Urdaneta City bids farewell to fallen pilot who inspired his village
URDANETA CITY, PANGASINAN, Philippines — He dreamed of bringing his family together under one roof and inspiring young people in his village. But Capt. Raymart Cabangcala came home not to fulfill those dreams, but to be laid to rest.
A helicopter carrying the remains of the 30-year-old Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilot landed at Urdaneta National High School oval on Oct. 30. His mother, Myrna, and sisters Mayross and Mayann accompanied his final journey home.
Cabangcala was among four PAF pilots killed when two Aermacchi SF-260 trainer aircraft collided midair during a training flight on Oct 23. The other three were Maj. David Joshua Rojo, Capt. Ma. Melvin Acebuque and 1st Lt. Angeleo Adrian Peñaflor.
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For the residents of Catablan, an agricultural village in Urdaneta, Cabangcala was their pride—the first resident to graduate from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
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READ: 4 PAF pilots killed in Batangas crash
He had excelled in school, graduating as valedictorian from Catablan Integrated School before earning a bachelor’s degree in education, cum laude, from Panpacific University North Philippines. He entered the PMA in 2016.
Devoted son
Beyond his achievements, however, Cabangcala was remembered as a devoted son, loving brother and generous neighbor.
READ: Remains of fallen Air Force pilot back home in Urdaneta
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His sister Mayrenn recalled that the night before the crash, he was chatting online with their family, showing off his new phone. Despite their distance, he made time to connect with his mother and three sisters, who live in France, Albania and Baguio City.
Cabangcala also dreamed of building a family compound in Catablan where his siblings could live close together.
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He was scheduled to be buried tomorrow at Forest Lake Memorial Park in Barangay Pinmaludpod, according to his immediate family. /cb
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