2 Cebu grads top Civil board exam

CEBU, Philippines - Two graduates of Cebu Institute of Technology University (CIT-U) topped this year’s Civil Engineer Licensure Examination.

Armand Henzkel Bangolan Canoy topped the list of passers, garnering 94.80 percent, while Jerry Ricacho Marte Jr. landed on the fourth spot with 93.75 percent.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Canoy said that he was grateful to make it to the Top 10 and got the first place of the Civil Engineer Licensure Examination because he really worked hard to achieve his goals and one of which is to be part of the topnotchers. 

“Dili ma-explain akong kalipay, akong kahago ug effort nagbunga gyud. Salamat sa Ginoo,” he said.

He also added that in order to obtain one’s desire, there must be determination, proper training and focus.

“I always train myself to become one of the best, moapil gyud ko og quiz bowls, different competitions nga nag-involve og mathematics, bahalag di makadaog   basta ma-train lang gyod nako akoang self because success can’t be obtain kung magtanga lang ka, dili na magic, dapat haguan gyod na,” Canoy added.

According to Canoy, his most difficult challenge prior topping the exam was dealing with the expectation of people around him, especially his family, friends, the school, and including his expectation from himself, but then he just tried his best.

Canoy’s motto in life is “Do your best and God will do the rest”.

Canoy said he has been receiving various job offers from different companies. He disclosed that he is interested to join a firm who would offer a job that would involve structural design.

He is also planning to impart his knowledge by teaching part-time.

According to Dr. Evangeline Evangelista, Dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture of CIT-U, Canoy graduated valedictorian at the same school and was a consistent dean’s lister. He was also the King of Engineers and the only Suma Cum Laude in their batch.

“Canoy is really an achiever. Since First Year, mag-apilan na gyod na siya og contest unya bisag first year pa, makadaog gyod na siya, grabi ka goal-oriented. They really made us very proud,”

Unlike Canoy, Marte did not graduate on top of his class. He was a late bloomer and was inspired by Canoy when they started to be part of the Peer Learning Center of their school.

Evangelista said Marte started to shine during his fourth year until his last year in college.

Evangelista told The FREEMAN that Canoy and Marte’s achievements are an addition to the consistent tradition of excellence that their school has offered; elaborating that one of the reasons why they’ve been producing topnotchers is their extensive review.

They have a comprehensive evaluation review, a pre-requisite for graduation, to practice their students for their licensure exams.

 “Dili mi mo-settle for less, we have a mock board before we graduate, a simulation of the actual board exam so that our takers will get used to it,” she added.

According to Evangelista, Canoy and Marte will receive cash incentives from the University’s president, Gregorio L. Escario.

Canoy is the 76th first placer produced by the CIT-U since 1946, the year when the school was founded.

The other topnotchers for the 2015 Civil Engineer Licensure Examination include: Raniel Joseph Martin Salonga and John Cedrick Lagman Chan from Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Main-Sta. Mesa on second and ninth place, respectively; and Juncel Garces Bayogo of the University of Eastern Philippines- Catarman on third place.

Jesse Harold Perez from the University of Santo Tomas got the same rank with Marte on fourth place with an average of 93.75.

Taking the fifth spot is Carlo Camu Villacorta from Catanduanes State University- Virac; Almario Villaruz Lim from Adamson University at sixth place; and John Dominic Cabotaje Tomelden from University of Pangasinan at seventh place.

Bulacan State University- Malolos graduate Mike Christian Tan Alejandro finished eight and John Cedrick Lagman Chan from Baliuag University placed tenth.

 The Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) announced that 3,935 out of 9,482 passed the Civil Engineer Licensure Examination given by the Board of Civil Engineering in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena and Tacloban this November 2015. — (FREEMAN)