CANBERRA, Australia – Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega attended the General Commission Course Graduation Parade at the Royal Military College-Duntroon today, 11 December 2018. Among the graduates is Filipino cadet CPL Philip Calago of Zamboanga del Norte, who placed second among ten (10) international cadets in his batch of 153 graduates. He also joins an illustrious group of twenty-six (26) Filipino cadets who have graduated from the Royal Military College since it was founded in 1911.

(L-R) First Secretary Jim B. San Agustin, CPL Philip Calago, H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, and Col. Dennis Gammad, Defence and Armed Forces Attache.

The Reviewing Officer for the Graduation Parade was Governor General Peter Cosgrove, who paid tribute to the graduates of the Military College, from which he himself graduated in 1968.

Ambassador De La Vega personally congratulated CPL Calago and remarked that his exemplary academic performance and invaluable experience as an international cadet will serve him in good stead as he goes up the ranks in the Philippine Army, which CPL Calago is set to join as a Second Lieutenant next year.

Ambassador Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega with Brigadier Rupert Hoskin, the Commandant of the Royal Military College of Australia.

The Royal Military College of Australia graduating class of 2018