He admitted working doubly hard in his bid to be No. 1 in the board exams for medical technologists six years ago. But topping the 2020 physicians licensure examinations never crossed his mind.
For University of St. La Salle alumnus Patrick Joseph A. Mabugat, No. 2 in this year’s medical board, just passing the exams is more than enough, he confided.
“Passing the board is more than enough. I also wanted to make my family proud, because having a doctor in the family is a source of pride by itself,” Mabugat told Negros Now Daily.
The 26-year-old La Sallian, of Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City, the eldest of the four children — all male — of Police Colonel Calixto Mabugat and the former La Salle volleyball varsitarian Arlene Amunategui, now a PAGCOR Bacolod dealer, garnered 88.58 percent to tie in second place with University of Santo Tomas’ Adrian Emmanuel Diago Teves behind Jomel Garcia Lapides, of the University of the Philippines-Manila, who registered 88.67 percent for the No. 1 spot.
Lapides was a nursing board topnotcher in 2011.
Mabugat finished B.S. Medical Technology from the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos for his pre-med course and went on to top the MedTech board in 2014.
He graduated salutatorian from the La Consolacion College High School Department.
Teves, on the other hand, an alumnus of the Silliman University in Dumaguete City, where he completed his physical therapy studies, was No. 2 in the PT licensure exams in 2015.
Teves is the son of Bayawan City Mayor Pryde Henry Teves.
The year’s physicians licensure exams were given Nov. 10-11 and Nov. 15-16.
Out of 4,705 examinees, only 3,538 made it, for a national passing rate of 76.86 percent, the Professional Regulation Commission said.
Forty-five of 53 La Sallian examinees passed the medical board, or a passing mark of 84.91 percent for new takers and 81.82 percent, including repeat examinees.
“He (Mabugat) made it not just once but twice as a topnotcher. His achievement serves as an inspiration to many. He made the people of Negros Occidental proud,” Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, speaking on behalf of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, said.
Mabugat is a recipient of the Capitol’s NOPMaNS grant or the Negros Occidental Provincial Medical and Nursing Scholarship.
“He’s a source of pride and honor to Negrenses,” Diaz added.
His father, who is currently based the Philippine National Police GHQ at Camp Crame assigned at the Office of the Chief of Staff PNP Internal Affairs Office, said that as parents, he and his wife, never miss advising their son to concentrate on his studies and follow his dream.
Dr. Ricky Gallaga , dean of the USLS College of Medicine, said he is proud of Mabugat for bringing honor to the university.
He is the first board topnotcher of the medical school since it was established in 2002, Gallaga added.
Gallaga disclosed a reward awaits Mabugat, who will be honored at a testimonial dinner for all board passers to be scheduled later.
The USLS dean said Mabugat’s achievement “will remind us to continue to work hard to produce competent and compassionate doctors, not only for our province but for the country as well”.
Last year, the USLS posted a 100 percent passing rate in the medical board but without a topnotcher.
Mabugat graduated valedictorian in elementary and salutatorian in high school from La Consolacion College- Bacolod.
He was also the class valedictorian at USLS College of Medicine.
His feat in the medical board was made doubly rewarding as his fiance, Dyan Dimalaluan, also passed the physicians licensure exams.
Both had planned to get marrried after their board exams but since they were moved later due to the pandemic, they agreed to first proceed with their residency.
They were MedTech classmates at UNO-R, where Dimalaluan graduated cum laude.
Mabugat, who spent his post-graduate internship at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital in Manila, is planning to specialize in either internal medicine or general surgery.
He renewed his commitment to serve the people of Negros and Bacolod by sharing his knowledge in the medical profession.
The other passers from USLS are: Yedda Sol Abrugar, Michael Milco Aceron, Norainne Krissandra Alambra, Randylle Allen Alayon, Julius Dominique Anjao, Daryll Antipuesto, Alyssa Marie Arceño, Marq Wilson Bello, Ajitpal Singh Brar, Karlyn Brizuela;
Preceous Rica Catalan-Paez, Joseph Causapin, Grazelle Cawaling, James Daniel Chan, Ma. Karina De Leon, Rojean Del Rosario, Dyan Dimalaluan, Kirsty Mae Eder, Christine Anne Espeja, Mae Novelle Espinosa;
Eric Fernandez, Evita Flor Garzon, Chermaine Lou Guancia-Ochoa, Dominique Francis Gumahin, Charles Adrian Legislador, Beverly Libo-on, Gabriel Victor Lopez, Mikhael Angelo Magahum, Mark Harmon Magbanua;
Katrina May Monsale, Tiffany Shane Morata, Anne Marie Napulan, Nicole Ann Pancho, Raizel Eunice Panisa, John Dave Pido, Paolo Quezon, Troy Andre Virgil Recomo, Mark Gregory Sarno, Jenelle Alaiza Señoron;
Nesalee Ralna Sy, Gian Karlo Torreda, Marie Stephanie Torrilla, Kim Valdez, Justin Matthew Togado. – Negros Now Daily News Team
