Mistah, A Word of Endearment Among PMA Classmates

Mistahhhhh!  This was the cry of despair of a young lieutenant while he was watching how the MNLF fighters were slowly hacking to death his PMA (Philippine Military Academy) classmate who was tied to a coconut tree a little distance from his line of defense.  Earlier, the latter lieutenant was waylaid and captured by the MNLF while he was en route to reinforce the base of the other lieutenant which was attacked by overwhelming MNLF forces.  Although this scenario was a very realistic one and may have indeed happened, it was just a part of a scene of a movie entitled “Mistah”, a Tagalog film that was shown in Philippine cinema sometime in 1994.  It has a similar plot to that of the American movie “Platoon”, a blockbuster during its time.

This movie however, does not tell so much of its title, “Mistah”.  It was in fact a story of the patriotism of our soldiers who were fighting for the integrity of our nation.  It shows the realities that the soldiers face, their sacrifices and that of their families and the harsh and dangerous conditions in the field.  Incidentally it includes, as a side dish, the relationship of two (2) fresh graduates of the PMA who were assigned as platoon leaders in an army unit somewhere in war torn southern Philippines.  The movie did not revolve around these two officers but rather on the heroism of the ordinary soldiers.

This movie came to my mind during a Christmas party when an acquaintance commented that the PMA graduates dominate the top leadership of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the PNP (Philippine National Police) because of their unique camaraderie which includes supporting each other in whatever endeavors.  He used the word “Mistah” system as this unique type of relationship that Peemayers (as what we call PMA graduates) share among each other.

Misuse of the word “Mistah” are indeed rampant.  In the movie itself, the word was used erroneously.  The exchanges of the two lieutenants calling each other “Mistah” were appropriate but the word was misused a few times.  At one time, one of the lieutenants said, “magiging Mistah ka na rin” as he informed a soldier that the latter passed the entrance examination to PMA.  What he should have said was, “magiging Peemayer (or officer) ka na rin” in that particular situation.  Ordinary folks would sometimes comment that PMA graduates always help other out of a situation - good or bad - because they are “Mistahs”.  

The word “Mistah” is used by PMA cadets and graduates when addressing or referring to their classmates in the academy.  It is a word of endearment, of fondness and of mutual respect and admiration. It is exclusive to one’s own PMA classmates and cannot be used to refer to ones upperclassmen or underclassmen or to classmates in the military courses that we take during the various phases of our military career. 

It was said that the use of word “Mistah” originated from an old black and white movie that was shown in a theatre in Harrison Road, Baguio shortly after the war.  The film “Mistah Johnson”, was about a Negro slave who cared so much about the plight of the other slaves.  The slave, Mister Johnson (pronounced Mistah Johnson by the Negros) was an epitome of brotherly love and sincere friendship.  The cadets, after watching that movie, then started to affectionately call their classmates as “like Mistah Johnson” later on dropping the comparative word “like” and the “Johnson”.  As the cadets were trained to help each other in their difficult times in the academy especially in their plebe (freshman) year, they were expected to behave like a “Mistah Johnson”.