"I CONSIDERED this my legitimate way of validating what I really wanted to achieve in my life."
This was the reaction of 23-year-old Sidrey Mel Aldeguer Flores of Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B) Wednesday, March 15, after he ranked number 1 in the March 2023 Medical Technologist Licensure Examination (MTLE) with a score of 92.10 percent. He bested 6,164 examinees in the country.
Flores said he was playing a game on his cellular phone when his review center informed him on March 14 that he was number one in the MTLE exam.
"I was surprised, and I verified it in the result released by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC)," he said.
He added that he did not expect to be the topnotcher, but he was also hoping for any spot in the top 10.
"Knowing that it’s a stiff competition among the medical schools in the country and many of us are taking the exam, the chances are really slim to be included in the top 10, but knowing that God has really planned this for me, I was so happy that he gave me the number one," Flores said.
Flores, a son of Barangay Villamonte Captain Rommel Flores and Venus Aldeguer, was also the first-ever Medical Technology (MedTech) Summa Cum Laude of CSA-B in 2022. He completed his elementary and secondary schools at the University of St. La Salle (USLS) as salutatorian and valedictorian, respectively.
After graduating from high school, Flores said he enrolled in school on a different island, but since he was not ready for the adulting life, he decided to go back to Bacolod City and was given the option to continue his course at Colegio San Agustin.
"It’s my personal choice to take MedTech. So, coming into the board exam, I was really prepared by strengthening my body, eating healthy food, and aside from having a discipline routine, I also gave time for leisure, rest, and creating schedules to follow to finish all the subjects to study for that day," he said.
Flores admitted that he also had a hard time, especially during the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, since they only have a short time of exposure for their internship.
"We are not confident enough in taking the board exam, knowing that MedTech is really a practical course, and we are lacking medical exposure because of the pandemic, so we are also worried about taking the exam," Flores said.
However, he said they resolved the problem by maximizing their time in their short medical exposure, but they applied it during the exam.
"I’m thankful to God for making sure that our board exam was as smooth as possible. It seems easy, and I did not panic. When I shaded my last answer, I was really happy knowing that I was guided by God and that this was the culmination of my hard work in college. I’m also thankful for the support and love of my family, my teachers in CSA-B and USLS, my batchmates, and the review center. I had surpassed my struggles," he said.
Flores disclosed that for now, he’s planning to rest and save up his strength.
He’s also planning to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor to help the poor.
For his part, the elder Flores said he’s so proud of his son, and he is thankful to God for guiding his son and their family.
"I’m really thankful to those who supported my son to reach his dream and become the top student in his board exam. I’m thankful to his mentors in the USLS group, Colegio San Agustin, and to the review center as well as to his classmates," he said.
Flores has three children, and Sidrey is the youngest.
He said that Sidrey had been an honor student since elementary and high school. He also topped the national math contest when he was in elementary school. He finished his high school and K–12 as class valedictorian, and he was the only graduate in USLS who received the principal distinction award.
He said that Sidrey was also a former editor-in-chief of the school publications of USLS and CSA-B and a summa cum laude.
"Sidrey has prepared a lot from the very start. He didn’t force himself to study, he has time to rest and enjoy his time with his friends like an ordinary student. He is very humble and has a sense of humility," he added.
Flores disclosed that Sidrey chose the medical course to help people, especially the poor.
Flores urged the parents to always support and love their children so they can reach their dreams.*