Top Young Women

CEBU, Philippines - For the first time, in forty-five years, Zonta Club of Cebu I honors a top performing school in Cebu City and six young female professionals who have established outstanding record of academic achievements.

Velez College is recognized for its consistent exemplary performance in licensure examinations both in the fields of nursing and physical/occupational therapy.

On its 45th Founding Anniversary, Zontians led by Ms. Lucille Colina handed out Plaques of Recognition to five of the six young women-graduates of Velez College who topped the Board Exams. This is to strengthen the impression that "when you think of nurses, you think of Velez."

Beverly Anne Balagon - on first place - in the June 2013 Nursing Licensure Exam (NLE) is the only one who missed the ceremony, as she's already working in Manila. But Romelyn Icot, 6th placer; Nikki Natasha Javier, 7th placer; Kyzia Ann Kintanar and Sheila Heruela, both 10th placers; as well as Levie Belleza, 5th placer, acknowledged the efforts of Zonta I in staging its very first "Top Young Women Professionals Award" as part of its "Success Stories" endeavor.

It was sad to note though that only Kyzia Kintanar is keen on staying in the country for a longer time, particularly in Manila, to gain experience in hospitals with areas of specialization. "I feel the need to work in special hospitals to gain expertise in a specific area, in a heart institute for example, to be more focused."

The rest are vocal about seeking employment abroad after gaining experience here. Romelyn Icot will be pursuing a Masters Degree in Nursing at the Cebu Normal University. "If given the opportunity, it would be nice to be in Australia or England," she articulated without qualms.

As for Levie Belleza, she is bent on working in Long Beach, California where her family has long migrated.

Velez College is recognized as the top performing school in Cebu City because of the school's standard of excellence and its sterling reputation of yielding the finest nurses of their generation.

In 2002-2005, Velez College received Certificates of Recognition consistently from the Philippine Nursing Association and the Professional Regulation Commission for being one of the top performing nursing schools in the country.

In 2009, it placed fifth on the list of top nursing schools in the Philippines (with a passing rate of 96 percent). Two NLE topnotchers garnered fifth and eighth places.

In the following year, Velez College placed 7th. The succeeding year saw topnotchers copping 8th and 9th places.

Last year's ranking manifested its culture of excellence: 9th in the list of top nursing schools in the country (posting a passing rate of 99.4 percent) with five topnotchers garnering 6th, 8th, 9th and two at 10th place.

This year, Velez College moves to 8th spot on the list of top nursing schools in the country with five topnotchers garnering the top spot, the 6th, 7th, and two at 10th place - composed of the top young women-professional awardees.

Another highlight of Zonta's 45th year is the proclamation made by Cebu City Government and the Province of Cebu observing November 2013 and hereafter as "Zonta Awareness Month."

According to Zontian Stella Bernabe, past president and chairperson of the "Success Story" committee, "the core message of the bill is to inform the public about Zonta's vision and mission to help the nation advance the education, health, economic, political, and social status of women from all walks of life worldwide." (FREEMAN)