Cebu graduate tops doctors’ exam

CEBU CITY, Philippines – A magna cum laude graduate of the Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM) topped this year’s physician licensure exam given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) earlier this month.

A total of 2,491 out of 2,921 passed the exam, with Andrew Chua Tiu getting the highest score of 90.67 percent.

“We are very happy after finding out that I got the number one (rating). I did not even expect to pass. I am really thankful to God,” Tiu said in an interview with the Freeman yesterday.

Tiu said the exam was difficult and he did not expect to top it.

“Just like any other student, I studied hard, went back to basics. But I think the special thing is that it is a big blessing from God. I could not have done this without Him,” he said, as he also thanked his family and friends for their support.

Yesterday, the PRC released the results of the licensure examination provided by the Board of Medicine in the cities of Manila, Cebu and Davao.

Jan Christian Gomez Feliciano of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) bagged second place with a rating of 90 percent, followed by Kristel Kang Tanhui of De La Salle University-Health Sciences Institute in third with 89.75, and Antonio Lorenzo Rustia Quiambao of University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center in fourth with 89.58 percent.

Others in the top 10 are George Michael Ngo of UST, 89.25 percent; Ana Bianca Eloise Adriano Peralta of UST, 89.17 percent; Thomas Vincent Torres Vergara, UST, 89.08; Tristan Marvin Zapanta Uy of University of the Philippines-Manila, 89; Anne Margarette Reyes Abuluyan of Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, 88.92; and Lester Bryan Ang Co of UST, 88.83.

The PRC said CIM and UP-Manila emerged as the top performing schools with 100 percent board passers. CIM had 127 while UP-M 156 passers.