BY CRIS DIAZ
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: A Filipino-American (FilAm) from Cagayan de Oro City graduated at the top of the 400 US Marine Corps (USMC) at the training Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina on June 30, 2023.
Joshua Ouano, 24, received the “Platoon Honor Graduate”award and the only recipient of the“Chesty” Puller Company Honor Graduate Award on graduation day.
Also considered as the “face of the USMC company”on graduation day, Ouano topped his class in all academics, physical fitness,range shooting,confidence, bearing and discipline.
The FilAm from Cagayan de Oro also received the symbolic Coin from the First Lady of the USA on graduation day,New York based former Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) Chief Col. Cesar Ouano (Ret.), relayed the information to Mindanao Daily News.
The former COCPO Chief is the father of Joshua Ouano, the second to last of the youngest among the Ouano’s all male seven siblings.
The elder brother is a Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduate (Class 2018), now Lt. In the Philippine Marines Corps.
Another elder brother is currently an active member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) while the younger brother who was born in California is also undergoing training with the USMC.
After his graduation at the USMC, Ouano will undergo Marine Combat amphibious training and further undergo US Marines Operational Specialty where he chooses to be in the USMC Combat Engr.
Born in Cagayan de Oro City, Joshua Ouano completed his grade school and Secondary education at the Oro Christian Grade school before migrating to the US in 2011.
A Taekwondo Jins in his grade school and high school days,the young Ouano always emerged champion in all Taekwondo tournaments representing his school and other club tournaments.
In the US, Ouano studied in New York College, where he became a team captain of the wrestling team obtaining ranked #2 in Queens, NYC and #7 in the whole state of New York with a 10-1 record.
The Ouanos’ trace their roots to a family of medical professionals of Doctors and Nurses with Joshua Ouano being the grandson of the late Dr. Cesar Cortes Quano, M.D., of Mandaue City, Cebu. -0-
Joshua Ouano, 24, a Filipino-American from Cagayan de Oro City, completes the toughest United States Marine Corps (USMC) training in Parris Is., South Carolina on June 30, 2023 at the top of the Class with the highest distinction and honor as recipient of various awards that includes the coveted “Chesty Puller Honor Graduate Award, ” and the US First Lady Coin Award. Former Cagayan De Oro City Police Office (COCPO) Director Col. Cesar Ouano is the father of Joshua Ouano. Joshua Ouano is the grandson of the late Dr Cesar Cortes Ouano, of Mandaue City, Cebu. Contributed Photos.
