MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – At a young age, Leo Punongbayan of Guiguinto, Bulacan became fascinated with machines.
That fascination led him to pursue studies related to machines and last Wednesday, he topped 792 other Mechanical Engineering graduates who took the licensure exam in Manila and Cebu.
Based on records of the Professional Regulation Commission, Punongbayan, 21, who was born and raised in Barangay Sta. Cruz, Guiguinto town, got an overall rating of 94.05 percent. He is a graduate of the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT).
He is followed by Jem Sarit Martin Alem, also of MIT, Michael Joseph Cerda of De La Salle University (DLSU), and Carlo Ray Selabao of University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman.
At third place is Michael Joseph Cerda of DLSU with 92.55; followed by Fernan Jade Bautista, DLSU (92.25); Denver Cruz, MIT (92.05); and Yves Bartolata of Mindanao State University-General Santos City (91.75).
Ian Beronio and Gregory Rellita, both of the University of Cebu, are at seventh place with 91.35; followed by Jill Joan Largo of University of the Visayas-Cebu City with 91.15; Bernadine Montemor of Cebu Institute of Technology (91.05); and Jan Lexver Tiangco of Technological University of the Philippines-Manila with 90.95.
Punongbayan told The STAR that he did not expect to top the licensure exam as he felt that the other examinees were better. However, he said he is probably the one who prayed longer and the most.
Punongbayan graduated magna cum laude from MIT last October. He was a scholar of Petron Philippines in the last two years.
He graduated as salutatorian at the Holy Spirit Academy of Malolos in 2009.
He is the first child of Lorenzo Punongbayan who works in a brokerage firm, and Olivia Ventura-Punongbayan, an administrative officer at the Guiguinto municipal council.
The municipal government of Guiguinto is set to fete Punongbayan on Monday. Mayor Ambrosio Cruz said the board topnotcher symbolizes the youth’s continuing effort to improve themselves through education, adding he will serve as a role model for members of the newly reactivated Guiguinto Scholars’ Association.