Modesto Farolan News Today

Over the weekend, the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association marked its annual general meeting and homecoming with a parade and review at Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City. Last Friday, General Rowen Tolentino delivered his first report as PMA Superintendent to the alumni gathered at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center.

“Billie Mary” was her given name but when classmates would tease her because they considered it more of a boy’s name, her father decided to call her “Betty.” And for the rest of her life, she was Betty to all except perhaps to her Ama (Chinese yaya) who called her number one, since she was the eldest in the family.

Two events 25 years ago make 1997 an especially memorable time for me. One could say that both were affairs of the heart.

Today the nation marks the 124th anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence, making it the first Republic in Asia.