When 22-year-old Brylle Gilbuena took the Mechanical Licensure Board Examinations, he prayed hard that he would pass because he wasn’t able to finish all the test questions but he ended up ranking first among 1,082 aspirants!
According to Gilbuena who graduated from the University Of Cebu Lapu-lapu and Mandaue (UCLM), he was not able to answer all the 100 questions in the Math and Science subjects despite the 5-hour time frame they were given.
“Before I start studying, I pray and read the Bible para maguid-an ako ni God and then salig lang sa iyaha para mawa akong kulba kay akong giingon sa akong kaugalingon whether mopasar or dili or motop or dili, I will praise God,” Gilbuena revealed.
(Before I start studying, I pray and read the Bible so that God will guide me and I trust Him to ease my worries. I told myself, whether I pass the board or not or if I will top the board or not, I will praise God.)
After the exams, he didn’t even feel confident that he would pass and become a licensed engineer but he didn’t lose hope. He prayed – and was shocked to learn that he’s the topnotcher!
But aside from the surprise of becoming the topnotcher, the license and the honor of topping the exams were made all the more sweeter by the fact that Gilbuena had been a working student who had to postpone taking the licensure exams due to financial constraints.
The second of five children, Gilbuena worked even as a student to support his studies at UCLM. But after graduation, his parents who don’t have stable jobs weren’t also able to help him pay for review courses. So, he worked at his alma mater as Senior High School teacher for five months.
With the money he earned as teacher, Gilbuena was able to take the review classes and the March 2017 licensure exams. Now that he passed and was named as the topnotcher, his proud alma mater gave him a brand new car and monetary incentive.
“We really want them to really achieve kasi we know na once students achieve, it will help the parents dibah matabangan man gyud ang parents so if matabangan ang parents matabangan ang family so economic cycle gyud ni siya,” said University of Cebu Chancellor Candice Gotianuy.
(We really want them to really achieve because we know that once students achieve, it will help the parents because if they could help their parents that means they could also help the family; so, it’s an economic cycle.)
For now, Gilbuena does not have concrete plans on what he would do next but expressed desire to continue his studies and earn a Master’s Degree.
Congratulations, Engr. Brylle Gilbuena!