Graduates of the Catanduanes State University’s College of Health Sciences edged back into the limelight of nursing board examinations last week with Mikael Angelo Rabino Romero snagging 10th place in the November 2024 NLE.
A resident of Valencia, Virac, Romero scored a rating of 90.60 percent, tying for 10th place along with 32 other exam takers in the results of the Nov. 9-10 exam conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in various cities.
A total of 29,349 out of 34,534 hopefuls hurdled the licensure test for a national passing percentage of 84.99%.
The local university had a better passing rate of 92.36 percent, as 133 out of 144 examinees passed. Of the 136 first-time takers, 131 were successful for 96.32% while only two (2) of the eight (8) repeaters did so.
For Romero, the timing could not have been better as the results of the board exam were released just three days after he celebrated his 23rd birthday last Nov. 25.
Born in Sta. Mesa, Manila in 2001 to civil engineers Reynato Panti Romero and Marilyn Rabino-Romero, he first entered school at Virgen de Guadalupe de Novaliches School.
He is the middle child in the couple’s brood, sandwiched by first-born Mikaela and the youngest, Aliyah. Their father is now retired but their mother is still working abroad.
In 2007, the family moved to Virac and Mikael completed his elementary education at the Virac Pilot Elementary School as an active Boy Scout.
This served him well at the Catanduanes National High School, where he was corps commander in the Advanced Citizenship Training Program, the pilot test version of the revived Reserved Officers Training Course (ROTC) then being proposed in Congress.
He graduated cum laude in earning his diploma in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at CatSU-CHS and was awarded for Best Related Learning Experience (RLE).
Romero recalled that during his review at Toprank in Quezon City, he was the only one from CatSU among the reviewees although he managed to be friends with some graduates of other schools.
“Struggle po na grabe kasi ako lang mag isa sa bahay. As in ako ang nagluluto, naglalaba, naglilinis ng bahay. Pero nakaya ko po sa time management tapos nakasingit pa ako ning time para mag review tapos para sa mga hobbies,” he told the Tribune, adding that the city was very out of his comfort zone.
As weeks passed, he adjusted to the pace and began to enjoy the review, learning new lessons and reviewing most of those he studied during college.
Mikael said Day 1 proved to be difficult as he was very drowsy from lack of sleep.
“Naaabsorb ko naman yung context ng questions pero feel ko di ko fully nage-gets. Tapos the night po bago mag-Day 2, sinabi ko sa sarili ko na kung ito-top ko ‘to, kailangan ko ifocus ang sarili ko. Day 2 po NP4 medical surgical nursing tapos NP5 psychiatric nursing bawing bawi ko po,” he shared.
After the exams, he and his friends were all drained and began to overthink, with Mikael himself doubting if he could land in the top 10.
“Ang outcome na accept ko lang kang time na ito, either topnotch or fail lang. Di ko tatanggapin kung in between. Tig-try ko na lang po mag-focus sa hobbies ko kang gahalat,” the new nurse said.
He stated that it was true that if one passed the board exams, his professors, clinical instructors and family learned of it ahead, adding that congratulatory messages flooded his Messenger that he was not able to reply to all of them.
“Thankful po ako na grabe sa gabos na tawo na nakaiba ko sa journey ta sinda ang nag shape sa attitude ko in life,” Mikael stressed.
For those about to or still trying to pass the NLE, this is his inspiring message: “If dai man po pinalad na makapasa, may next time pa man. Take time to heal kasi masakit talaga sa feelings pag nag-effort ka pero kinulang pa rin. After that, take one step at a time. Ok na ang one page a day na pag-aral basta consistent. If ever i-doubt niyo ang sarili niyo kung kaya niyo pa ba lumaban, isipon niyo na lang na somewhere out there may taong naghihintay na makasama ka sa pag celebrate ng success.”