The Philippine Army welcomed 552 incoming platoon leaders from Officer Candidate Course “GUNDAWAY” Class 64-2026 and OCC-ROTC “TALAGILAB” Class 03-2026 during a reception dinner with Army Chief Lieutenant General Antonio G. Nafarrete in Capas, Tarlac, on July 2, 2026.
The event gathered the Army’s top officials and the incoming officers in a customary send-off for graduating officer candidates before they formally join the organization’s officer corps.
Members of OCC Class 64 “GUNDAWAY”-2026 and OCC-ROTC “TALAGILAB” Class 03-2026 are set to graduate on July 4, 2026, marking the completion of months of rigorous and holistic training designed to prepare them to lead Army units on the ground.
In his keynote remarks, Nafarrete emphasized the Philippine Army’s continuing transformation into a professional, agile, and capable force across the full spectrum of operations.
He said modern equipment and technology remain only enablers, stressing that the Army’s decisive advantage will always be its people and leaders who are guided by competence, integrity, moral courage, and unwavering adherence to the Constitution.
“As you receive your commissions, remember that your authority is accompanied by accountability. The rank that you will wear is not simply a mark of achievement; it is a solemn covenant with the nation, a commitment to lead with courage, serve with honor, and place the mission and the welfare of your soldiers above personal interest,” the Army Chief remarked.
The Philippine Army said the traditional reception dinner reflects its efforts to foster camaraderie and ensure that new officers feel part of the organization even before they formally take their oath.