A CEBU Institute of Technology-University graduate joins this year’s Top 10 successful examinees of the Architect Licensure Examination.
Michael Luigi Igloria Manzano garnered the sixth place with a rating of 81.2 percent in the exam based on the results released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Wednesday afternoon.
“I’m still speechless. No words can describe how I feel right now. It feels so overwhelming that I’m still in cloud nine,” Manzano told Sun.Star Cebu.
Manzano said he didn’t expect to become one of this year’s top architect licensure passers considering how challenging the exam was for him.
“All I prayed for was to pass the exam along with my friends. And I feel so blessed that through the prayers and support of my friends and family, I was able to go through this challenge,” Manzano said.
Becoming an architect was Manzano’s childhood dream.
“I really wanted to become an architect since my childhood years. So I really gave my heart into this. At the end of the day, it was all worth it—a childhood dream came true,” Manzano told Sun.Star Cebu.
Help
When asked how he prepared for the exam, Manzano said that perseverance was key.
He also adds how team effort—with family, friends, along with his girlfriend—pushed him to keep reaching for his goal.
“We (his girlfriend and some friends) studied day and night in any coffee shop or any decent place we could find. It was a struggle because we have to save as much as possible with the resources left for us from our apprenticeships,” Manzano said.
Manzano also shared how his girlfriend, parents and mentors played a major role while preparing for the exam.
“My girlfriend sent me some verses from the bible to inspire and calm me before the exam,” he said.
“They (mom, dad and ate) always reminded me how they believed in my capabilities, that I shouldn’t doubt myself by looking back and reminisce what accomplishments I have already done,” Manzano added.
“My mentors really inspired me to love architecture. They really gave me and the rest of the people in the studio not only a workplace, but also a place of idealism, learning, and inspiration,” said Manzano.
Now that he has finally got his license, Manzano plans to have his own firm and be able to pursue projects that tackle critical issues.
“Historical heritage issues, housing, calamities, cities, social, economic to environmental issues,” Manzano emphasized the many issues that needs architectural solution.
He also underscored how housing—as a basic Filipino commodity, is something he’s eager to focus on.
“It’s (housing) so complex because you don’t only provide the house but also a place for the community. You tackle social, economic, and even environmental conditions,” said Manzano.
Before settling down, Manzano also wants to grab as much learning opportunity as he can to better himself as an architect.
For him, real success entails the capacity to give back to the country through his craft.
“Someday, I want to be able to pay back my parents for their efforts and to pay forward what I have learned through architecture,” said Manzano.
Manzano urges students to love what they do to achieve success in their respective careers.
“If you really don’t love what you are doing, chances are you may not put your best to develop your craft, and you might not be able to pull off the success you desire,” he said.
Dream
Being a life-long dream of becoming architect, Manzano stresses how much he has poured his heart into his chosen craft.
Manzano said there are no jobs being offered to him yet.
Topping the exam is a great milestone not just for Manzano, but also for his alma mater, where he learned the fundamentals through his teachers in the architecture department.
Based on the results released by the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC), about 1,243 out of 2,224 graduates passed the June 2016 exam. Euchrissa Theresa Ladrera, UP Cebu Intern