10 Cebu grads top in two board exams

CEBU, Philippines — At least 10 graduates from Cebu made it to the top 10 in two separate licensure examinations given by the Professional Regulation Commission last month.

One ranked ninth in the licensure exam for psychologist and nine in the psychometricians board exam.

Robby Echavez, 44, a graduate from the University of the Philippines Cebu, is now a licensed psychologist.

Being one of the topnotchers for him is only passing. He said the greater implication is the amount of responsibility that one should consider in choosing the career path.

“For the after effects, you get on a high. But topping the exam for me is a different thing. I feel more responsible… I kind of thought how can this extend the reach or scope of my profession,” he said.

PRC announced on November 7 that out of 148 examinees, 96 passed the exam and Echavez was one of them, garnering an average rating of 80.8 percent.

Echavez, who is currently working as a psychologist and counselor, said taking and passing the examination is a mere procedure that all others want to achieve.

“But what we need to remind ourselves is that whether we pass or top the exam, we all have a responsibility or share in making things happen. The larger responsibility lies in responding to recent issues like the mental health problem and playing a role in that pursuit,” he said.

One of the roles he seeks to focus on right now, he said, is pushing people to be more aware and conscious on the mental health impact to every family or community.

He dedicates his achievement to mentally-ill people, the neglected children, maltreated women, drug dependents, and to those who continue to help these vulnerable individuals.

“These ratings come and go. We should not only focus on who made it and who didn’t make it. There are more perennial problems that we should focus on and that goal I believe is something worthwhile,” he said.

Echavez said it was already his fourth attempt to get a license. He shared that he hit a snag twice during the application process with the PRC.

He is one of the psychologists working at the Center for Behavioral Sciences at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City. He also works as part-time counselor at Don Bosco Boys' Home in Liloan town, Cebu.  He was class valedictorian in high school at Don Bosco Technology Center in Cebu City.  In college, he took and completed the degree program of Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of the Philippines Cebu.

He later on obtained his Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology at the University of San Carlos where he also used to teach.

Meanwhile, nine other graduates from Cebu also topped the Psychometricians Licensure Examination.

They are Blanche Marie Abellana from USC who ranked second with 84.4 percent rating; Joy Degamo from UP-Cebu and Sheena Sabijon from Cebu Normal University tied in fourth spot with an average of 83.2 percent; Gilamie Angcay from UP-Cebu bagged the seventh place with 83.2 percent; Ericka Salazar and Rika Castro from USC and Kyle Uy from UP-Cebu placed eight with 83 percent while Kerstin Collander and Zenith Villamor, all from UP- Cebu landed on the 10th spot with 82.6 percent.

“I could've sworn I stopped breathing for a fraction of a second. I really didn't expect it. I went to church that day and prayed for peace of mind and acceptance. I didn't feel like it was my place to ask for anything more when He has blessed me more than I will ever deserve. I just wanted to trust in His plans for me. I'm just so overwhelmed with gratitude towards everybody who helped me along the way—my teachers from USC, lecturers from my review center, friends and family,” Abellana told The Freeman.

USC was also acknowledged as one of the top six performing schools having 81.43 passing percentage. (FREEMAN)