Family of engineers produces topnotcher

Saturday, February 4, 2012

THE first call Ruelan Mira received Thursday afternoon informed him he passed the Architects’ Licensure Examinations. He was overjoyed, but more so when he got another call informing him he ranked seventh among the passers.

“I didn’t expect it,” said Mira, a 23-year-old graduate of the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT).

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The architecture graduate, who hails from Isabel, Leyte, comes from a family of engineers.

His mother is a civil engineer, while his father is a graduate of electrical engineering who works as a maintenance manager in a fertilizer manufacturing company in Isabel, Leyte.

His older brother is a licensed mechanical engineer. Like Mira, who is second in a brood of five, they all graduated from CIT. He graduated in March 2010.

Results

According to the Professional Regulatory Commission, which announced the results of the board exam last Thursday, only 822 of the 1,617 examinees passed.

Andrew Wee of the University of San Carlos (USC) topped the board exam, held last Jan. 27 to 29 in Manila.

He got a score of 86.40 percent, sharing the top spot with Sudarshan Khadka Jr. of the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

Wee, who hails from Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte, is the seventh USC graduate who placed first in the Architects’ Licensure Exam.

Topnotchers

Marianne Amores topped the exam in 2011, Kent Galleros in 2005, John Edward Gobok in 2001, Richard Tan in 1996, Andrew Michael Ong in 1986 and Ma. Rosario Celis in 1983.

Mira, who got a score of 84.30 percent, was in his grandmother’s house in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental when he learned of the exam’s results.

He attended review classes to prepare for the exam. He said he was motivated to study because he wanted to take the exam only once.

Mira, in a phone interview, said he dedicates his success to his family and friends. “And of course, to our Lord,” he said.

Asked about his study habits, he said he studies at dawn. When he has free time, he plays volleyball or computer games.

Mira said he has received job offers, but he has no definite plans yet.

“I’m still savoring the moment,” he said.