Velez grads top PT, OT exams

CEBU, Philippines - Five graduates of Velez College landed top spots in this month's Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist Licensure Examinations.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that 846 of the 1,243 takers passed the Physical Therapist exam while 114 of 229 takers passed the Occupational Therapist exam.

Marjorie Cenza Arpon, first placer in the OT exam, scored 82 percent. The fourth place is shared by Ma. Reva Lelis Tuozo and Au Bain Marie Miranda Ymbong with a score of 80.4 percent.

"I'm still quite overwhelmed right now and things haven't sinked in yet. It was really a tough battle to take but perseverance and prayer pushed me through it," Ymbong said.

Meanwhile, the successful examinees in the PT exam include Kent Russell Tiu Siady who ranked fifth with a score of 88.85 percent and Kevin Ramir Sy Java, Jr. in seventh place with a score of 88.25 percent.

Siady told The Freeman, "My success is not just my own. I scraped through college with hard work, coupled with support from my family and friends and a whole lot of prayers. The opportunity to be among the top 10 would not be possible without the help of our Heavenly Father. I have always believed that Faith without works is dead. Do the best you can and have faith that God will provide the rest."

Java, for his part, said, "It was really unexpected for me… I even doubted I would pass since the exam was very hard. My parents inspired me to do well in school and not to fail since I witnessed their struggles to sustain me in college. First of all, I would like to thank God for giving so much of this success. I would like to thank my family and friends who supported me all the way in this journey, my girlfriend who inspires me, and Velez College and Gold Rank Cebu that let the best out of me." (FREEMAN)