of Honor.
After over two (2) years of rigorous training, the 60 strong members of the
MPT Class 2023A can now proudly call themselves certified military pilots.
This addition to the long line of military aviators, will undoubtedly
bolster the PAF's impressive fleet of highly skilled and honed pilots.
In his remarks, the CG, PAF expressed his profound gratitude and
congratulations to the new graduates and reminded them that more than being
a pilot, they should be Aviation Leaders who know their purpose, excel, and
care for others.
Cordillera - A proud Igorota from the town of Sagada, Mountain Province is
one of the successful graduate of the Philippine Airforce (PAF) Military
Training Class of 2019.
P2Lt. Lei Vanette Alangui, a registered nurse is now a certified military
pilot of the elite branch of the Philippine army after finishing rigorous
15-months of training.
Alangui is a proud Igorota from the Aplai tribe in Sagada.
Photo Courtesy || P2Lt. Lei Vanette Alangui
In 2014, she participated in the Department of Science and Technology's
Central Luzon Health and Research Development Consortium where she won the
poster place and oral presentation on the determination of the Anti Angionic
Activity of While Angel.
Cordilllera - Lt. Leonardo G. Visaya Jr. was among the 8 Cordillerans who
graduated the Military Pilot Training of the Philippine Armed Forces Most
Elite Flying School.
A proud Cordilleran who traces his roots from Pinukpuk, Kalinga, Visaya
told how he transitioned from being a Math teacher of the Department of
Education to a military pilot of the AFP.
"Everytime I look back to where I was before, I’m still in awe to what
had become of me now. Imagine, a person who never dreamed to become a
soldier had just graduated from the most elite schooling in the Philippine
Air Force – the Military Pilot Training. Perhaps, what Jeremiah said in
his book truly is a manifestation of the great power of the Lord for those
who believe in Him – that God has plans for us, plans of prosperity and of
a great future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
I was a high school Math teacher before my unplanned entry to the
military service. A good math teacher loved by his students. Hehe. And in
all honesty it never came to me the idea of leaving my beloved profession
for the life of soldiery. Never. Not once.
But change is inevitable and it has come. It was 2016. We attended the
graduation of our high school batch mate in the Philippine National Police
Academy – our batchmate was Top 3 of his class. When we had the time to
exchange conversation, he encouraged me to enter the uniformed service
through the Officer Candidate Course in the Philippine Air Force. First, I
did not consider it because I was already in a stable job as a public
school teacher in Tabuk City National High Shool. Yet when we went back to
Kalinga I made a turnaround decision, accepted the challenge and took the
qualifying test as a walk-in examinee at TOG 2, Cauayan City. Well, I am
thrilled in the idea of taking examinations. Hehe.
Later on May of 2016, the result was published and out the examinees in
TOG 2, I was one of the 2 who passed the examinations. The next challenge
was to hurdle the Physical Fitness Test – push ups, sit ups and a 3.2 Km
run. Honestly, I cannot even do twenty repetitions of sit ups during those
times but again I challenged myself. It was the 1st of June. While the
school was having its Brigada Eskwela Program in preparation for the Class
opening, I went to Clark Air Base to have my PFT. During D-day, I was
already exhausted after tangent score in the push ups and sit ups and when
we had the run, I almost surrendered seeing female runners ahead of me.
Nonetheless, I finished the 3.2 Km run almost out of breath but within the
passing time. Later that day, they announced the name of those who will
continue to the next phase of selection.
June 2016. A big crossroad. Huge dilemmas. The processing for the medical
examination was scheduled at the beginning of classes in the school. It
was the time I was really in deep thoughts whether to pursue what I
started or stop it right there. Added to the challenge was that I had to
report to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City for the medical in undetermined
dates. I remember having my class in a Monday, board the bus in the
evening and the next day in Air Force General Hospital for a laboratory
test. Afterwards if there were no scheduled medical tests, I had to go
back to Kalinga immediately so as not to neglect my classes in the school.
I was very lucky and blessed I had a very understanding principal that
time and will always remember what she told me that I’m still young and
she will support my decision to enter the military adding that I can
always go back to teaching anytime I want as being a teacher does not
require age limit compared to the uniformed service. That’s how I
processed my medical, “lagari” between Kalinga and Manila. I passed the
medical with negative findings. Later in the middle of July 2016 I faced
the board interview for the final phase of the selection and after
interview had sealed the processing stage. Last week of July 2016, I
received a text message that I made it to PAFOCS and immediately I filed
my resignation letter.
01 August 2016. I turned back from my civilian life and took oath as a
military man in a reception ceremony I will never forget. I almost run to
the gates of Fernando Air Base to escape from that unprecedented
indescribable moment yet I was too exhausted to do it. Beast barracks was
hell that I opted to resign from the training but the insistence of my
upperclass was a key factor I was not able to leave. Civilian life was
very different from the arduousness of training – uncomfortable, far from
family and almost no freedom. Yet in the turn of events I managed to adopt
to the difficult environment, survived the rigors of training and slowly
adjusted to the military routine. On the 10th of November 2017 and after
15 months of training, I graduated from the Philippine Air Force Officer
Candidate School (PAFOCS) as the Class Number 1.
