FOR THE FIRST time, a Biochemistry graduate from the Faculty of Pharmacy landed in the top 10 of this year’s Chemistry Licensure Examination.
Ma. Irene Dela Cruz ranked fourth in the board exam with 88 percent. She was the only Thomasian who made it to the top 10.
Last year, magna cum laude graduate Donnabel Kuizon from the College of Science topped the board examination.
According to Biochemistry department head Dr. Mafel Ysrael, it was not really expected that Dela Cruz would make it in the top 10.
“It’s more than what I expected. We are only expecting our students to pass the exam. I think Irene really prepared for the board exam,” Ysrael said.
She added that she always advise the students who want to take the board exam to prepare well by enrolling in review centers that can really help them. Currently, the College of Science is conducting review classes for the Chemistry board exam.
To improve the passing rate of Biochemistry graduates who take the Chemistry board, Ysrael said she revised the curriculum to enhance the basic chemistry subjects.
Biochemistry students are now taking 10 units of General Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry for two semesters. Previously, these subjects were taken only for one semester, which corresponds to five units only.
As of press time, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), has yet to release the number of Thomasians who took and passed the exam.
A total of 243 out of 520 from all over the country passed the exam.
The successful examinees will take their oath on Oct. 18 at the Manila Hotel.
Meanwhile, for the second straight year, a Thomasian topped the Medical Technology Board Examination given by the PRC.
Magna cum laude graduate Bernadine Chua claimed the top spot with 90.80 percent. A freshman at the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and former Pharmacy Pautakan Team member, she was the only Thomasian who made it in the top 10.
“It was unexpected, hindi kasi ako masyadong nakapag-aral. Siyempre, masaya ako,” she said.
According to Prof. Rodolfo Rabor, Med-Tech Review coordinating officer, Chua was a very intelligent student. She also performed very well during her review at the University.
”I know her capacity because she’s been my student for a long time. Magaling talaga ang batang ‘yan, “ Rabor said.
However, Chua was disappointed with the results because she was expecting other Thomasians to also make it in the top 10.
UST placed fourth in the over-all ranking with 87 percent. In Category A (100-and-above examinees), the University ranked first as 102 out of 117 examinees passed.
Rabor added that the University’s passing rate improved. Last year, UST registered an 84 percent passing rate, while in the previous years, it only obtained a 69 percent passing rate.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,123 out of 2,140 examinees from all over the country passed the examination.
Among the schools who took the examination, Saint Louis University placed first (98 percent) overall while Velez College (96 percent), and Far Eastern University – Quezon City (93 percent) placed second and third. Girard R. Carbonell
