Topnotcher: No ‘bright or dumb,’ only ‘lazy or determined’

CEBU, Philippines — The public’s common perception about anyone who tops a board exam is that he or she must be smart.

For 26-year-old Cy Johann Kent Romuga, that is not true.

“Di ko motuo anang bright ug bugo, tapulan ug kahibaw maningkamot nuon (I don’t believe that there are bright and dumb students, only lazy and determined ones),” he told The FREEMAN in an online chat.

Romuga, a native of Bohol who lives in Cebu City, ranked third place in the March 2021 Physician Licensure Examination. He is the valedictorian of the pioneering batch of the University of Cebu School of Medicine.

The lad admitted that he has a slightly bigger head than most of his age and, when asked what was his secret in topping the board, he jested: “Basin naa koy extra brain diri sa ako cranium run, mao siguroy sekreto.”

On a serious note, Romuga said nothing beats focus and determination to succeed while also having a little bit of fun on the side.

“Tao ra ko. Parehas ra tanan. Motuo ko na ang paningkamot naa gyuy maabot and ang rason maglisud ang uban is dili sila ka-focus ug maayo and kulang lang sa paningkamot. Motuo sad ko na dapat believe gyud ka’g Ginoo, not because he will directly help you achieve your dreams kundi believing eases the mind in times of conflict,” he said.

Despite not being the typical “naning” student or reviewee, Romuga said it pays to be resourceful.

“Of course if naay notes inyo classmate, pangayo. Ayaw paalkansi sa pwede matun-an kay wala ta kahibaw unsay mogawas sa board,” he said.

“Before the exam, nag-expect ko (to top). During the exam, wala. After the exam, wa ko kibaw pero nag-expect ko og balik. Mas lami gyud siguro ma top 1 pero sige na lang, basin mas maayo gyud siguro og preparation ang na-top 1 ug 2. Sayang,” he added.

Romuga was supposed to take the exam in November 2020 but he had to defer taking it as he could no longer travel from Bohol to Cebu back then because of the lockdowns.

His father, Cyril, is a retired industrial engineer while his mother, Cristina, is a retired accountant. His older brother, Cy Joshua Brent, is a dentist.

The Romugas are not a family of doctors but Johann said he is the 8th doctor among their extended family across two generations.

Romuga added that he was so happy to pass the examination and eventually land on the top 10 as this would be a big help on his residency as a physician.

He said that since there are many students taking up medicine now, it is not enough for one to be a medical doctor but he must have an area of specialization.

“Sa time karon, dapat mag-specialize gyud. Dapat sad naay sub-specialization pa. Daghan na kaayo ga-doctor, dili ra enough ang MD. Plano nako mag-residency and end of this year or next year, basin sa Manila. Magkuha siguro kog Internal Medicine. Then sub-spec, ako sa hunahunaon pero basin mag-endocrinologist pero depende ra na’s makaya sa ako utok,” Romuga said.

Romuga graduated elementary and high school in Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran City, Bohol and took up BS Medical Technology in Cebu Doctors’ University in Cebu City.

“Wa koy honors baya, para nako way pulos. Maningkamot kag high school pero inig abot college, you are just like everyone else ra man diay. Then maningkamot ka pag-MedTech then pag-abot sa Medicine, average ra ka,” he said.

“Enjoy lang gyud ang tao dapat if bata-bata pa, kay if bright or bright-bright siya kahibalo siya asa iyang kaya basta kahibalo lang sad maningkamot and kahibalo unsay importante unahon sa kinabuhi,” he added.

He also shared his thoughts about the present pandemic.

“Akong hope lang is mo-work ang vaccine and ma-contain ning new variants or better ma-control sa vaccine ang new variants. Disiplina lang gyud sa mga tao and transparency sa hospitals. Complex ang players ani na crisis, from the virus to the people and to the people in charge of the people,” said Romugo. —JMD (FREEMAN)