CEBU, Philippines — After decades of waiting since the 1990s, the University of the Visayas (UV) - Main Campus has broken the dry spell as a graduate raised by a single mother secured third place in the 2025 Criminology Licensure Exam.
Franz Jury Pacaldo Insao, a 22-year-old from Atabay, Alcoy, Cebu, made his alma mater and his family proud by achieving an impressive average of 91.85 percent.
Out of 36,768 examinees, only 22,245 passed, reflecting a 60.50 percent passing rate, the Professional Regulations Commission announced.
In an exclusive interview with The Freeman, Franz shared the story of his humble beginnings, being raised by his mother, Richie Pacaldo, a secondary school teacher and the family’s sole provider.
Despite financial struggles, Franz remained steadfast in his dream: to serve humanity.
While on good terms with his father, Franz emphasized that it was his mother who bore the responsibility of raising and supporting him and his younger brother.
Franz’s academic journey began at Alcoy Central Elementary School and continued at Alcoy National High School, where he consistently earned honors and served as a campus journalist. However, he humbly admitted that his academic performance became less consistent in college.
“Pag high school, consistent honor student ko. Pero pag college, student nalang,” Franz joked.
From a young age, Franz had envisioned himself as a law enforcer, with a particular interest in the Tri-Bureau, especially the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
The lone Cebuano topnotcher began his criminology journey during the height of the pandemic. His freshman year involved online classes, but with the return of face-to-face classes in his second year, Franz became more committed to his studies.
His leadership skills were also evident as he was elected President of the College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) and served as Corps Commander in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).
Biggest challenge
Financial difficulties posed the biggest challenge for Franz, but rather than becoming a hindrance, they served as motivation. Determined to repay his mother’s sacrifices, he persevered.
“Akong gihunahuna jud kay para ni sa akong mama—to pay off her sacrifices and make her proud,” he shared.
When preparing for the board exam, Franz initially aimed for the top spot.
“Actually, I aimed for Top 1, pero day one palang gani sa exam, tungod sa kalisod sa questions, nakasulti jud ko sa Ginoo nga bahalag makapasar nalang, dili nalang mag-topnotcher,” he said.
A self-proclaimed nocturnal learner, Franz dedicated his nights to studying. During his review, he studied for up to 17 hours daily, fueled by three cups of coffee.
“Wala ko gi-pressure sa akong mama. Iya lang ko gina-motivate para ma-inspire ko. Ganahan ko nga ako’y moputol sa among kalisod,” he added.
Franz attended several review centers to prepare, including Carl Balita Review Center as a scholar, paying only Php 4,500. He also attended AMICI Review Center for final coaching (Php 3,000) and Borbsa Online Review Center (Php 500).
On the day of the results, Franz asked his girlfriend to notify him when the results were out, as he feared checking online would worsen his anxiety.
When the moment arrived, his hands trembled as his heart pounded. After dealing with a slow internet connection, he finally saw his name ranked third in the entire country.
Grateful for the milestone, Franz thanked UV for shaping him into a professional and extended his appreciation to his mother, grandmother, younger brother, and aunt, whom he considers his unwavering support system.
Looking ahead, Franz plans to fulfill a promise to God by sharing his knowledge as a teacher.
“Advice sa future board takers: Suffer, persevere, and pray—it will lead you to success,” Franz said. “I believe in the saying, ‘there’s no free lunch,’ so kinahanglan nimo pag-trabahoan kung unsa imong ganahan kab-oton,” he added.
Overwhelming pride
Dr. Donald Narra, Dean of UV’s CCJE, expressed his overwhelming pride in Franz’s achievement, noting that it was the first time since the 1990s that UV produced a topnotcher.
“The last topnotcher that we had in UV was, if I’m not mistaken, 1990s pa siguro,” said Narra.
Dr. Narra attributed the success to strengthened teaching approaches, a selective retention policy, and intervention programs. Beyond intelligence, he highlighted the importance of students’ attitudes.
“For us, it’s not only about how intelligent our students are but more so about their attitude during this particular journey,” he said.
Narra also commended his faculty and staff for their sacrifices, crediting them for providing relevant and updated materials for students.
“My faculty and staff sacrifice a lot. That’s why I always share that credit goes to my amazing team for working hand in hand to ensure a conducive learning environment,” Narra shared. — (FREEMAN)