BY: VANESSA BUGTONG
The youngest of three siblings and the son of a school supplies vendor, Cadet First Class Jessie Jr. R. Ticar of Quezon City has been named the top graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Siklab-Laya Class of 2025.
Ticar’s mother sold pens and other school items, while his father, once a taxi driver, had to stop working after suffering a stroke.
The family’s hardships inspired Ticar to take the PMA entrance exam in 2021—and he made it.
“I saw how hard my parents worked,” Ticar shared. “So I felt that in some way, I had to help them.”
After four years of rigorous training and sacrifice, Ticar now stands at the top of his class—an achievement he dedicates to his parents.
“I wasn’t aiming for the top, but I always dreamt of becoming one of those who could reach it,” he said.
Vice Admiral Caesar Bernardo N. Valencia, Superintendent of the PMA, praised the batch for their resilience.
“This class is different from the past,” he said. “Especially in their training—we even sent them to Pag-asa Island for firsthand experience.”
Alongside Ticar, nine other top-performing cadets were recognized. Cadet First Class Murthan P. Zabala, who ranked second, vowed, “I will give my best to serve the country.”
The PMA Siklab-Laya Class includes 266 cadets—54 women and 212 men—who are now preparing for their graduation on May 17.
“The PMA Siklab-Laya Class are not just graduates,” Bugtong concluded in her report from Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City. “They are sons and daughters of the nation, now ready to offer everything for peace and freedom. In their stories, the flame of hope for our country’s future burns anew.”
