They are both Negrenses – one from Negros Occidental and the other, from the Oriental side of the island. They are also the eldest child in the family. They are also into physical fitness and sports.
In 2014, both took the licensure exam in their respective fields. Patrick Mabugat, a Medical Technology graduate of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos ranked No. 1 in the board exam. In the same year, Adrian Emmanuel Teves made the Silliman community proud when he landed second in the physical therapists’ exam.
In last month’s Physicians’ Licensure Examination, Adrian, 27, and Patrick, 26, shared the second place honors after posting identical 88.58 percent rating. And both share the distinction of being the first doctor for at least three generations in the respective families.
They are also both steeped in community service.
Get to know more of the two topnotcher-physicians in this week’s cover story.
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Patrick Joseph Mabugat • University of St. La Salle
Thankfully, his series of dreams shortly after the mid-November licensure examination for physicians did not come true.
“I had at least five dreams before the results were released where a group of us was told we failed in the exam,” he recalled.
Patrick Joseph Mabugat, 26, went on not only passing the exam. He did it with flying colors by placing second.
Even the news about the result seemed unreal at first. “I thought I was still dreaming,” he said as he recounted that he was asleep when the result was published online. “It only dawned on me that it was real after my fiancée and her family hugged me and congratulated me,” he said.
Patrick was staying overnight with the family of fiancée, Dyan Dimalaluan – his classmate at the medical school at the University of St. La Salle and also during his Medical Technology studies at UNO-Recoletos – in E.B. Magalona.
Asked if he aimed to land in the Top 10, he was quick to say: “It was not my goal. Passing the board exam was really enough for me unlike the MedTech board exam, which I took with the goal of topping it.”
He shared that he wanted to pass the November exam “to make my family proud,” adding that having a doctor is a source of pride for a family.
“I can hardly contain my emotions,” said his mother, the former Arlene Amunategui, a PAGCOR Bacolod employee, who was a standout of the national champion St. La Salle women’s volleyball team. Mom Arlene describes herself as Patrick’s No. 1 fan and supporter.
The new doctor confided that he got his competitive spirit from his mother and his grit and determination from his father, Police Colonel Calixto Mabugat, who is presently assigned with the Internal Affairs Services of the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame. Like his mother, Patrick is into sports, particularly swimming, soccer and volleyball.
That competitive spirit I learned from my mother and the discipline my father modeled greatly influenced me in various phases of my life, he said.
With valuing family ties as part of his mindset, Patrick said he devoted time to bond with his brothers Paolo Augustine, 22, Don Calixto, 16, and Lance Querubin, 15. “We played computer games together,” he said.
Paolo, a MedTech sophomore plans to pursue medical studies and Don, too, who is in Grade 11. My youngest brother, Lance, a ninth grader, appears to shift interest in medical studies after initially considering following the footsteps of my father, Patrick further said.
The Mabugats reside at Barangay Alijis in Bacolod City.
Patrick also admitted that he could have done better in the exam if he managed to answer with more details things found in his review notes.
He, however, readily admitted that Jomel Garcia Lapides, of the University of the Philippines-Manila who topped the exam with the rating 88.67 percent, “deserved it”, adding that they were together at the Philippine General Hospital for their post-graduate internship.
“I’ve seen how he worked hard as a nurse while reviewing for the exam, I also learned of his struggles in life,” Patrick added.
Patrick and Dyan planned to marry after the board exam, originally set in September this year. The plan has been put on hold after the exam was moved to November. He is leaning toward a surgical specialization.
The wedding plan will have to wait again, he said, as they will both go on residency. “Two years from now,” he replied when asked when they will finally hold their altar date.
At the height of the coronavirus crisis in Manila, Patrick and his co-interns volunteered to help senior doctors in the hospital attend to the influx of patients. “It was an eye-opening experience,” adding further realization that life is short, thus it must be lived with meaning and substance.
The new doctor looks back at his high school days at La Consolacion College Bacolod where he graduated salutatorian.
“My exposure to medical missions and outreach programs as a volunteer exposed me to health care services,” he recalled. “That experienced etched in my mind and heart the dream, drive and passion to help others,” Patrick continued.
“Thankfully,” he said, “my dream to become a doctor has come true.”
Adrian Emmanuel Teves • University of Santo Tomas
Negros Oriental takes pride in the singular achievement of Dr. Adrian Emmanuel Teves who placed second in the Physicians Licensure Examination conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission on November 10, 2020 in identified major testing centers in the country.
The new doctor, eldest son of Bayawan City Mayor Henry Pryde Teves and the former Zonna Lee Diago, graduated summa cum laude for his medical degree at the University of Santo Tomas. Similarly, he landed second in the Physical Therapy Licensure Examination in 2014. He earned his pre-med degree at Silliman University, Dumaguete City, graduating magna cum laude.
He has two younger siblings – Enrique, a commercial pilot, and Zebina, a seventh grader.
According to his mother, Zonna, the results of the medical board exams was released quite early for this year. She said: “We knew about the results nine days after their last exam on November 25, incidentally, the feast day of St. Catherine de Alejandria, patron saint of Dumaguete City.”
A consistent honor student since his elementary years, Dr. Doodz, or Dodong, as his family and close friends fondly call him, has always been focused. Born with the proverbial silver spoon, he has never known how it is to make both ends meet. Fortunately, having been exposed as a child to politics and service to the people (his great grandfather is political kingpin and former Congressman Herminio G. Teves), Dr. Doodz’s feet are firmly on the ground. He has remained unassuming and low-key, not even having a Facebook account.
One of his classmates in college, upon knowing of his latest achievement, quipped: “When he comes home and while on quarantine, I know that he would look back on which part of the board exams he got a low score. He is that type of a person – meticulous, attendant to details.”
