ORMOC CITY, Philippines — Six of the "Top 10" passers in the recent Nursing Board Exams are from Eastern Visayas schools, all of whom had their studies and graduation got mired when typhoon Yolanda struck the region in 2013.
Two of the six are from Tacloban City, three from Ormoc City, and one from Catarman in Northern Samar.
Highest among them was Janelle Ponferada, who ranked No. 2 with a percentile score of 86.60. She was a graduate of St. Scholastica College in Tacloban City that was badly ravaged by Yolanda.
The others were: Cheryl Cubi Ymas of San Lorenzo Ruiz College in Ormoc City who placed 3rd with 86.20 percent; Kelvin Magdaraog (University of Eastern Philippines in Catarman) at 4th with 86.0 percent; Carmel Jane Cabonegro Cobacha and Luiela Peque Arcenal (both of SLRC in Ormoc) at 7th and 8th, respectively, and Vanessa Laarni Albos (also of STC in Tacloban).
Meanwhile, the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation in Tacloban City did not have a topnotcher this time, but it was one of four schools in the country that posted a 100 percent passing rate. The others were St. Paul University-Iloilo, St. Paul University-Tuguegarao; and Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City.
Adelina Larrazabal, SLRC administrator and vice-president for academic affairs, said: "We are all extremely happy with their achievement. ... I think there were about 26,000 who took the nursing exams and about 15,000 passed and three of our graduates made it to the top 10 nationwide." — (FREEMAN)