The Philippine Military Academy has received a new artwork honoring PMA Classes 1944 and 1945, two wartime batches remembered in Academy history as the “Lost Classes.”
The artwork, titled “Altar sa Ilang,” was formally turned over to the PMA Museum at Fort General Gregorio H. del Pilar in Baguio City on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. It was donated by Philippine Navy Reservist JO2 Kristine Soguilon-Lim PN (Res.), who also serves as the Philippine Navy’s Goodwill Ambassador for Culture, Arts, and History.
The piece pays tribute to cadets whose education and military formation were interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War. Many of them were forced to face the uncertainty, suffering, and hardship of life in an occupied homeland instead of completing their cadet years as planned.
In her remarks, Soguilon-Lim described Altar sa Ilang as a visual lamentation, a historical reckoning, and a sacred monument for the young men whose time at the Academy was cut short by war.
Using historical and spiritual imagery, the artwork reflects how the wilderness became a place of trial, sacrifice, faith, and resilience for cadets whose futures were delayed by conflict but whose service remained rooted in patriotism.
PMA said the donation holds significant value for the museum as it offers both an artistic and historical interpretation of one of the Academy’s most solemn chapters.
More than a museum piece, Altar sa Ilang will serve as a medium of remembrance, helping preserve the legacy of the “Lost Classes” while deepening the appreciation of cadets, alumni, and visitors for the sacrifices of earlier generations of PMA men who served the nation.
The artwork will be placed in the Alumni Gallery of the PMA Museum as a tribute to a grateful nation and an Academy that continues to remember its heroes.
The Academy also recognized Soguilon-Lim’s continuing support for efforts to preserve and promote military heritage through the arts.
PMA said her donation highlights the role of cultural expression in keeping history alive and making it more meaningful and accessible to present and future generations.
Through contributions such as this, the Academy said it continues to enrich the historical and educational value of its museum while honoring the memory, sacrifice, and patriotism of the men and women who helped shape PMA’s legacy.