29/05/2026
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More than 800 aspiring soldiers and officers from Pangasinan and nearby provinces took the Philippine Armyโs recruitment examinations at the University of Eastern Pangasinan (UEP) from May 25 to 28, 2026, as part of the Armyโs Luzon-wide recruitment campaign.
Applicants underwent the Armed Forces of the Philippines Service Aptitude Test (AFPSAT) and the Army Qualifying Examination (AQE), which serve as pre-entry assessments for military service.
In an interview with The Eastern Rays (TER) on May 27, Major Bala Tamayo, chief of the Army Recruitment Office Luzon under the Recruitment Division of the Personnel Management Center of the Philippine Army, said the activity aimed to make the recruitment process more accessible to applicants in Pangasinan and neighboring areas.
โWe would like to make it as convenient as possible for the best and the brightest here in Pangasinan,โ Tamayo said. โInstead of them traveling all the way to Manila to take the pre-entry examinations, we go to them.โ
According to Tamayo, more than 400 applicants joined the Officer Candidate Course screening, which required examinees to take both the AFPSAT and AQE, while another 400 applicants participated in the Candidate Soldier Course screening.
โThis goes to show the number of people who are willing to volunteer to serve our country, be part of the fight against injustice and insurgency, and, of course, defend our nation,โ he added.
Tamayo explained that the Officer Candidate Course prepares future regular officers of the Philippine Army, while the Candidate Soldier Course trains individuals who will serve as enlisted personnel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He also disclosed that Pangasinan recorded the highest passing rate among areas included in the Philippine Armyโs Luzon recruitment tour, surpassing Bicol, Central Luzon, Northern Luzon, and the Cordillera region. โThis just goes to show the quality of education here in Pangasinan,โ Tamayo said, commending teachers, administrators, and schools for producing competent examinees.
The recruitment campaign, according to Tamayo, has been ongoing since January through online recruitment initiatives, information drives, and job fairs conducted in schools, universities, and local government units across Pangasinan.
He also acknowledged the assistance of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in helping the Philippine Army reach more applicants.
UEP also accommodated applicants from neighboring areas such as La Union and Baguio, which Tamayo described as making the university a โcentral hub of testingโ in Northwestern Luzon.
According to Tamayo, certificates of appreciation and tokens of gratitude were awarded to university administrators led by Dr. Evelyn Abalos-Tomboc, university president, for allowing the use of university facilities during the examinations.
โOur mission will not be complete without the coordination and the help of your administrators,โ he said.
Before concluding the interview, Tamayo reminded aspiring applicants that applying to the Philippine Army is free of charge and warned the public against recruitment scams.
โWala pong bayad pag mag-apply sa army,โ he stressed, urging applicants not to entertain individuals illegally asking for money in exchange for military entry.
Tamayo also emphasized that all applicants are given equal opportunities regardless of personal connections, adding that qualification depends on merit and performance in the examinations.
โYour country deserves the best, your country needs the best, the army needs the best,โ he said.
The recruitment examinations at UEP drew hundreds of applicants from Pangasinan and nearby provinces, reflecting continued interest among young Filipinos in military service. The activity was conducted through the coordination of the Philippine Army, local government agencies, and participating educational institutions.
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