Two working students top ME board exam

CEBU, Philippines — With hard work, dedication, patience and persistence, two working students of the University of Cebu made it to the top 10 in the recently concluded Mechanical Engineering board examinations.

UC President Augusto Go and UC Chancellor Candice Gotianuy presented to the media yesterday their new topnochers Redendo Apa (ranked 8th) Jr. and Jack Paculanang (10th place).

Apa and Paculanang are among the 61 out of 89 examinees from UC who passed the board exam given last month.

"Thank you for making UC proud again. I am happy that these two made it as a topnotchers. I would like to thank them for bringing honor to UC," said Go.

The 22-year-old Apa was teary eyed as he proved that poverty is not a hindrance to success.

Apa is a son of fisherman and a working scholar of the university.

He also worked as a gasoline boy from 7p.m. to 2 a.m.

"Nagpasalamat sab ko nga naay free breakfast sa UC. Daku pud kaayo siya og gikatabang sa akong pag eskwela. Naningkamot gyud ko,” said Apa.

Gotianuy said that providing free breakfast to the first 100 students who come early to school is their way of helping the poor students.

"I started this program several years ago kay luoy pud ang mga students nga moanhi sa school unya gutom. Maglisud sila og sabot kung gutom," said Gotianuy.

This program was first implemented in UC-LapuLapu Mandaue Branch but it has been expanded to UC’s three other campuses, which means 400 students can avail of free breakfast every day.

On the other hand, Paculanang has to work as one of the security personnel in a mall that Go owns.

This 25-year-old from Negros Oriental has to juggle work and study to make both ends meet and eventually ended up as a topnotcher.

"Nag undang undang man ko og eskwela kay tungod lage kuwang ta og kwarta pero maninguha gyud ko nga ma scholar ug maka trabaho para gyud ko molampos sa akong pag eskwela ug daku kaayo gikatabang sa UC," said Paculanang.

Both topnotchers as well as their college professors and mentors Engr. Rodel Naval and Engr. Ronnie Alvorcon and the dean, Engr. Greg Belongilot, received cash incentives from Go.

Their mentors picked three outstanding graduates including the two as potential topnotchers and underwent rigid training for four months.

"Their efforts and dedication truly paid off. We produced another topnotchers," said Go.

Since 2002, the Mechanical Engineering Department has produced more than 30 topnotchers. There was one time that the school produced five topnotchers in a single board exam.

Gotianuy added that the school has been upgrading its equipment as well as the quality and competence of their professors.

To date, UC has more than 56,000 students with over 30 courses being offered. (FREEMAN)