Si 2Lt. Valerie Mae Vicente Dicang, 22, ay nagtapos sa Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ngayong taong ito bilang magna cum laude.
Tubong La Trinidad, Benguet, miyembro na ngayon si Valerie ng Philippine Army, at kabilang sa PMA "Masaligan" Class of 2021.
Pero muntik na pala siyang hindi maging PMA cadet
Taong 2016, kumuha si Valerie ng PMA entrance exam sa Fort del Pilar.
Nakapasa siya, nagkumpleto ng mga requirements, at sumailalim sa physical test para sa medical clearance sa V. Luna Medical Center sa Quezon City.
Nang lumabas ang pagsusuri sa kanya, pakiramdam ni Valerie ay gumuho ang kanyang mundo.
Pagbabahagi niya, “I remember clearly, five years ago, I was broken from the news that my long dream of joining the academy was far from the reality due to a heart disease.
“It was an unexpected turn of events when my medical result showed a dangerous blockage towards my heart.”
Sigurado raw noon ang kanyang pamilya na siya ang pinakamalusog sa kanilang magkakapatid, “But it turns out they were wrong.
“I had my mind shattered of what my future would become without having to pursue my passion of inspiring the next generations.”
Habang nagpapagamot, nag-aral siya ng Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology sa Saint Louis University-Baguio.
Dugtong niya, “Though I continued to attend my studies in school, I had my mind somewhere else,” aniya.
“It got to a point that I also questioned my skills if whether I was really good enough for the prestigious academy. I had my faith turned down by just one failure.
“Later on, I knew during those times, God was preparing me for His best timing.”
HINDI SUMUKO SA PANGARAP
Noong 2017 ay muli siyang sumubok na makapasok sa PMA.
Pagpapatuloy ni Valerie, “I had undergone the same procedure along with thousands of applicants.
"My parents insisted I continue praying and never lose faith. True enough, they were right.
“He tells us to be patient. He is preparing us for bigger and brighter things in the future.”
Hindi siya nagbigay ng update tungkol sa "dangerous blockage" sa heart niya, pero, in a nutshell, nabigyan siya ng pagkakataon i-pursue ang matagal na niyang pangarap.
Fast forward to May 3, 2021, sa post ng Facebook Page na PMA Hour, kinilala ang pagiging Brigade Company Academics Officer ni Valerie.
Ni-recorgnize rin ang kanyang efforts nang pamunuan niya ang implementasyon ng Distance Learning Provisions sa Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Consistent Dean’s lister din siya sa kanyang academic performance at Commandant’s lister pa para sa kanyang military subjects.
Kabilang sa mga parangal na kanyang natanggap ang Secretary of National Defense Saber dahil siya ang number three sa Military Precedence List, o Top 3 sa kanilang batch.
Miyembro rin si Valerie ng Silent Drill Company, Softball Corps Squad, Chess Corps Squad, at Arnis Corps Squad.
Sa kanyang Facebook post noong May 10, ibinahagi ni Valerie na isa lang siyang normal na bata noon na nangarap maging PMA cadet.
“I was bedazzled by the uniforms of the cadets who visited my high school way back 2013. I was inspired by the different stories I heard from them in joining the academy.”
Na-realize niya raw noon na gusto niyang maging isang lider at maglingkod sa mga kapwa Pilipino.