EDUCATIONAL Benefit System Unit (Ebsu) scholars completed the list of examinees with the highest scores in the nationwide 2022 Pharmacist and Nursing Board exams.
Ebsu scholar Jomar C. Salubre ranked seventh in the Pharmacist Board Exam, while Allyssa Mae T. Que placed ninth in the Nursing Board Exam. They are both residents of Barangay Cabantian Davao City and are schoolmates at the San Pedro College.
Salubre, in an interview with the City Information Office on Friday, December 9, said he is really grateful for the support of Ebsu in his journey to becoming a topnotcher, especially during the time of the pandemic when his family’s financial stability was challenged.
He said the P25,000 he received as a full scholar per semester from Ebsu paid for his excess tuition and miscellaneous fees. With it, he was also able to buy a printer and paid for his thesis fees without asking from his family.
The extra money from some allowance given to him by Ebsu, which was unused due to the lockdowns, was used to buy medicine for his senior citizen parents.
“If wala siguro tong scholarship nga nahatag sa Ebsu, asa ko karon. Siguro delayed ko sa akoang pag-eskwela, siguro ang pagiging topnotcher nako dili nako ma-achieve, siguro next time nga magtake ko'g board exam tungod sa delay ko, dili na for me. I really believe that ang pagiging topnotcher is dili lang siya through hard work sa imuhang pagmanifest. It is all about destiny, and it is also about God’s providence nga ihatag gyud niya sa imuha,” Salubre said.
(If not for the scholarship given by Ebsu, I wonder where I would be today. Maybe, I would be delayed in my studies, and I may not have achieved what I achieved. And by the time that I took the board, because I was delayed, it will not be for me anymore. I really believe that being a topnotcher is not only through hard work, and manifestation, it is also about destiny—it is also about God’s providence given just for you.)
He added that he was quite late in availing himself of the scholarship benefits as he only entered when he was already in the third year.
Meanwhile, Que, in an interview with the CIO, said that being a scholar made tuition fee become the least of the problems. Her scholarship helped them during the pandemic, especially since her father was the breadwinner of their family when the pandemic was at its peak.
“The pandemic really affected a lot of people and naapil man pud akong family as well. Ang gibuhat sa City Government, the Ebsu program, it made things easier and it made things simpler... It really became a stepping stone in becoming a topnotcher kay kanang murag kung you want to study or you want to work hard for it siyempre dili man gud nimo maiwasan nga maghuna huna ug external factors and apil man gyud didto ang financial. At least nakatabang kaayo among scholarship nga dili kaayo maproblema that much among parents. I am really grateful grabe pud among pagpasalamat sa city government of Davao,” Que said.
(The pandemic really affected a lot of people and my family as well. What the City Government of Davao did, the Ebsu, made things easier and simpler for us... It really became a stepping stone in becoming a topnotcher because if you want to study and work hard you cannot avoid thinking about external factors and financial problems are included. At least the scholarship helped lessen the burden of my parents. I am really grateful to the City Government of Davao.)
A scholar since first year of college, Que advised students and Ebsu scholars that nothing is impossible with faith and perseverance.
“If you really believe in yourself, and if you really believe in Him, you will only be shocked because all the things you thought impossible are possible at the end of your journey. All your hard work will pay off in the end,” Que said.
Meanwhile, for Salubre, his secret to share with other students who want to become topnotcher is simple -- do what you can and maximize what you have.
“Just do what you can with the given resources nga naa ka. Exploit nimo and i-maximize nimo siya to its fullest potential and paanod lang gyud ka sa imong current circumstance, you’ll do great things in the end,” he said, adding that economic status is not really a hindrance to those who want to become topnotchers.
(Just do what you can with the given resources you have. Exploit and maximize them to their own potential. And you must go with the flow of your current circumstance. You’ll do great things in the end.)
He also advised aspiring topnotchers to study and review and that they must not put too much pressure on themselves. Instead, they should put focus on what they are doing and be thankful for their progress.
Salubre has filed an application for work in a company here in Davao and is currently undergoing the hiring process. He is set to start working next year. Meanwhile, Que said that she is focusing on spending time with her family first and she is also eyeing to be hired soon, locally. (PR)