MENARD Roche Magno learned he placed ninth in the August 2019 Mining Engineer Licensure Examination while he was onboard a jeepney.
He had just heard mass at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño when he received the news of his triumph.
Magno, who finished with a rating of 89 percent, was not surprised to land in the top 10 as it was his goal to be a topnotcher; but the joy he felt made him doubt his success.
“I couldn’t absorb all of it inside the jeepney,” Magno said.
He was among the 310 of 375 examinees who passed the exams, according to the Professional Regulation Commission.
The native of Isabel, Leyte is a cum laude graduate of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) in Cebu City.
Magno was also a consistent honor student and class valedictorian in high school. His excellent grades benefited him as these served as his tickets in gaining scholarships from CIT-U and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
Magno chose Mining Engineering because he wanted to take the road less traveled.
“Only a few people take this course. I wanted to challenge myself,” he said. “I simply fell in love with the course.”
One of the hardest things that Magno experienced was the passing of his father. Magno, his mother and eight siblings were left to tend for themselves.
“We had financial problems. Our sister, Maria, was our saving grace. She set aside all her wants just so all of us could finish school. We had to stick together,” he said.
Magno said his motivation for excellence is by waking up early in the morning.
“When dawn broke, I immediately start reviewing,” he said.
Mining Engineering is a beautiful, yet misunderstood course, said Magno, who added that there is no reason to feel discouraged by the negativity thrown at the mining industry.
“People forget that we are taught to protect the environment. Most of the things on earth came from mining. Responsible mining is still the key,” he said.
Magno’s accomplishments would not have been possible without his faith in God, and the support from his family, friends, CIT-U administrators and mentor Engineer Osita Catipay.
“Stay focused, stay faithful to your dreams and work hard,” Magno said, when asked for advice to students who are dreaming big in life.
Also in the top 10 are three graduates of the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman, three from the University of Southeastern Philippines (USP)-Davao, one from Bicol University (BU)-Legazpi, one from Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), and one from Caraga State University (CSU)-Butuan City.
Rachel Angela Penuliar Ferrer of the University of the Philippines-Diliman snatched the top spot with a 91.20 percent rating.
The other topnotchers are:
(2nd) Gian Carlo Masagca Seblos - UP-Diliman, 90.50 percent
(3rd) Uly Dave Gracia Baylosis - USP-Davao, 90.20 percent
(4th) Norvein Linantud Calibo - USP-Davao City, 90.15 percent
(5th) Francisco Carpio Raymundo - UP-Diliman, 89.85 percent
(6th),Alona Noguera - BU-Legazpi, 89.55 percent
(7th) Sweet Chylka Maeh Dela Cruz - MSU-IIT, 89.35 percent
(8th) Novem Jake Ontolan Paden - USP-Davao City, 89.00 percent
(10th) Shawn Kurt Languay Ebueza - CSU - Butuan City, 88.90 percent
The PRC announced that out of the 375 who took the exam, 310 passed. (JGS)