Two Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets, Joshua Willie Ramos and Jhoco Apal, have achieved a historic milestone by graduating from Japan’s National Defense Academy (NDA) on March 22, 2025.
Their success highlighted the strengthening partnership between the Philippines and Japan, as well as their personal resilience in completing one of the world’s most rigorous military education programs.
Ramos and Apal excelled despite difficult challenges such as grueling physical training, harsh winter exercises, and cultural and language barriers. Their determination and dedication, alongside cadets from Japan and other nations, underscore the importance of international military cooperation.
The graduation ceremony, attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and other dignitaries, emphasized the significance of this achievement. In his speech, Prime Minister Ishiba encouraged the graduates to use their experiences to bridge friendships between their home countries and Japan. Rex Espiritu