ILOILO City — An Ilongga graduate emerged as the country’s No. 1 medical technologist, leading a remarkable showing by the University of San Agustin whose three graduates swept three spots in the Top 10 of the August 2026 Medical Technologist Licensure Examination (MTLE).
Marti Angela Janagap Policarpio topped the nationwide examination with a rating of 92.90 percent, while fellow Augustinians Iris Karn Magallanes placed sixth with 91.80 percent and Lyle Josh Secapuri ranked 10th with 91.30 percent, according to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
Their performances also propelled the University of San Agustin to recognition as the ninth top-performing school in the Philippines in the August 2026 board examinations.
Policarpio attributed her feat not to any extraordinary review strategy but to the academic foundation she built in college, particularly the lessons and practical experience she gained during her internship.
“Actually, nothing special ang gin ubra ko. As much as possible, gin try ko lang tun-an ang tanan nga ginhatag nga lecture notes. I think it all boils down gid ya sa foundation mo pag-college, like ang imo nga accumulated experiences, especially sa internship. Amo gid to ang nakabulig sa akon answer sa board exam,” Policarpio told Panay News.
She advised future examinees to identify study methods that suit them instead of simply copying how others prepare.
“Find gid ang best nga study habits kon paano ka mag-learn because lain-lain ‘ta abi ya mag-process sang information. Dapat pangitaon mo gid kun ano ang ga-work sa imo. Parehas sa akon, indi ako abi ang type of person nga liwat-liwat magbasa sang notes. Gusto ko nga i-understand ko gid ang concepts and if ma-understand ko na, kaya ko na ma-rationalize,” she explained.
“Kag iwasan mo nga mag-compare sa iban, kay lain-lain man kita daan gina-agyan,” Policarpio added.
Despite eventually finishing at the top of thousands of examinees, Policarpio admitted she did not expect to become the No. 1 placer, especially after experiencing exhaustion during the review period.
“Sang review season na-drain gid ako,” she shared.
“Sa initial months gaisip ako nga kaya ko, ma-topnotcher ako. Pero sa mga tunga-tunga, daw kapoy na gid ko. Pero thankfully wala ko gin-pressure ang akon self nga ma-top gid. Gin try ko lang i-answer ang kada question sa best of my ability. Gin rationalize ko gid siya. Kon may nabudlayan ko, waay ko gid gin-give up, gin try ko gid sa gyapon,” said Policarpio.
The licensure examination was administered by the PRC Board of Medical Technology on Aug. 15 and 16, 2026, at testing centers nationwide.
Magallanes likewise emphasized that preparation for the board examination should begin during college rather than only during the months immediately preceding the test.
“Stick to the basics. Ang gin tun-an ta for four years, may magwa gid na sa board. And may mga review centers kita, let us prepare. Pero what I can say talaga is four to five years ninyo nga study, start na ang preparations ninyo (for the board). Just believe in what you learned. Just believe in what the professors and staff imparted. Believe man sa inyo nga practice sa internship kay ang inyo to nga practice ma-translate into learnings,” Magallanes said.
Secapuri, meanwhile, said he tempered his expectations toward the end of the examination.
“If it’s meant to be, it is meant to be for you. Waay ko nag-asa nga maka-place pa kay damo-damo na ‘ko basics nga wrong. May mga (board exam) items nga ‘di mo bal-an, so gahampang-hampang na lang ako nga ABC…,” Secapuri said.
The topnotchers all credited their training — from classroom modules and comprehensive examinations to internship and pre-board preparation — for helping them handle the licensure examination./PN
