Cebuana takes 2nd spot in licensure board exam

DAYS before the results of the architects’ licensure examination were released, Jessica Du Macachor joked she’d be happy to get the second place so she would not have to give a speech during the oath-taking.

On the night of June 14, the joke came true.

The 26-year-old University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman graduate ranked second among the 985 passers of the exam, held from June 8 to 10.

Macachor got a score of 83.50 percent, sharing the second place with Alexis Ken Cartajenas of UP Mindanao. Benjamin Casono of UP Diliman topped the test with a score of 83.80 percent.

Though she was confident she would pass the exam, Macachor said expectations weren’t high.

“The first part of the exam was pretty easy, but the second part was challenging,” she said in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu last Saturday.

She attended review classes for three months and took a refresher class a week before the exam.

But Macachor said her work experience also prepared her for the exam.

“It’s one thing to be able to read it in the book, but in order to understand it you have to be there in the field,” she said.

One is required to work for two years before taking the architects’ licensure exam.

Pressure

Macachor works for a design and project management firm in Manila, which designs offices, mostly call centers.

“My work required a lot of site work. That really helped a lot,” she said.

Macachor admitted she felt pressured to make it to the top 10. Many of her friends were among top 10 passers in the previous exam. Her boyfriend, also an architect, placed fifth.

“I didn’t want to disappoint my parents,” she said.

Macachor, eldest in a brood of four, was born in Cebu City but was raised in Manila.

She said she wanted to study fine arts, but her parents, who are in the field of advertising, encouraged her to take a Bachelor of Science course.

In 2003, she entered the College of Architecture in UP Diliman.

“I chose architecture because it’s a science course but it would still allow me to be creative,” she said.

But there were times, she said, when she wanted to shift to another course.

“Architecture is a pretty challenging course. You have to have passion for it.”

Macachor, who was a batch mate of architect board exam top-notcher and Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup, finished the course after seven years.

Macachor said success doesn’t end with passing the exam. “Yes I finished the board exam, but experience-wise there’s still a lot to learn.”

One of her dreams, she said, is to design a hospital. “I find comfort in a hospital.

It’s not a scary or terrible place for me.”

Macachor, who loves reading fashion blogs, said she also plans to study fashion. “I’m looking at courses on fashion design right now.”

She and some of her friends may put up their own firm someday, she said.

Macachor, who is the first architect in the family, said she finds it fulfilling to see people work in a building she helped design.

“When you see your design come to fruition, it’s like having yourself out there,” she said.