Anak ng ballpen vendor sa QC, nanguna sa PMA Class 2025; nakamit highest latin honors

– A ballpen and envelope vendor’s son topped the PMA Class of 2025, achieving the distinction of a class valedictorian and Summa Cúm Laude, only the fourth to do so in the academy’s 127-year history

– Jessie Ticar Jr., this year’s class valedictorian and recipient of the highest Latin honors, makes history with record-high academic average

– He said that their family’s financial hardship fueled his drive, overcoming family challenges to become class valedictorian

– His class, Siklab-Laya 2025, was the first to train on Pag-asa Island in what many view as a historic deployment in the West Philippine Sea

PMA Cadet First Class Jessie Ticar Jr., the son of a ballpen and envelope vendor from Quezon City, in a story of perseverance and academic excellence, has topped the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Siklab-Laya” Class of 2025.

Screengrab from a photo of PMA Cadet Jessie Ticar, Jr. shared on Facebook by the Baguio City Public Information Office (@pio.baguio)
Source: Facebook

The 23-year-old Ticar not only graduated as valedictorian but also achieved the rare distinction of Summa Cúm Laude, becoming only the fourth cadet in the academy’s 127-year history to earn this highest academic honor.

His remarkable achievement is further highlighted by his record-high general weighted average, surpassing all previous cadets.

Ticar’s journey to the top was far from easy. He openly shared the financial hardships his family faced, with his mother selling pens and envelopes and his father, a former taxi driver, becoming unable to work due to illness.

These challenges served as his primary motivation, driving him to excel at the PMA and uplift his family’s circumstances. He is the youngest of four siblings.

“I came from a not well-off family to the point that I needed to be the one to make a way for me to support my studies,” Ticar said.

He initially pursued studies at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) before taking the PMA entrance exam.

His entry into the military academy marked a significant transition from a carefree civilian life to the strict military norms.

Despite having no prior military background, Ticar quickly adapted, earning the respect of his peers and instructors.

Ticar’s accomplishments extend beyond his academic record. He is set to receive nine prestigious awards, including the Presidential Saber, to be personally presented by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the JUSMAG Saber, the Tactics Group Award, and several plaques recognizing his excellence in various academic disciplines.

The “Siklab-Laya” Class of 2025, comprising 266 cadets (212 men and 54 women), also made history by being the first to undergo field training on Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

This deployment provided them with firsthand experience of the challenges in asserting Philippine sovereignty in the face of Chinese presence in the area.

Looking ahead, the PMA is implementing significant changes to its curriculum to prepare future military leaders for the evolving landscape of modern warfare.

Beginning next year, the academy will introduce enhanced courses focusing on technology proficiency and defense, including subjects such as cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, asymmetric warfare, and drone warfare.

These changes reflect the increasing importance of digital combat and the need for officers equipped to handle hybrid threats.

The academy is also working to increase its annual intake to 2,000 cadets to meet growing defense needs.

Ticar, who intends to join the Philippine Army, embodies the spirit of resilience and determination that defines the PMA Class of 2025.

His story serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that even from humble beginnings, one can achieve extraordinary success through hard work and dedication.

News, photos or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, such could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable to just about simply everyone.

In other news, a motorist is in hot water after he was seen transporting a dog inside his car trunk. Another motorist was able to capture a video of the dog inside the half-closed car trunk, sparking public outrage and animal welfare concerns. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is also demanding an explanation from the vehicle owner and is currently investigating the incident following the following online circulation of the controversial video. Netizens have condemned the act as animal cruelty with many questioning the inhumane treatment of the canine.

Still in other news, a 6-year-old girl died from severe electric shock when she accidentally touched a metal component of an electrical outlet while attempting to charge her mobile phone. The tragic incident, which happened in Cadiz City in Negros Occidental, highlights household electrical dangers. The father himself witness his daughter’s accidental contact with the outlet’s metal part. The severe electric shock suffered by the 6-year-old girl proved fatal despite efforts by a medical team at the hospital.