Bottom of the ranks: PMA’s ‘goat’ in Year of the Goat

MANILA, Philippines – 2nd Lt Don John Dominguez gets a unique distinction this year: he graduates as the goat of his class – the last in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) rankings – during the Chinese year of the goat.

Dominguez, who hails from Rodriguez, Rizal, is this year’s No. 172 in the PMA Sinaglahi Class of 2015.

Dominguez was a bit embarrassed at his ranking, and the crowd did not clap too enthusiastically when his name was called on stage during the graduation rites in Baguio City on Sunday, March 15.

“I only learned that I was the goat last week,” he said.

He may be the last in his class, but he holds a special position in the eyes of his mother.

“He is Number One to us,” his mother, a teacher, said. 

Father a retired Marine

Dominguez, who studied Bachelor of Science in Education at St. Joseph College-Rodriguez, said that he returned to the PMA after taking a medical leave in his first year.

He decided to become a military officer because his father, Donato, was a retired Marine soldier who served in Jolo, Mindanao.

It was originally announced that only 171 were set to graduate this year.

Cadet Kelvin Versoza from Labrador, Pangasinan, was given the go-signal to graduate only a day before the rites.

However, cadet Patricio Poblador, who was confined at the Baguio General Hospital due to severe diarrhea, was not called.

As in the past when he was graduation speaker, President Benigno Aquino III chose to walk instead of riding the customary white jeep. 

Wireless microphones were also set on the class baron, brigade commander 2nd Lt. Renato Carino Jr. and his adjutant, so the crowd could hear Carino’s orders, which were repeated by the adjutant.

During the singing of the PMA hymn, however, only Carino’s voice could be heard. – Rappler.com