MANILA, Philippines – Straight from the slums of Quezon City, Jessie Ticar Jr., the son of a street vendor and a former taxi driver, made a name for himself as the valedictorian of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 2025.
He graduates as No. 1 of “Siklab Laya” Class comprised of 266 students, and as summa cum laude - the fourth person to receive the prestigious Latin honor in the PMA’s history!
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| Ticar leads the PMA’s Class 2025. Image credit: Mia Magdalena |
Ticar's story went viral, with many people commenting that it’s truly great how a person can achieve his dreams, no matter the circumstances, if only he strives hard and is given the chance.
Ticar’s family lives in Batasan Hills, Quezon City. Though his dad used to work as a taxi driver, he was forced to quit after getting into a road accident and becoming a PWD (person with disability). With her husband out of commission, Ticar’s mother had to work doubly hard to feed the family. She sold various merchandise in the streets.
Though Ticar didn’t initially want to work in the armed forces, he was encouraged by a friend, another PMA aspirant.
Being a PMA cadet helped Ticar go to school without paying for anything - and because he receives a monthly salary and various allowances from the PMA, he was able to help his family even while studying. He would send money to his parents every month, he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
During the PMA’s graduation rites, he brought tears to many people’s eyes as he recounted his family’s struggles.
“My mother stood for hours under the sun just to give us a chance at education. Today, I stand in uniform because she never gave up,” the young cadet shared.
Ticar will also receive various awards:
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| The awards the Ticar received during the PMA Class 2025 graduation. Image credit: Public Awareness. |
Aside from Ticar, several members of the “Siklab Laya” Class also had notable life stories, explained PMA Superintendent Vice Admiral Caesar Bernard Valencia.
For example, he detailed in the Philippine Star that Murthan Zabala still emerged as class salutatorian despite being on medical leave because of a training injury back in 2023.
Valencia also commended Class Baron Roncher Bernabe for never giving up, because he kept taking the PMA entrance exams despite failing several times. He passed on his third try.
The PMA superintendent also said that there are also four magna cum laude and six cum laude graduates from the batch.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
