More Cebu grads top exam

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu graduates continue the victorious streak in the national examinations, this time, in the licensure examination for nursing.

Only 3,882 of 11,176 examinees passed the 2017 nursing licensure examination. Of this number, 28 made it to the top 10 with nine coming from Cebu schools – five from Cebu Normal University, three from Cebu Doctors’ University, and one from Velez College.

The second placer, Nona Casey Dela Cerna Baring, told The Freeman:

“I am merely a manifestation of the Lord’s greatness! I did not really expect to top the NLE since it was really difficult, but God truly delivers! It is a proof that with Him, truly nothing is impossible!”

Baring, 21, a graduate of CNU, earned a score of 85.20 percent.

The other CNU graduates in the Top 10 are Cleo Abellana Gomez, 3rd place, with 85.00 percent; Christa Lou Conejos Derasin, 7th Place, with 84.20 percent; Adrian Paul Palang Marundan, 9th place, with 83.80 percent; and Luke Aaron Telewik Repoponio, 10th place, with 83.60 percent.

The CDU graduates on the list are Kathryn Marie Languido So, 4th place, with 84.80 percent; Eaunice Fajardo Contado, 5th place with 84.60 percent, and Philip Ooi Simon, 8th place, with 84.00 percent.

Elyza Kimberly Villarante of Velez College shares the seventh spot with Derasin.

Mary Angelie Cardente Cabañez from West Visayas State University - La Paz clinched the number one spot with 86.20 percent.

All the graduates from CNU, CDU, and Velez College who took the exam passed.

Motivations

Gomez said her dedication to her studies and to her preparation in the board exam were a means for her to repay her family who worked hard to send her to school.

“When you take a board exam, you really will not know what questions you will be faced with so the best that you can really do is to prepare and read,” she said.

Derasin, meanwhile, shared nursing was not her first choice and when she failed in a midterm exam, she actually wished she would also fail the finals so she would have a reason to shift to another course. Fate, however, had other plans.

“I really just wanted to end my nursing student life. On a good note, that mindset made me want to top the board. That was my inspiration,” she said.

Like Derasin, Contado experienced low points during her student years.

“I was suspended last year, which caused me to go on more than 70 days extension so I went on duty on Christmas and New Year, Monday to Sunday, even a couple weeks before graduation. Even came to the point nga review buntag then mo-absent ko review center para duty,” she said.

For Simon, the journey to the board exam was a “physical, emotional, and spiritual battle.”

“Learning and internalizing several theories and concepts in nursing and applying them in the clinical setting was physically and mentally exhausting. Reviewing for the licensure exam was another story. Compressing all the concepts taught in four years and relearning them all in just around two months can totally drain up your neurons,” he added.

So had a unique way of relieving herself of stress – Korean dramas and the “good hearted people in my life who unceasingly give their full on support.”

Villarante who was influenced by her sister to take up nursing told future nurses:

“Being a nurse lets you care for people from different walks of life and to be able to share your person, time, and energy to the sick, and even to their families, is truly rewarding. That is precisely why I wholeheartedly chose the course.”

Xavier University is the top performing school followed by West Visayas State University - La Paz, Bicol University – Legazpi, University of Pangasinan, and Ateneo de Zamboanga. — /JMO (FREEMAN)