Jeda Mae C. Sarmiento never expected to figure in the top 10 examinees of the 2026 Nursing Licensure Examination but her prayers to the Almighty and unconditional support of family certainly worked wonders for her.
The Batch 2026 graduate of the Catanduanes State University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, who ranked 10th with a rating of 90.40 percent in the August-September 2026 NLE, credited her feat to the unconditional support provided by her family in barangay San Isidro Village, Virac.
She disclosed to the Tribune that her two siblings supported her in her studies, aside from the help provided by her father, an on-and-off construction, and her housewife mother, much of what she needed was given by her siblings.
“Our youngest stopped his studies to support me and worked in Manila as a barber when I began my second year in college,” the middle of three children of Armando H. Sarmiento and Nida C. Sarmiento recalled.
Jeda Mae studied at Gogon Elementary School from kindergarten to grade school before going to the Catanduanes National High School where she completed Junior and Senior High School.
As of now, she has no definite plans for the immediate future, adding that she is carefully considering her next steps.
The island university’s latest board topnotcher advised nursing students of her alma mater to take their studies in college very seriously because one never knows what questions will come out in the exam.
She also advised them to choose the right review center to enhance their knowledge, throwing in a “super” recommendation for the iMIND review center where she enrolled.
“Mag-adal po talaga pero dai po magringaw mag-sleep, self-care,” the new registered nurse urged. “Siyempre, bako pong possible ang gabos kung walang faith, kaya pirmi pong mag-pray kay Jehovah God.”
A total of 28,652 examinees hurdled the NLE given by the PRC Board of Nursing in 21 test centers nationwide for a national passing percentage of 76.69%.
The Catanduanes State University were among the few universities in the Bicol region with a high passing percentage, with 177 of its 191 examinees tasting success for a passing percentage of 92.67%.
All 177 passers were first-timers, whose group recorded a passing percentage of 94.65% after only 10 of them failed to hurdle the exam. On the other hand, none of the four (4) repeaters made the list of successful examinees.
Nurse Jeda Mae will receive a cash incentive of P50,000 cash from the provincial government under the Topnotchers’ Incentive Ordinance authored by then PBM and now Acting Vice Governor Fred Benedict T. Gianan.
Under the ordinance, topnotchers in the Philippine Bar exam, licensure exams conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and the Civil Service Exam can receive anywhere from P10,000 to P100,000 from the PLGU.
For topnotchers in the Bar and PRC examinations, P100,000 will be given for the Top 1, P75,000 for Top 2 to 5, and P50,000 for Top 6 to 10.
For top ten placers in the Civil Service Exam-Pen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT), the Top 1 will get P50,000; the Top 2 to 5, P25,000; and Top 6 to 10, P10,000.