Two Filipinos made in history in the world’s foremost military academy. Christy Isis Achanzar became the first Filipina to receive a Bachelor of Science degree from America’s premier military academy, and Mario Feliciano was the highest ranked international cadet ever to graduate from West Point, and finished with honors in engineering management and placed 87th out of a graduating class of 995.
Achanzar bagged a number of awards including the Superintendent’s Achievement Award and the National Society Dames of the Court of Honor Award for excellence in electrical engineering sequence.
They were among 15 foreign cadets of class 2008 whose motto is “No Mission Too Great.â€
After their graduation, Philippine embassy defense attaché, Army Col. Rolando Tenefrancia presented Achanzar and Feliciano their commissions as second lieutenants in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He described the pair as “the best of the best and a credit to the country and the AFP.â€
The graduation ceremony was held at the USMA football field on the banks of the Hudson River under a cloudy sky that gave way to rain before the traditional hat toss.
In addition to Achanzar and Feliciano about 10 Filipino Americans also graduated from West Point including Anthony Bulaclac Jr. of Victorville, California, Daniel Asis of Jersey City, New Jersey and Diana Alquero and Christine Limsiaco, both of Houston, Texas.
Bulaclac was born in Mindanao and moved to California when he was seven years old with his parents, Anthony and Pomben Bulaclac.
Feliciano said his dream is to become AFP chief of staff and president of the Philippines. In contrast Achanzar, who hails from Davao City and is deeply religious, wants to take life one day at a time. GoodnewsPilipinas.com
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