On March 24, 1948, three years after the war came upon the PMA Class of 1942, they had their solemn graduation rites at Camp Henry T. Allen in Baguio City. One by one, the surviving members of Class 42 ascended the stage to receive their diploma that they were supposed to receive six years ago. It was a somber moment as the names of their fallen classmates were called.
As surviving members continued on in their respective military careers, some members rose up the military hierarchy to become generals and assume high positions in the Army as division commanders and zone commanders. Brigadier General Ernesto Santos was PMA Superintendent, Brigadier General Ceferino Carreon was PHILCAG Commander and Colonel Antonio Gonzalez as Philippine Army Vice Commander.
By April of 1968, as most of the members already retired from the service, their careers in the private sector began. On August 2, 1976, Colonels Felix Gonzalez and Mateo Dizon founded Diamond Finance Corporation. Alongside their supportive wives Aurora Gonzalez and Elma Dizon, together with Captain Demetrio Copuyoc with his wife Teresita Copuyoc, they established a Financial Institution committed to serve and address the financial needs of retired military men and their beneficiaries. There were also members of PMA Class 42 who took part in building the foundation of Diamond Finance, Brigadier Generals Napoleon Mangonon and Ceferino Carreon, Colonels Celerino Tongson and Gabriel Calingo, all of which seated as Members of the Board during the company’s first year. Colonels Pedro Javier and Jose Victoria held key offices in the internal operations of the company as Vice President for Marketing and Assistant to the Vice President respectively. Other members of PMA Class 1942, namely Brigadier General Ernesto Santos, Colonels Luis Adea, Augusto Mondoñedo, Felix Rubio and Luciano Gunabe, Majors Vicente Alhambra and Vicente Teves, Captains Isabelo Castro and Sergio Isada, were stakeholders of the company since its inception.
In its 46 years of existence, the company has grown exponentially and now cater to the needs of other retirees of uniformed personnel and the private sector. The company’s market reach has expanded with its ability to adapt to modern technology and is now able to serve every Filipino Pensioner here and abroad. Although Diamond Finance Corporation has undergone numerous changes through the years, the company has remained steadfast in its commitment to bring outright solutions to the financial needs of its clientele and their families to help them achieve their dreams.
