It was a moment of double celebration at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) on Saturday for two newly commissioned officers from the ‘Siklab-Laya’ Class of 2025, who will soon walk down the aisle after marching the long gray line.
Minutes after attending their graduation rites, Second Lieutenant Ferdenan Rees Macalay, 23, surprised everyone by pulling off a marriage proposal to his girlfriend and fellow graduate, Second Lieutenant Remedios Racma Briones Lopez, 22. She said ‘yes.’
The young lovers—both from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan—have been in a relationship since their sophomore year at the PMA, according to a Facebook post published by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Cordillera on May 17.
Macalay said he wanted to propose on the most important day of their lives before they each embark on a lifetime of public service. The two have relied on each other for support during their PMA journey, having developed a deep friendship that blossomed into love.
The couple reportedly plans to marry in three to five years after fulfilling their first missions for the military.