The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduated 207 cadets from its “Talang Dangal” Class of 2026 on Saturday, May 16, in Baguio City, marking the arrival of what the academy describes as its most technologically trained batch as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shifts its focus from internal security to territorial defense and modern warfare.
At Fort Del Pilar’s Fajardo Grandstand, the commander-in-chief, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., led commencement rites for a class shaped as much by artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber concepts as by the academy’s traditional military discipline. The graduating cadets—142 men and 65 women—completed the academy’s long-standing Bachelor of Science in Management major in Security Studies program while also undergoing newly introduced microcredential courses in AI fundamentals, Python programming, data analytics, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems.
The PMA said the class was the first to train under the AFP’s revised branch distribution system aligned with the country’s external security strategy, reflecting growing territorial concerns in the region and the increasing importance of maritime and air defense capabilities. Of the graduates, 76 will join the Philippine Army, 69 the Philippine Navy, and 62 the Philippine Air Force.
The class also became the first at the academy to receive exposure to multi-domain warfare concepts involving cyberspace, cognitive operations, and unmanned systems during their Joint Field Training Exercise, a culminating program designed to simulate integrated operations among the army, navy, and air force. PMA officials described the cadets as “equipped with relevant skills for modern warfare”, underscoring the military’s broader push to modernize officer training in response to a changing security landscape.
Founded in 1905 during the American colonial period, the Philippine Military Academy has long been regarded as the country’s premier training ground for military leadership, producing generations of commanders, defense chiefs, and presidents. But while its traditions remain rooted in drills, endurance training, and battlefield command, the academy has increasingly sought to adapt to the demands of technology-driven conflict.
That shift was evident in the training received by the Class of 2026, which included gamified instruction using electronic simulations to develop tactical decision-making and small-unit strategy. PMA officials said the program could pave the way for future collaboration with the United States Military Academy at West Point through virtual strategic competitions and e-sports-based military learning initiatives.
The graduating class also participated in a series of international engagements that reflected the Philippine military’s expanding security partnerships abroad. Cadets attended the International Forum on Peace, Security, and Prosperity in Palermo, Italy, where the PMA placed ninth out of 32 entries in a research poster competition. Members of the class also joined international sailing regattas in India and Italy and contributed to the academy’s improved performance in the Sandhurst International Military Skills Competition, where PMA teams outperformed several military academies and reserve officer training corps contingents from the United States, Australia, Brazil, and Poland.
The “Talang Dangal” class—short for “Tagapagtanggol ng Lahing Dakila at Marangal” (Defenders of a Great and Noble Race)—emerged from one of the academy’s most competitive selection processes in recent years. PMA data showed that 37,651 applicants sought admission to the class, though only 1,211 passed the entrance examination and just 207 completed the program.
Women made up nearly one-third of the graduating class, continuing the academy’s gradual shift toward greater gender representation in military leadership. Five women ranked among the top 10 graduates. The class also reflected a broad regional mix, with the Cordillera Administrative Region producing the largest number of graduates at 23; followed by CALABARZON with 19; and the National Capital Region, Cagayan Valley, and Bicol Region with 18 each.
Most of the graduates entered the academy after beginning college elsewhere but without completing a degree. PMA records showed 142 cadets were college undergraduates before admission, while 64 entered after senior high school. One graduate had already completed a college degree before joining the academy.
As they marched into military service on Saturday, the cadets carried with them not only the academy’s century-old traditions, but also modern training in artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems that reflects the Philippine military’s changing operational focus.
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