By Artemio A. Dumlao, Contributor
FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — The 23-year-old son of a former taxi driver and vendor from Quezon City is the top graduating cadet of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 2025.
Jessie R. Ticar, Jr. never dreamed to become a soldier, but a difficult childhood back in the slums of Batasan Hills near the Philippine capital inspired him to study hard.
“I came to a point when I had to decide if I’ll continue [in the university],” the valedictorian of the 266-member class Siklab-Laya, said in an interview. Before the PMA, he enrolled at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila where he was a “President’s Lister.”
Mr. Ticar said he only wanted to support his family and help his father, who stopped driving a taxi after a serious car accident. His mother, who sold ballpens and trinkets in the streets of Quezon City, had to single-handedly “carry their cross.”
“Such was my motivation,” said Mr. Ticar, who is getting the Presidential Saber award from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during graduating rites on May 17 here. He is only one of four PMA graduates to graduate summa cum laude.
The soon to be Philippine Army Second Lieutenant will also receive the JUSMAG Saber, Tactics Group Award, Natural Sciences plaque, Army Saber, Australian Defense Best Overall Performance Award, General Antonio Luna Award and Humanities Plaque.
At the PMA, Mr. Ticar discovered “a deeper calling — to serve our country,” and realized that he could use his abilities to help boost national security.
PMA Superintendent Vice Admiral Caesar Bernard N. Valencia described the Siklab-Laya class of 2025 as full of grit. He said Mr. Ticar achieved the highest average grade in PMA history.
He also cited class salutatorian Murthan P. Zabala, 24, a Visayan from the village of Tejero in Cebu City who despite having taken a medical leave because of a training injury in 2023 still emerged as No. 2.
Mr. Zabala, who is also going to the Philippine Army as a second lieutenant after graduation, is receiving the Vice Presidential Saber, Academic Group Award, Management Plaque, National Security Studies Plaque, Spanish Armed Forces Saber, Information Technology Plaque and Social Sciences Plaque.
The 2025 class made history by having a summa cum laude in Mr. Ticar, four magna cum laude and six cum laude graduates, Mr. Valencia said.
Twenty-three-year-old would-be Navy Ensign Joana Marie D. Viray from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City ranked third in the 2025 graduating class. The daughter of a retired soldier and a teacher, she is graduating cum laude and will get the Australian Defense Best Overall Performance Award, Philippine Navy Saber and Secretary of National Defense Saber.
Mr. Valencia said Siklab-Laya is the first batch of graduates to have headed to the Pag-asa Island (Thitu Island) in the South China Sea a few months ago. It is also the first class to send four participants to the International Forum on Peace, Security and Prosperity in Palermo, Sicily and the first class to participate in the International Sailing Regatta.
He said everyone is prepared, adding that “each possesses character, skills, competence and principles a military officer is molded into for the future.”