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Mayor Teves, in an interview with NEGROS WEEKLY, said the result of his son’s exam did not really come as a surprise.
We somehow expected it as he has performed very well in academics since grade school days until high school at St. Louis School-Don Bosco and at Silliman where he graduated magna cum laude from the Physical Therapy program.
The father recalled that he even dissuaded Adrian from taking the PT exam so that he would not waste a year and could proceed to medical school right away but Adrian was insistent: “He said he would take it to give Silliman the topnotcher’s honor.”
He did, with his No. 2 ranking Dodong’s grandmother, Zenaida, is just as happy as we are, the mayor said, adding that my mother had longed that the family would have a doctor someday.
“We are either farmers, politicians or businessmen.” Dodong’s accomplishment shows that the next generation in our family is better than us, the mayor said with a laugh.
Mayor Teves recalled a bombing incident at the Batasan in 2007, when he was still a congressman.
My recovery process influenced Adrian to pursue medical studies. “He saw the power of medicine to heal people and save lives,” the mayor said.
The elder Teves further recounted that his father, Arnolfo, developed closed ties with his Bacolod counterparts during frequent trips to the Occidental cockfighting derbies.
The father takes pride in saying that his son decided to have his PGI at the Silliman Hospital “because he wanted to do it in medical by underserved areas, in the country like Negros Oriental”.
He expressed the hope that Adrian will continue to serve rural areas despite his having been a participant in the exchange clerkship program in pediatric radiology at Harvard States.
Doctor Dodong told NEGROS WEEKLY he plans to specialize in radiation oncology.
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Today, the new doctor is simply basking in his glory before he takes his next steps. Certainly, in these difficult times, he would be helping his father’s constituents in containing the virus. In the meantime, he is making up for the time that he has been away in Manila by spending time with his parents and two younger siblings, Enrique and Zabina Therese, and celebrating the family’s best Christmas ever.
Our Q and A with the new doctor:
1. Your placing second, this time in the Medical Boards, is a reprise of your placing 2nd, too, in your PT Boards in 2014. What was in your mind while you prepared for the exam? Did you have expectations?
The 2014 Physical Therapy Licensure Exam results built expectations for me to achieve the same feat in the 2020 Physician Licensure Exam. Although I did not want people to expect, it was impossible for me to reverse their anticipation of another stellar performance. I made it a point, however, to not let this get into my head. I was fully aware that overexpectation can negatively affect my preparation, as much as complacency can.
With a few thousand other bright minds competing, even just the thought of bagging a spot in the top ten seemed almost inconceivable. Throughout my academic life, I have learned to not focus on goals so much. Don’t get me wrong. Setting goals is imperative. However, the process of achieving those goals is more important, more laborious, and painful. Sometimes, we become very ambitious and goal-oriented. Yet, we tend to overlook the donkeywork that is required.
2. What motivates you to perform excellently, not to mention your magna cum laude (PT) and summa cum laude (Med) honors?
My family has always been my source of inspiration. Growing up, I learned the value of honest, hard work, and dedication from my father, Henry, mostly through his actions. I became closer to God because of my mother, Zonna. My mother taught me that without a compassionate heart, a sharp mind is worthless. My brother, Enrique, who is six years my junior, already a licensed pilot, and managing several business ventures, keeps me driven and motivated. My sister, Zebina, our not-so-little angel, reminds me that, at the end of the day, the most important thing in the world is a loving family.
Needless to say, the work required to achieve and perform excellently becomes less of a chore because of my constant inspiration–my family.
3. What was your regimen in Med School and while preparing for the boards? Study sked? Free time? Leisure time?
I always say that medical school was a roller-coaster ride for me; but one I’d gladly ride again. As with any other academic undertaking, it was rather demanding, but definitely not impossible.
A healthy routine is key. And part of a healthy routine is a healthy outlet, with emphasis on the word “healthy.” An outlet is any activity or means of expression that can serve as a temporary escape. The stress of medical school can weigh you down, cloud your judgment, and even make you question your capacity to become a doctor. Thus, a regular getaway from the rigors of medical school is essential.
As for me, my escape was exercise. I made sure to intersperse my study sessions with a moderate amount of physical activity. Working out defuses internal tension, releases accumulated stress, and redirects me back on track. Apart from that, I was also active in the peer mentor program. I mentored a few of my juniors, especially during their transition into medical school. Also, during my free time, I taught the subject Anatomy to my juniors who found it most challenging.
4. What are your plans now? Will you specialize? Work right away? In this pandemic, especially?
I plan to enter a residency program, which is basically specialty training. Radiation Oncology is a field I am interested in. Radiation therapy is one of the major forms of treatment for cancer; the others being surgery and chemotherapy. I am considering this in hopes of bringing the specialty in the province, and supplementing the treatment needs of our cancer patients in the future.
5. Any advice for those prepping for the Boards or those in Med School?
Many people have asked me what my secret in topping the boards is. If there is one, then it must be good habits. I am not a big fan of quick fixes, overnight solutions, or shortcuts. I credit my success in the boards to the little bits and pieces of knowledge I have gained every day through years of studying.
To those taking the board exams, it will not be easy. No one who took the PLE ever said it was easy. But then again, no one ever said it was impossible.
To those in medical school, your preparation for the board exam starts today. Do well in medical school, and you will surely do well in the boards. But don’t just study to pass the medical boards. Study for your future patients, because one day, your hands will become instruments of God’s healing powers.
Finally, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Negrenses for all the prayers and congratulatory messages. While it is my face which has been posted all over social media, this victory is not mine alone. We share in this victory. This achievement is a product of good upbringing, quality education, supportive family and friends, and a good amount of prayers–all these made possible from being born and raised a Negrense. – NWI
