CEBU, Philippines - A graduate from the University of Cebu topped the 2015 Electrical Engineer Licensure Examination.
Reigh Mark Salomon ranked second after garnering a score of 90.90 percent.
Salomon, 21, a native of Barangay Cabulihan, Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte, is the first engineer in the family. He is the youngest of five siblings.
Salomon attributed his success to God and family.
He said he expected to pass but not to top the exam since he found it difficult.
“But, wala gyud impossible sa Ginoo. Dako gyud akong pasalamat sa Ginoo,” he said stressing that anything can be achieved with true perseverance, hard work and prayers.
He said while he wanted to become a police officer, it was his father’s dream for him to become an engineer. But, later on, he learned to love and embrace the degree program he was enrolled in.
“Yehey, engineer na gyud akong anak!” was the reaction of his father, according to Salomon when he informed him about the result.
During the review, Salomon recalled that he devoted a few moments of his time every Sunday to visit seven different churches in Cebu that he never visited before to pay tribute to God and to ask for divine intervention.
For his study time, Salomon said he allotted at least 10 hours a day.
Despite his busy schedule, Salomon still shared part of his time with UC teaching two courses on Engineering, Science and Allied Subjects and Logic Circuit and Switching Theories.
Greg Belongilot, Dean of the College of Engineering, said they are planning to hire Salomon as a full-time instructor. Salomon said though that right now, he still has no concrete plans.
“Wala pa ko’y plano. Daghan pa’g nag-cross sa akong hunahuna,” he said.
Belongilot said UC president, lawyer Augusto Go, was very happy upon he learned of Salomon’s feat because it has been 17 years since UC topped the EE exam.
Salomon is set to receive a “big” monetary reward from the school.
Salomon did not receive Latin honors when he graduated but was an Academic Excellence Awardee.
Engineer Richard Saing, engineering faculty and personal coach of Salomon, said he saw great potential in Salomon who topped their mock board exams.
“His success is also a big milestone for UC,” he said.
Meanwhile, Martha Isabel Dealino of the University of the Philippines-Diliman topped the board exams with 90.95 percent. Other graduates of the school, namely: Anderson Ongsyping, 90.65, Eldion Bartolo, 89.90; and Mark Brian Dastas, 89.75 placed third, fifth, and seventh spots, respectively. Taking the fourth spot was Erano Dela Cruz of Bulacan State University-Malolos with 90.35 percent and Ma. Cherry Bautista of University of Batangas on the fifth spot with 89.90 percent overall rating.
Other graduates that landed in the Top 10 included Kim Arvin Leocadio of Bicol University-Legazpi, 89.85 percent (sixth) and Roldan Santos of Technological Institute of the Philippines-Quezon City, 89.75 (seventh).
Anger Bondoc of Holy Angel University, Cyrus Evangelista of University of Santo Tomas, Abrehn Gacang of University of Southeastern Philippines-Davao City, Orlando Jularbal of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-San Fernando, and Gerald Mirano of Rizal Technological University placed eight garnering 89.60 percent.
While, Daisy Avila de Gracia of Mindanao State University-General Santos City and Resty Reyes of Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Main-Sta. Mesa, got 89.55 and 89.30 percent, respectively.
The Professional Regulation Commission announced that 2,536 out of 3,772 Registered Electrical Engineers and 1,886 out of 2,993 Registered Master Electricians passed the examination conducted by the Board of Electrical Engineering in Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena and Zamboanga this month. — Kristine B. Quintas/ATO (FREEMAN)