A student from Cebu Doctors’ University has topped the pharmacist’s board examinations this year, leading 2,927 takers who passed the annual career test.
Louise Tan Theunis, who graduated magna cum laude from CDU, scored 91.55 percent in the test that drew 4,230 examinees.
Saying she did not expect to wind up No. 1, the 19-year-old told ABS-CBN News: “It’s just consistency, studying everyday and make sure you have your schedule and stick to it.”
“Just really work hard and make an effort, teach yourself and make sure you understand,” added the Belgian-Filipina.
It was another feather in the cap for Theunis, who is also a beauty titlist, having placed first runner-up in the Miss Mandaue pageant two years ago.
Born in Zamboanga City, the Cebu Doctors’ alum credits her parents for her achievement.
Theunis’ father has a PhD in entomology, and her mother worked for a foreign research institute.
“I look up to him, and my mom is also a smart person, she had a hard life and she was poor yet she was still able to graduate as cum laude and landed a researcher job,” she said.
“I just look up to my parents so much and I also wanted to keep on striving to serve as an inspiration to my brothers as well for them also to keep on going,” Theunis added.
Another Cebu-based examinee, Danixzyle Sevillano Cutamora of the University of San Carlos, also made it to the Top 10 of the board exams, the results of which were released Monday, Aug. 6.
Students of the University of Santo Tomas placed third, fourth, sixth and seventh—Patrick Joshua Torres Galura, Biehn Beryl Cheng Que, Maureen Theresa Sual Alexander, and Khrisna Dasha Sabiniano Corpuz, respectively—followed by Cutamora, who was eighth with a 90.88 percent rating.
Euriel Jasmin Pakinggan Caparas of Centro Escolar University-Manila was second, and Bleeszy Costrua Camano of Adamson University was tied with Cutamora at eighth.
Two University of the Philippines-Manila students, Vinson Codilla Malipot (ninth) and Matthew Dominique Quinton Tan Ong, rounded out the top 10.