There are a number of tourist destinations in Baguio City. Three days of stay would be enough to see – and, more importantly, enjoy – all of these tourist spots. There’s a difference between leisurely stroll and hurried sightseeing. So if you don’t have the luxury of time when you travel to Baguio, better prioritize certain places in Baguio. One of those spots, in my opinion, is the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
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- Seal of PMA, Baguio City
The PMA is the training ground of the Philippine military’s corps of officers, just like the West Point in the United States (of course, not all officers of the military and the police come from the PMA). The school was established in 1905 in Intramuros, Manila, but was moved to Baguio City in 1908 (just curious, that also coincides with the centennial celebration of the University of the Philippines). The PMA compound in Baguio City is known as Fort General Gregorio H. del Pilar (also known as the “Hero of Tirad Pass,” Gen. del Pilar served in the Philippine force during the war of liberation against Spain and during the war with the United States of America).
The top honchos of both the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) come from the PMA. There are differences in function between the PNP and the AFP — the PNP is the one referred to in the Constitution as the “one police force, which shall be national in scope and civilian in character”). There’s an issue that the high-ranking officials of PNP should come from the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), not the PMA because of the difference in focus of these two institutions. However, this is an issue that I suppose should be left for some other blogs, not a travel blog like this. Besides, this is information overload.
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- Main gate of PMA, Baguio City
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- Sun dial at PMA, Baguio City
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- Tree house at PMA, Baguio City
There are a number of locations to stop for photo ops inside the PMA compound (website), clustered here based on whether you have to park your car at some parking area to go down.
One major stop in this school for officers (pun intended) is near the PMA Headquarters. There’s a parking lot before the portion of the road that is off-limit to vehicles. In this area you’ll see the Sun Dial and the relief map of the Philippines, located in front of the Headquarter building. Old aircrafts from the Philippine Air Force (PAF), like the Bell UH-1H all-purpose helicopter and the basic trainer Marchetti, are displayed here. There’s a PMA Museum, although I wasn’t able to go in because the souvenir stores at the back beacons. Just beside the parade grounds is the Tree House.
So, when you go to Baguio City, make sure to drop by PMA. You’ll be surprised that it’s a tourist-friendly place even if it’s a serious military establishment.
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GOOD DAY .. SINU PO NAKAKAALAM KUNG KELAN PMA EXAM FOR THIS 2010 !!! KINDLY EMAIL ME AT jjoedador_o1@yahoo.com THANKS IM ADVANCE … -kitakits !!!
hi .. i’m from SAF but is PMA for cadet officer ?or for lower rank?
hi po. klan po ba entrance exam? pls pls reply po. thanks
Nung aug.29 pa po. Hindi nga po ako nakapag take eh! kc ndi ko po nkuha ang card anf form 137
hello. kailan po entrance exam for pma?
hi there..!!
kelan po ba entrance exam ng PMA??
ask ko lng din poh sa mga nkpasa.. if anu dpat reviewhin…tnx..
ox txt me 09053457785..TY
I just want to ask if what are the requirements of being a member like age, height, etc. You may reply at my email add or at cp # 09282840910.Thanks
itatanong ko lang po kung kelan yun exam sa PMA..
syaka ano ano po ba ang dapat e-review para sa exam. kelan din po un pasukan nyo sa PMA. kung maaari lamang po ay e-txt nyo pO ako 09394509007.. SALAMAT PO
ask ko lang po kung ilan ang age limit sa pag kuha ng exam.
gusto ko din pumasok dito
kse mas exciting to kesa sa criminology
kso parang nagtapon ako ng pera sa gnaumpisahan kong course txk..
Kaylan po ang exam
Hi, my group is doing a research about PMA, do you know when did PMA started to open its doors for tourists? As you may know, PMA didn’t really opened as a tourist destination. Thank you.
Hello, I would like to know when is the examination to Philippine military academy(PMA) please kindly email me and please inform me of the age limit…
….pwede po ba magtanong pwede po ba mag inquere sa pma kac gz2 ko lng po mag enquere kac po may balak po ako mag pmpa salamat po.
ano po age limit sa pag pasok sa pma?