ILOILO City – This city stamped its mark on the September 2026 Psychometricians Licensure Examination (PmLE), producing five Top 10 finishers while two local universities registered perfect passing rates.
The five topnotchers came from three of the city’s universities – the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), Central Philippine University (CPU) and University of San Agustin (USA).
Leading the Ilonggo achievers was Francee Ann Lobaton Gregori of UPV, who placed fifth nationwide with a rating of 93.40 percent.
She was followed by Alessandra Nicole Donguines Maayo of CPU, who ranked sixth with 93.20 percent.
CPU produced two seventh placers – LM Tricia Tabuena De La Cruz and Angeli Mei Tragico Fernandez – who both obtained a rating of 93 percent.
Althea Krizia Vicentino Sariego of the University of San Agustin completed Iloilo City’s formidable showing, ranking eighth with 92.80 percent.
Sariego said she could hardly believe she had landed among the examination’s topnotchers, especially after she had lowered her expectations during the review period and eventually focused simply on passing.
“Honestly, I was never the ambitious type; I simply went with the flow, letting life’s waves carry me wherever they led. Then, out of nowhere, I found myself dreaming of becoming a topnotcher. But during our review, discouragement crept in, and my dream shifted to simply passing the exam. Yet the Lord, in His goodness, granted me more than I ever thought I deserved. Glory and praise to our Lord God — totoo at tapat ang Diyos sa Kaniyang mga pangako,” Sariego said in a statement posted on her Facebook page.
She credited her achievement not only to her own efforts but also to her family and relatives who continuously supported her and provided for her needs throughout her journey.
“Thank you for guiding me through life’s big decisions — being a young adult has been so much more bearable because of you,” Sariego added.
Iloilo schools also distinguished themselves in institutional performance.
The University of Iloilo posted a 100-percent passing rate after all 21 of its examinees passed, while UPV likewise recorded a perfect passing rate with all eight of its examinees making the cut.
Nationwide, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said 14,146 of the 15,423 examinees passed the PmLE, equivalent to a 91.72-percent passing rate.
The examination was originally scheduled for Aug. 19 and 20 but was moved to Sept. 1 and 2 due to continuous heavy rainfall associated with the southwest monsoon or habagat.
The PmLE in Pampanga, also scheduled for Sept. 1 and 2, was further postponed to Sept. 17 and 18 because of inclement weather and widespread flooding across Central Luzon.
The examination was administered at PRC testing centers in the National Capital Region, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Calapan, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Koronadal, Legazpi, Lucena, Palawan, Pampanga, Rosales, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga.
The Board of Psychology is headed by Chairman Miriam P. Cue and member Hector M. Perez./PN
