SWU-Phinma grad lands in top 10

SANTOS

A graduate of the Southwestern University (SWU) Phinma was the only student from Cebu who made it to the top 10 in this year’s Dentist Licensure Examination.

Gino Arvin Baguio Santos occupied the 6th slot of the May examination with an average score of 83.03 percent.

Topping this year’s examination is Alexa Eline Trinidad Tajud of the Centro Escolar University-Manila with an average of 86.04 percent.

In an interview, Santos said he was grateful to be among the topnotchers.

“I was shocked when someone told me I made it among the top 10. Of course, I aimed to be there but there were parts of the exam which were so difficult,” he told CDN over the phone.

“Prayer and study were the keys of making it this far. God granted what I longed for and I am very happy,” he added.

Santos, 23, and a native of Davao City, at first wanted to be a nurse.

But since it was also the course of his older brother, he said he decided to study dentistry — the only other course offered in the Davao Medical School Foundation.

Santos eventually transferred to SWU Phinma in Cebu City where he earned a degree in dentistry.

“I really thought dentistry was easy because we just have to study the mouth area. I was wrong. We had to study all parts of the body from head to toe. Nonetheless, I eventually fell in love with dentistry,” he said.

A list of the top examinees and exam passers was posted yesterday on the website of the Professional Regulation Commission.

The PRC post said that only 397 of the 857 examinees passed the examination’s written phase.

A total of 349 of the 402 examinees also passed the examination’s practical phase administered by the Board of Dentistry in Manila last month.

Board Members who administered the examination include Dr. Rannier Reyes, officer-in-charge, and members Dr. Gloria Bumanlag, Dr. Melinda Garcia, Dr. Roberto Tajonera and Dr. Maria Jona Godoy.

The PRC website said that issuance of Professional Identification Card and Certificates of Registration to the licensure exam passers will start on June 27, 2017 while the schedule for their oathtaking ceremony will be announced later.