TWO Cebuano graduates from the University of San Carlos (USC), George Alcantara Mañapao Jr., 23, and Danielin Tesaluna Dico, 23, were part of the top ten students who passed the June 2017 Architecture Licensure Examinations, announced by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) last Wednesday, June 28.
Both graduates ranked 5th place with a score of 82.6 percent; neither had expected to top the exam.
“It’s surreal. I didn’t expect it at all,” said Dico, who said she took review classes in JPT-Cebu to prepare for the exam. Architecture was said to be her first course of choice, “It was my father who suggested it. I was hesitant at first, but then I knew it was the right path for me so I took it. My dream is to be able to succeed in my chosen career, which is architecture, and be able to inspire people that everyone has an equal chance at success.”
During her free time, the 23-year-old said she enjoys reading and watching movies with her two brothers. She also said that she owed her success to her family. “I’d like to thank my family. They were the ones who supported me and believed in me. And especially God, he was with me throughout this whole journey.”
“I am literally jumping-on-air happy! It’s the board exam. You can’t expect which questions will come out. Of the myriad items that you study, only a few come out,” Said George Mañapao Jr., whose preparations for the exam included a mix of experience, formal review, and self-review. “I was blessed with a two-year apprenticeship in Espina Perez-Espina & Associates (EPEA), which was run by our former dean (Architect. Maxwell P. Espina). Then I took a 4-month review under JPT-Cebu. Then I studied on my own a month before exams, and had a peer review with my barkada. We all passed!”
Mañapao mentioned that architecture was his first course of choice, and said that it all started when his mother and father worked across Golden Peak Hotel. “Factor kaayu na naninda akong mama og papa atbang anang Golden Peak Hotel karon. I saw it when it was still under construction. I didn’t know what the profession was back then, but my mom told me that it was architect-engineer. From then on I wanted to be an architect-engineer. Since high school, I knew I wanted to take up architecture. Di ko ganahan mo-build lang. Ganahan ko ako jud mo-design. (I didn’t want to just build, I wanted to design.)”
Apart from architecture, Mañapao also spends his time jamming in a band. “We are called ‘Cosmic Kid, a pop-punk band in Cebu. We’re working on our first EP that will hopefully be released this year.”
Mañapao said he has so many to thank for the success of his exam; his family, friends, and those who helped him prepare for the exam through their endless support. Most of all, Mañapao wanted to thank God and all the angels and saints who gave him strength in the preparation, the day of the exam, and when he was waiting for the results, “Una sa tanan ang Labawng Makagagahum. Kung pwede pa lang sya gakson, ako na syang gigakos karon (First of all, the Almighty God. If I can hug Him now, I’d do it now).”
Other topnotchers were Jefferson Ventura from Saint Louis University, who came in first with 84.70 percent; Adous Olbes from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila with 84.3 percent; Judy Ann Larin from Bulacan State University-Malolos with 82.9 percent; and Marion Lyndon Demaisip from the University of Mindanao-Davao City with 82.8 percent.