While inside PAFOCS, I already knew that I can no longer qualify to
become a military pilot because of age limit. And honestly, I never knew
beforehand that there’s a pilot career after PAFOCS. I just knew that I’ll
be commissioned as a second lieutenant after the training. That’s why I
aligned myself to other specialization in the Air Force and subsequently
after a certain schooling was assigned as an intel officer in
Cebu.
Mid of year 2018 was turning point. My name was in a list of qualified
officers to take the Military Pilot Aptitude Test. Later I found out that
the age limit was adjusted and putting me into the roster of probable
officers for pilot training. I passed the written exams, cleared in the
medical and hurdled the board interview. In March 2019, the order for the
composition of Military Pilot Training Class 2020 came out and in God’s
another miracle, my name was on the list. We reported to the Philippine
Air Force Flying School on the same month and started the most difficult
training in the Philippine Air Force both physically and mentally. There
were gargantuan challenges in this new journey especially on the soloing
phase yet what God had planned and prepared will always be the best route
to follow. Our class also had faced many ups and downs from Taal eruption,
COVID pandemic to numerous typhoons yet we finished the race safe and
victorious. And on this day, the 9th of November 2020, just a day before
celebrating my third year as an officer in the Philippine Air Force, I am
adding another achievement which is not my own but among the many plans
God had prepared for me. Graduating as military pilot was already enough
yet God put a twist and He made me the Class Number 1. Truly, God’s
mysteries in my life are testimonies of how He turns impossibilities into
great realities. His words in Jeremiah 29:11 for his ultimate plans in our
lives, to give us hope and a future, are words that are proofs of His
unquestionable promises for us.
My military journey is an unexpected turn of events, unplanned and not in
the schedule. I never dreamed to be a soldier, moreso to become a military
pilot. However, God really works in mysterious ways and it was His
ultimate plan to transform the simple Math Teacher into a Military
Aviator.
I dedicate this achievement to my family, the source of all inspiration
in hurdling one of the most difficult trainings in the Air Force and
perhaps the most fulfilling one. There is nothing more I could ask for but
to be forever grateful to God Almighty for bringing me in this journey, a
journey that I will fulfil for the country and for God’s greatest honor.
THANKS G." - Lt. Leonardo G. Visaya Jr. - PAF PAFOCS CL 2017
Cordillera - A proud Cordilleran from Pinukpuk, Kalinga has received
the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Commanding General's Medal Awardee (MPT Class
2020 TOP 1) of this year's graduating class.
2LT Leonardo G Visaya Jr. PAF PAFOCS CL 2017 has obtained the award for
having the highest overall rating in the conduct of the Military Pilot
Training in the PAF Flying School.
2LT Visaya used to be a Math teacher at the Department of Education
(DepEd) and transitioned to become a pilot of the Philippine Air
Force.
"I was a high school Math teacher before my unplanned entry to the military
service. A good Math teacher loved by his students. In all honesty it never
came to me the idea of leaving my beloved profession for the life of
soldiery," Visaya said.
It was his batch mate in the PNPA who encouraged him to enter the
uniformed service through the Officer Candidate Course in the Philippine Air
Force.
He was hesitant at first but he later took several exams that led him to join the Philippine Air Force Flying School in March 2019.
"My military journey is an unexpected turn of events, unplanned and not in
the schedule. I never dreamed to be a soldier, moreso to become a military
pilot. However, God really works in mysterious ways and it was His ultimate
plan to transform the simple Math Teacher into a Military Aviator" Visaya
wrote.
Photo Courtesy || 2LT Leonardo Visaya Jr
The Philippine Air Force Flying School is the "Air Force Academy of
the Philippines". Located at the pine-tree cladded Fernando Air Base in Lipa
City Batangas province. It is also the home of the 100th Training Wing, the
unit responsible in training all future Philippine Air Force personnel,
officers and enlisted men alike.
Unlike the PMA, the PAFFS is composed of two types of student body. The
student/officers and the Corps of Aviation Cadets. All "top gun" dreamers.
Cordillera - The country's most elite flying school will be conducting a
graduation ceremony this week.
Eight sons and daughters of Cordillera from "WINGS OF RESILIENCE" CLASS
2020 Military Pilot Training of the Philippine Air Force Flying School will
be participating in the said graduation.
These are the new Military Pilots from Cordillera:
1LT Pauline Marie S Waytan FAF PMA CL 2015 - Lubuagan, Kalinga
2LT Leonardo G Visaya Jr. PAF PAFOCS CL 2017 - Pinukpuk, Kalinga
