Victoria Gil Echavez Regalado, a 21-year-old from Iligan City, has graduated with the highest honors from the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), making history as the first Filipino to achieve such a distinction. According to Rappler, Regalado graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering on May 22, 2024, in New London, Connecticut. She is also the second Filipino to graduate from the USCGA.
Regalado’s journey began when she was appointed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as an international cadet under the USCGA’s International Cadetship Program, Class of 2024. She was formally sworn in at the USCGA on July 5, 2020, following her oath-taking and signing of the contract ceremony held at the PCG national headquarters in Manila on May 27, 2020.
A graduate of the Philippine Science High School Central Mindanao Campus in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte, Regalado hails from a family with strong ties to engineering. Her father, Gil, is an engineer from Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, and her mother, Victoria, is from Fuentes, Iligan City.
Upon her graduation, Regalado will be commissioned as an Ensign in the PCG and is committed to serving a minimum of eight years of continuous active service. Her achievement underscores the PCG’s vision of establishing a first-class Cadet Corps, paving the way for the future establishment of the Philippine Coast Guard Academy.
Expressing their gratitude, Regalado’s mother said, “We are deeply thankful to the Philippine Coast Guard and the USCG for giving our daughter the chance to complete her college degree at a prestigious US academy. We wish her all the best as she returns to serve with the Philippine Coast Guard. All praises and glory to God.”
During her time at the USCGA, Regalado was active in Women’s Water Polo and participated in the International Council and Genesis. In a feature on international cadets, she encouraged future applicants by saying, “If you’re thinking of applying to the Academy, you’ll find it’s not going to be easy at first, but don’t give up. The challenge of juggling your academic and military responsibilities, not to mention experiencing culture shock and some homesickness, will be tough. Just maintain your resilience, seek support from others, embrace diversity across campus, remain open-minded to new experiences, and always stay optimistic. Also, don’t forget to enjoy yourself and have fun!”
