The two second placers in the 2020 Physician Licensure Examination are from Negros Island.
They are Patrick Joseph Mabugat, 26, a University of St. La Salle student from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and Adrian Emmanuel Teves, a University of Santo Tomas student, from Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.
They both have ratings of 88.58 percent, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Thursday, November 26.
Mabugat had also topped the 2014 Medical Technologist Licensure Examination, while Teves ranked second in the 2014 Physical Therapy Licensure Exam.
Teves is the eldest of two sons of former congressman and now Bayawan City Mayor Pryde Henry Teves and Zonna Lee Diago Teves.
Mabugat is the eldest of four sons of Col. Calixto Mabugat, Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service chief of staff at Camp Crame, and Arlene Amunategui Mabugat.
45 USLS PASSERS
Of the 55 USLS students who took the November 2020 examination, 45 passed giving the university an 81.82 percent passing rate that is higher than the national average, Dr. Ricky Gallaga, USLS College of Medicine dean, said.
The PRC said 3,538 out of 4,704 or 75.2 percent who took the examination passed.
Among the passers from USLS is his fiancée Dyan Dimalaluan, who also finished her medical technologist degree at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos with him, Mabugat said. They are both 26 years old.
HELPING OTHERS
Mabugat, who graduated valedictorian from the USLS College of Medicine, deserves making it to second place in the board examination, he is brilliant, Gallaga said.
“He is not a nerd, he is very outgoing, he helps his classmates,” Gallaga said.
He is also involved in preparing medical technician graduates for the board examination, he added.
Mabugat said he studied to become a doctor because he wants to help people.
“To offer almost 24/7 of your time to help others and see them get well will mean the whole world to me,” he said.
He will do his residency in Bacolod and is looking into specializing in internal medicine or general surgery.
SURPRISED
Mabugat said he was at the house of his fiancée in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, when he learned at 1 a.m. today.
Last night, he dreamt that he did not pass the board examination and then at 1 a.m. the mother of his fiancée woke him up to inform him that he has was in fact the second placer, he said.
“I was very, very happy and teary-eyed,” Mabugat said.
“I was surprised, my goal was just to pass the board and be a doctor, being the second placer is a huge bonus,” he added.
“When I took the medtech board exam I aimed to be top one but for the medical board exam I just aimed to pass and be a doctor to help people,” he said.
Mabugat was also a consistent honor student during his grade school and high school days at La Consolacion College Bacolod.
OTHER PASSERS
Aside from Mabugat and Dimalaluan, the 42 other USLS passers Yedda Sol Arebrugar, Michael Milco Aceron, Norainne Krissandra Alambra, Randylle Allen Alayon, Julius Dominique Anjao, Daryll Antipuesto, Alyssa Marie Arceño, Marq Wilson Bello;
Ajitpal Singh Brar, Karlyn Brizuela, Preceous Rica Catalan-Paez, Joseph Causapin, Grazelle Cawaling, James Daniel Chan, Ma. Karina de Leon, Rojean del Rosario, Kirsty Mae Eder, Christine Anne Espeja, Mae Novelle Espinosa, Eric Fernandez;
Evita Flor Garzon, Dominique Francis Gumahin, Charles Adrian Legislador, Beverly Libo-on, Gabriel Victor Lopez, Mikhael Angelo Magahum, Mark Harmon R. Magbanua, Katrina May Monsale, Tiffany Shane E. Morata, Anne Marie N. Napulan;
Nicole Ann Pancho, Raizel Eunice Panisa, John Dave Pido, Paolo Quezon, Troy Andre Virgil Recomo, Mark Gregory Sarno, Jenelle Alaiza Señoron, Nesalee Ralna Sy, Gian Karlo Torreda, Marie Stephanie Torrilla, Kim Valdez, and Justin Matthew Togado.*