PMA honor graduate from Cadiz City outranks father in military service

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Mark Clement Centina, 24, wanted to become a lawyer. On Saturday, May 16, the young man from Cadiz City graduated, with honors — but from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Not only did he rank 10th among 207 cadets of the PMA Talang Dangal (Tagapagtanggol Ng Lahing Dakila at Marangal) Class of 2026, he now outranks his father Cromwell in the military service.

Raised in Barangay Burgos, Cadet First Class Mark is the older of two siblings. He is a graduate of Negros Occidental Science High School. His mother worked as a sugarcane technician. His father, a retired soldier, served for 27 years as a sergeant assigned to the 3rd Civil-Military Operations Battalion, based in Leganes, Iloilo.

The elder Centina said he never expected one of his sons to follow in his footsteps in military service.

“He took the PMA exams twice. He failed on his first try and said he would rather become a lawyer,” Cromwell told Rappler on Tuesday, May 19. “When he tried for the second time and passed, that was when he decided to enter PMA.”

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Mark previously studied economics at the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas to prepare for law school. In 2022, two years before finishing college, he decided to enter the military academy.

Mark said he never felt pressured to pursue a military career, despite growing up under the discipline his parents instilled in him.

He said he was overwhelmed after learning he ranked among the top 10 of the graduating class, saying the recognition “reflected the struggles and sacrifices” their family endured.

“It’s just a bonus that I made it into the top 10. The most important thing is to graduate,” he said.

The younger Centina now technically outranks his father.

“He may outrank me, but it seems that his rank is also my rank,” Cromwell said. “I am so happy for my son that he was blessed and survived the training in the PMA, knowing how difficult it is inside.”

Cromwell said he was particularly worried about his son during the difficult transition from civilian to military life in the academy’s early years, as he understood the hardships of military training firsthand.

“But I trusted him, because when he sets his eyes on something, he would pursue it to the end,” he said.

Nearly giving up

Before entering the PMA, Mark said he struggled with the thought of leaving his family for years and facing the uncertainties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. But he eventually saw military service as “a calling.”

Mark said he nearly gave up because of the academy’s rigorous training, especially during his second year, when he had to balance academics, military duties, leadership responsibilities, and physical demands.

Despite the hardships, support from his family, classmates, and his faith kept him going.

“The thought will really come of wanting to quit, or you will somehow give up, but with all the strong support system, with the help of my mistah as well, and with God’s grace and guidance, I’m happy that I was able to overcome those challenges,” he told Rappler.

Mark Centina will join the Philippine Army, saying he chose the service branch because it will allow him to work closest to communities on the ground. – Rappler.com