Poor but bright boy from QC tops PMA 2025 graduating class

Poor but bright boy from QC tops PMA 2025 graduating class

PHOTO BY ART DUMLAO

Fort del Pilar, Baguio City (May 7, 2025) -- A very difficult childhood back in the slums of Batasan Hills in Quezon City inspired 23-year old Jessie R. Ticar Jr. and head on to top the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduating class of 2025.

“I came to a point when I had to decide if I’ll continue (in the University)”, the topnotcher of the 266-member “Siklab-Laya” (Sundalong Isinilang na Kasangga at Lakas ng Ating Bayan Para sa Kalayaan) said. Before PMA, he enrolled at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila where he had been honored as a “President’s Lister”.

Then came the PMA opportunity. And the rest was history.

Ticar admitted his dream was far from becoming a military officer. He said his dream was only to support his family and get out from the economic difficulties faced by his father, a former taxicab driver who became a PWD because of a road crash. His mother, who sold ballpens and small trinkets in the streets of Quezon City, had to single-handedly carry “carry their cross”.

“Such (situation) was my motivation,” Ticar, who is receiving the Presidential Saber from Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on April 17, 2025 graduating rites here. One among the only four ever PMA graduate to be awarded as Summa Cum laude, the soon to be Philippine Army 2^nd Lieutenant, will also receive the JUSMAG Saber, Tacgtics Group Award, Natural Sciences Plaque, Army Saber, Australian Defesne Best Overall Performance Award, General Antonio Award and Humanities Plaque.

At the PMA, Ticar discovered “a deeper calling – that is to serve our country and realized that my capabilities are essential to the security of our nation.”

PMA Superintendent, Vice Admiral Caesar Bernard N. Valencia described the “Siklab-Laya” class of 2025 full of grit and resiliency. Admiring Ticar’s excellence having the highest so grade point average so far in PMA history, Valencia also praised the determination of each cadet, coming from different backgrounds. He also cited class salutatorian Murthan P. Zabala, 24, a Visayan from barangay Tejero in Cebu City, who despite taking a medical leave because of a training injury in 2023, emerged as the class salutatorian.

Zabala, who is also going to the Philippine Army as a 2^nd 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.

Regimental Commander or Class Baron -- Roncher L. Bernabe, heading to the Philippine Air Force—took his third try at the PMA entrance examinations before succeeding, Vice Admiral Valencia said. He did not lose hope and pursued and succeeded to become the Regimental Commander, the PMA chief narrated.

This class made history, VAdm. Valencia beamed, adding, “because aside from having a summa cum laude (in Ticar), 4 others in the class are magna cum laude and 6 cum laudes.

A young female, would-be Navy Ensign, Joana Marie D. Viray, 23, from Villamor. Air Base in Pasay City, ranks third in the 2025 graduating class.  The daughter of a retired soldier and a teacher, Viray, graduating as cum laude, will receive the Australian Defense Best Overall Performance Award, Philippine Navy Saber and Secretary of National Defense Saber.

Fourth ranked is Carlo A. Badiola, 24, from Tigaon, Camarines Sur, who is also going to the Philippine Army; fifth is 23 year old Jetron Giorgio A. Nazareno from Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro graduating also as cum laude and getting the Navy Professional Courses Plaque; sixth is 21 year old Visayan Kobe Jo Ann Q. Pajaron, from Siaton, Negros Oriental, also graduating cum laude and receiving the Philippine Air Force Saber, Australian Defense Best Overall Performance Award and Department of Leadership Award; seventh is Mavin Brian N. Dapar, 24, from Sevilla, Bohol, who is also going to the Philippine Army, graduating magna cum laude and getting the AGFO Inc. Award; eighth is Elzur D. Salon, 24, from Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, who is going to the Philippine Air Force and receiving the Air Force Professional Courses Plaque; ninth is 25 year old Poblacion Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur lass Aprilyn A. Magsigay, who is going to the Philippine Air Force; and tenth is 23 year old Kristine Kate C. Senados from Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay getting the Aguinaldo Saber.

Aside from the top ten, PMA is also recognizing Angeligue Mae G. Cabardo, 22, from Tubod, Iligan City as magna cum laude, who is going to the Phil. Air Force; Jan Navy M. Malimban, 23, from Tanay, Rizal, also as magna cum laude who is going to the Philippine Navy; Kint P. Pinas, 23, from La Trinidad, Benguet and a cum laude going also to the Philippine Army; Jan Kristoffer L. Montaña, 22, from Madaluyong City as cum laude and also going to the Philippine Army; Vincent Angelo S. Laylo, 24, from Lipa City, Batangas as Starman and also a cum laude; Victoriano S. Ainza, 24, from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro getting the DTO plaque and heading to the Philippine Army; Maranao - Bin Ladin M. Mindalano, 24, from Iligan City going to the Philippine Air Force and getting the SPDU plaque; Roland Yvesney P. Patalinghug, 25, from Butuan City, Agusan del Norte going to the Philippine Navy on May 17, and getting the Mathematics Plaque; Hanna May A. Algarme, 23, also going to the Philippine Army and getting the Journalism Award.

Athletic Saber awardees are Tracy Anselmo A. Miranda, 22, from Bakakeng Central, Baguio City and Katrina Jane B. Luna from Tago, Surigao del Sur. Miranda goes to the Philippine Navy while Luna to the Philippine Army. Ilonggo Zaira Grezelle H. Lamparero, 23, from Santa Barbara, Iloilo gets the Superintendent Saber and going to the Philippine Air Force; and Visayan 23 year old John Robert B. Real from Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City, also going to the Philippine Air Force and getting the Chief Justice Saber.

VAdm. Valencia said the “Siklab-Laya” is the first batch of graduates who headed to the Pag-asa Island a few months ago for an OPC and the Opening of the JFTX exercises. It is also the first class to send four participants-class members in the International Forum on Peace, Security and Prosperity in Palermo, Sicily in Italy; the first lass to lead PMA’s first ever participation in the Sandhurts Military Skills competition at the US Marine Academy in West Point; the first class to participate in the International Sailing Regatta.

Everyone is prepared, assured Valencia, ‘that each possesses character, skills, competence and principles a military officer is molded into for the future’. 

Starting next year, added the PMA chief, a new curriculum will be instituted “in compliance with (Pres. Marcos Jr.’s) instruction and in line with the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), the defense strategy used to defend the country's sea lanes and maritime territories. PMA, he added, will also adopt in 2026 a new approach to teaching from the traditional to Putput-based education including use of Artificial Intelligence learning platforms.

Valencia hinted that PMA will be introducing a Navy Electronics warfare e-games focused on strategy and tactics in its curriculum vis-à-vis current challenges on geo-politics especially with the West Philippine Sea conflict. “We need to study how AI works and apply it in the curriculum,” he explained.