ILOILO City – Answered prayer.
This was how a farmer’s son considered his most recent feat – not only passing the September 2018 licensure examination for foresters but becoming the exam’s Top 2 passer.
Francis Ben L. Berja, 20, of Barangay Poblacion Ilaya, Lambunao, Iloilo got a rating of 91.70 percent.
“Nakibot gid ‘ko. Indi ko ma-explain,” said Berja.
He earned his Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) – College of Agriculture and Forestry in Lambunao.
According to Berja, it was his goal to land in the Top 10 of the exam so he prepared hard.
A scholar of the Commission on Higher Education, he was a consistent honor student and graduated magna cum laude.
Berja said his passing the exam was also a fulfillment of his parents’ dream for him.
He was an only child of Benigno, a farmer, and Melinda, a church worker in Lambunao.
“Pirme nila ako ginahambalan nga magpangadi,” said Berja.
Now a licensed forester, Berja hoped to land a job at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. He wanted to put into practice all that he learned in school, he said.
A classmate of Berja also passed the exam with flying colors. With a rating of 91 percent, Mellisa R. Suganob was Top 4.
The Professional Regulation Commission announced the results of the 2018 licensure examination for foresters on Sept. 17. Out of 1,776 examinees 1,048 passed.
The exam was administered in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga early this month.
Here’s the complete list of the Top 10 exam passers:
- Freddie Saenz Palermo of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños
- Francis Ben L. Berja of West Visayas State University
- Gerlyn B. Orpiano of Nueva Vizcaya State University-Bayombong and Noraisah A. Dibaratun of Mindanao State University-Marawi City
- Melissa R. Suganod of West Visayas State University
- Philip Jones G. Reyes of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños
- Catherine Hope M. Bustillo of Caraga State University-Butuan City
- Nathaniel T. Henson Jr. of the University of Southeastern Philippines-Tagum
- Felix M. Bolonias Jr. of Caraga State University-Butuan City
- Mark Bryan A. Carayugan of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños
- Jomari Christian D. Baggay of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños/PN
