"To instruct, train and develop the cadets so that each graduate shall possess the character, the broad and basic military skills, and the education essential to the successful pursuit of a progressive military career."
"A World-Class Armed Forces and a Source of National Pride."
"Honor, Service, Patriotism"
"PMA adopts a holistic view of man as body, soul, and spirit. PMA believes that future leaders can be selected, formed, and developed to their fullest potentials."
The Philippine Military Academy traces its roots from the establishment of the Academia Militar in Malolos, Bulacan on October 25, 1898 by virtue of a decree issued by the first president of the young Philippine Republic, General Emilio Aguinaldo. Its existence was short-lived, barely four months old, up to 20 January 1899, when hostilities between the Americans and Filipinos erupted.
While the Philippines was under American colonial rule, an officer's school of the Philippine
Constabulary was established at the Walled City of Intramuros in Manila on February 17, 1905.
It relocated three years later to Baguio City, initially at Camp Henry T. Allen, and subsequently
at Teacher's Camp.
The Philippine Legislature on September 8, 1926 passed Act No. 3496 renaming the school the
Philippine Constabulary Academy and lengthened its course from nine months to three years
with provisions to strengthen the faculty and revise its curriculum.
On December 21, 1936, Commonwealth Act No. 1 (National Defense Act) was passed.
The law formally created the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and authorized it to confer a
Bachelor of Science degree on its graduates after they complete the four-year course.
The outbreak of World War II in late 1941 disrupted training at the Academy. Classes 1942 and
1943
were graduated ahead of
schedule, assigned to combat units in various parts of the Philippines. Many perished during
the
war.
The Philippine Military Academy reopened on May 5, 1947 again at its former
location in
the
Summer Capital, Camp Henry T.
Allen.
Due to the need for wider grounds, the Academy moved to its present site at Fort
Gregorio
del
Pilar, a sprawling
373-hectare compound in Loakan, some 10 kilometers from downtown Baguio City. Named after
the
young
hero of the battle of
Tirad Pass, General Gregorio del Pilar, PMA in its new location was developed into a
military
training institution with
facilities and infrastructure required by a growing academy.
Its pre-war technically-oriented curriculum, patterned after that of the US Military Academy
at
West
Point, was restored.
Socio-humanistic courses were added In the 1960s, as the curriculum underwent major changes,
and
strengthened to balance
the techno-scientific disciplines, with a view towards providing a well-rounded education
relevant
to the needs of a
growing Armed Forces of the Philippines.
In 1993, PMA was transformed into a 'Tri-Service Academy', which introduced
specialized,
branch-of-service-specific
courses in the last two years of training, preparing fresh PMA graduates for their specific
branch
of service, for the
graduates to be 'field-ready', 'fleet-ready' or 'squadron-ready' upon graduation. Also that
same
year, in accordance with
Republic Act 7192, the first female cadets were admitted into the Philippine Military
Academy.