Hard work pays off for Cebu topnotcher

CEBU, Philippines - Hard work propelled 21-year-old Celeste Gem Hermogenes to the top of the recently-concluded licensure examination for pharmacists.

With a rating of 92.18 percent, Hermogenes, a graduate of the University of San Carlos, was the lone topnotcher from Cebu among the 199 examinees who passed the examination. She ranked 10th place.

 “I learned that nothing can be achieved without working hard for it. Hard work is really essential in achieving one’s goal,” Hermogenes told The FREEMAN.

She admitted that the licensure was a bit difficult, but she did not lose hope

“Although I didn't expect it, I did pray for it many times. I lifted everything up to God after the exam ended because I know that I already did my best. One wouldn’t be successful in doing all of that without the aid of God. So calling for God’s help is truly essential,” she said.

Hermogenes said she could not contain her emotions upon learning the result, saying she burst into tears. “I was so happy that I cried in the restaurant that I was in. My friend cried with me, as well… We didn't care what the other people thought of us during that time.”

Months before graduation, she enrolled in a review center to prepare for the licensure exam.  She said it was not easy juggling the licensure review and her remaining study load, but she persevered.

“I diligently attended all classes and took all the quizzes and exams seriously. Most of our classes would start at 7a.m. and end at 12 noon. I would then continue to study at home. I just read my notes over and over again. This has been my routine until the day of the board exams,” she recalled.

Although she comes from a well-off family, Hermogenes strived to make her own mark in life. Her father is a seaman while her mother works as an administrative assistant at the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in a university here.

In fact, Hermogenes was a consistent honor student from her elementary grade to her early college years. During high school, she graduated top of her class as valedictorian at the University of the Philippines-Cebu and finished her degree in Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy as summa cum laude on April 16, 2016.

She was also an academic scholar and an active student leader.

Inspired by her older sister who is a registered pharmacist, she took the same degree at USC.

She said her journey won’t stop here as she plans either to take medicine or to pursue further studies abroad.

University of Santo Tomas graduate Rhys Jansen Tiu Pavon topped the exam with a score of 94.73, followed by Ser Loisse Rodriguez Mortel, also from UST, with 93.70, and Maria Lourdes Lajara Jacinto of University of the Philippines-Manila with 93.60

The Professional Regulation Commission said 2,426 out of 3,732 passed the exam given by the Board of Pharmacy in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Davao and Iloilo. (FREEMAN)