Pure Enthusiasm.
I took the exam in PNPACAT in 2014 to join PNPA CL 2019, and I passed the entrance examination, neuropsychiatric exam, medical exam, physical agility exam, and final interview. But I lack height, so I was disqualified. In 2015, I wholeheartedly took the exam again, and just like the previous time, I passed all phases of the exam, but due to my height, I was again disqualified. In 2016, I took the PNPACAT again to join PNPA CL 2021, and just like in my previous processing, I passed all the exams except for my height. So I was not able to enter for the third time. I was deeply saddened, knowing that I am qualified mentally and physically, but because of an inch lacking, I was not able to enter.
So, I continued my studies while working as an on-call driver and became a graduate of BS CRIMINOLOGY at the University of Manila. I passed the Civil Service Examination (2nd level) and applied for a more formal job as an office clerk at my alma mater. There, I was able to work and review at the same time for the incoming criminologist board exam. I took the professional board exam and passed it.
Then, I applied to be a college professor, teaching major subjects of BS CRIMINOLOGY. I then realized that teaching is not just a job but a commitment to helping others. Those students, just like me, have their dreams. Being a teacher is a rare chance to guide, influence, and impart knowledge. It gives me joy when I see them striving for their own greatness and reaching their dreams. Knowing that all my effort will touch their lives forever, for the first time, I did not look at my payslip or how low or how well I'm paid; what matters for me is to help those youth who also struggle in life reach their dreams. And that became my commitment, something that I hold to when I question my position.
The University granted me a scholarship to take up a Masters in Criminal Justice, which was a blessing, so I was able to take my Masters in Criminal Justice for free. Academically, I was nurtured well, but there is still something missing. My dream is to be a police officer. So for the last time, I took the PNPACAT in 2018 to join the PNPA CL 2023. It was just a stone thrown on the bridge, a strike in the fog, a matter of destiny, but nevertheless I took it and was able to join PNPA CL 2023.
The grim struggle
The plebehood period in the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) is considered to be challenging, both physically and mentally. The training program is designed to push cadets to their limits and help them develop the skills and qualities they will need to succeed as police officers.
The physical training is demanding and includes a range of activities such as running, obstacle courses, and other exercises to build strength and endurance. Cadets are expected to maintain a high level of physical fitness, and failure to meet these standards can result in disciplinary action.
The academic training is also intense, covering a wide range of subjects such as law enforcement, criminal investigation, and the use of firearms. Cadets are expected to perform well academically, and are held to a high standard of performance in both written and practical exams.
In addition to the physical and academic demands, cadets are also subjected to a strict code of conduct and military-style discipline. This includes following a strict regimen, following orders, and adhering to strict rules and regulations. The aim of this is to help cadets develop a strong sense of discipline and responsibility, which will be essential for their future careers as police officers.
Plebehood period in the PNPA is challenging, but it is also considered to be one of the most formative and rewarding experiences of a future police officer's career. Cadets who successfully complete the program are considered to be well-prepared for the challenges of serving and protecting the community as a police officer.
A complete nostalgia. During our INCORPORATION RITES in 2019, I was not recognized by my Parents and family, I look completely different before I entered the Academy, the 45-day breaking period was the most extreme period of my life.
Learning to live without fear
I am an Academic Representative of the DELTA Company and a Senior Writer and EIC of the Corps Publication. I learned from the wisdom of experience that a dog can be as fierce as a lion if it roams where the lion roams. As a former Academic Practitioner, I joined the Academic Council to assist my classmates who are struggling with Criminology/Law related subjects, so that they may also pass.
The Corps Publication provided me with an opportunity to refresh my writing skills. During high school, I belonged to a Special Program in Journalism, a pilot section aimed at developing future journalists and writers. I have always believed in the saying that the pen is mightier than the sword [1]. Diplomacy can save lives and money, as Sun Tzu once said, 'who wishes to fight must first count the cost' and "Raising a host of a hundred thousand men and marching them great distances entails heavy loss on the people and a drain on the resources of the state. The daily expenditure will amount to a thousand ounces of silver. There will be commotion at home and abroad, and men will drop down exhausted on the highways. As many as seven hundred thousand families will be impeded in their labor." [2]
The power of Street Knowledge
I was born and raised in the streets of Sta. Cruz, Manila, and Commonwealth, Quezon City. At an early age, I had already realized how difficult life is and that in order to survive and make a living, I had to be a "laman ng kalsada (a street urchin)" since childhood. I have witnessed how people fought their way out of poverty and saw the schemes and practices that made the streets so special to me. Despite being noisy and polluted, the streets were full of life, lights, and dreams. This kid from Quezon City is now a graduating police cadet of the PNPA.
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