Baguio boy tops nursing board exam

By Redjie Melvic Cawis

BAGUIO CITY -- A jeepney driver’s son from Trancoville, Baguio City topped the recent nurse licensure examination.

Eric Carolino Jacinto of Saint Louis University shared the Top 1 spot with Faith Calzado Rutagines of the University of Santo Tomas in the recently released results of the November Nurse Licensure Examination with a rating of 86.60 percent.

The 21-year old Baguio native led the 170 new nurses produced by SLU which is the second top performing schools in the recent examinations.

Jacinto, the second of four children of driver who manages his jeepney and a housewife, was a consistent honor student and graduated   cum laude in college.  

His father, Eduardo Jacinto, was very emotional upon hearing the good news of his son. “Masayang masaya ako, hindi ko ineexpect na mag top 1 sya sa board exams,” he said.

SLU also produced seven other topnotchers namely Top 5 Patricia Ann Sayson Franco, Top 7 Kedzee Buclid Sibayan, Top 8 Virgilio Manuel Barroga II, and Top 9 Kassandra Meloni Mabalo Pacleb.  Jinel De Guzman Ang, Justine Agustin Cai and Paulene Gudoy Guinto tied in 10th spot.

SLU College of Nursing Dean Mary Grace Lacanaria said they are elated with the success of their graduates in the board examinations.

Meanwhile, the Benguet State University and the University of Santo Tomas tied for the top spot as the Best Performing School in this examination with 100% passing rate. BSU produced 62 new nurses.

BSU College of Nursing Dean Carol Ruth Valles said they were overjoyed with the success of their former students which gave also recognition to their school as the top performing nursing school nationwide.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said that 6,836 out of 14,322 passed the Nurse Licensure Examination given by the Board of Nursing in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga last November 2016.

Pursuant to Section 16, of Republic Act No. 9173, “all successful candidates in the examination shall be required to take an oath of professional before the Board or any government official authorized to administer oaths prior to entering upon the nursing practice,’ the PRC said.

The PRC announced that from January 9 to 13, 2017, registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card and Certificate of Registration will be done on-line. Passers are encouraged to visit www.prc.gov.ph and follow instructions for initial registration.