DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 22 Jan) – Another graduate from one of the universities in this city topped yet another licensure examination administered by the Professional Regulation Commission, this time for pharmacy.
Jona Mari Chiong Alinas, from the University of Immaculate Conception Davao, garnered an average of 91.90 percent and besting 2,294 others from different schools in Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Davao and Iloilo.
The test was conducted last week.
Alinas hails from Valencia City, Bukidnon, according to her Facebook post.
She graduated from the Central Mindanao University Laboratory High School before taking up pharmacy at UIC.
“There’s only one thing I’d like to say at this moment,” Alinas said in a Facebook post dated January 21. “All glory and honor is Yours Almighty Father, forever and ever.”
UIC earned a 60.94-percent passing rate, with 78 passing from a total of 128 takers. Some 60 passers from the school were first takers.
Other Mindanao schools joining UIC in the passers’ list were Medina College-Ozamiz City, Mindanao Medical Foundation College (MMFC), San Pedro College, Tagum Doctor’s College, Universidad de Zamboanga, and University of Southeastern Philippines.
The national passing rate, according to the PRC, was 56.30 percent.
On Wednesday, news broke out that a Dabawenyo had topped the dentistry board exams.
Benjay Abayato Maxino, a 23-year-old graduate from MMFC, passed the dentistry written and practical exams with an average of 85.43 percent, topping 725 takers of the December 2014 written exam and the 271 practical phase this month.[]
In a telephone interview Thursday, Maxino said he has already received offers to become an associate from several parties after his announcement as a topnotcher.
He said that at the moment he was looking forward to helping out his community at Purok Sto. Niño in Carmen, Davao del Norte.
“I’m thinking of helping out the community there with free dental services,” Maxino said.
He added he did not have any budget to establish a clinic yet.
Maxino said he was overwhelmed with the results, especially since he faced financial difficulty even with a scholarship provided by the school.[]
Dr. Paul Dilig, MMFC dean of dentistry, said Maxino was set to fly back to Davao today.
Two other Dabawenyos made the list of dentistry topnotchers, both of them coming from the Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF).
Jan Michael Silvosa Antes gained an average of 83.77 percent while Shahzaadee Bello Imlan got 83.07 percent.
According to the PRC release last Tuesday, 268 out of 725 passed the test in December while 257 out of 271 passed the practical exam held this month by the Board of Dentistry.
