BALANGA City, Bataan: A 20-year old daughter of a carpenter and an overseas cashier from Orani, Bataan is the topnotcher in the Licensure Examination for Midwives given by the Professional Regulation Commission last April 14 and 15, 2025.
Rona Marie Villaflor Ramos, a student from the main campus of the Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) in Balanga City got a rating of 92.60%, giving her the Top 1 position.
BPSU not only got the Top 1 place but also garnered two of the 10 highest scores in the April 2025 midwifery examination. Arian Rosales Villaganes and Roberto Andrade Sibugan, Jr. were the Top 4 and Top 7, respectively.
The feat of BPSU does not stop there. All its 82 takers passed the exam.
Ramos, eldest of two daughters, said she learned of the examination results from a group chat and a screen shot. “Mixed emotions, napasigaw, napaiyak ako. Sobrang nagulat din ako.”
“Ginoal ko kasi talaga noong nagrereview ako na mag-top talaga pero siyempre habang palapit na ng palapit ang exam kinakabahan po parang minsan naano po parang wala ng pag-asa kasi minsan ang mga exam namin sa review center minsan hindi ako napapasama sa nagta-top,” she said.
Ramos admitted that there were many others better than her. “Kaya minsan, hinihiling ko na lang talaga kay Lord na kahit makapasa na lang ganyan pero ayun po tiwala lang talaga sa sarili.”
She said she focused on the review and although she has some problems, doubts and pressure, she left everything to the Lord.
Ramos said BPSU, especially the faculty of the School of Midwifery helped them a lot, facilitating requirements needed for the PRC.
“Talagang hands on sila and lagi nila kami ina-update kapag kunwari naka-encounter kami ng problema sa mga requirements. Lagi silang nandiyan, tinutulungan talaga kami kahit noong nasa Baguio na kami kasama din namin sila sa Day 1 and Day 2 ng exam namin hanggang sa pag-uwi po andiyan sila,” she said.
Ramos said God-willing she will enroll into nursing which was her first love although she learned a lot taking midwifery. “Napamahal din ako sa kurso kong ito kasi marami akong natutunan talaga and ang dami pong nadevelop sa akin sa sarili ko po. Personal development sa pagkatao ko at siyempre sa pagiging estudyante po.”
She repeatedly thanked the Lord, BPSU, her review center and her parents for her accomplishment.
“Masayang-masaya, sobrang saya. Hindi ako makapaniwala na topnocher ang apo ko, Top 1 sa Pilipnas. Nakakatuwa,” Rufina Ramos said.
Monica Tanchiatco Hipolito, BPSU VP for research, extension and energy transfer, said having 100% passers and No. 1 in the Licensure Exam for Midwives is not new to BPSU.
“Actually talaga pong mahigpit. Talagang tinututukan namin talaga ang mga bata before and after the exam. Ini-involve namin ang parents. Napakalaki din kasi ng role ng parents para mas matugunan natin na maging produktibo o maging passers ang mga bata kasi ang nangyayari before estudyante lang ang minimeet natin,” she said.
“Dapat aware ang magulang. Pinasok ninyo ang mga anak niyo sa amin, dapat open din kayo na tulungan ang mga anak natin na makatugon hanggang sa sila ay maging lisensyado na. At siyempre, napakalaki ng role ng ating faculty members ,” Hipolito said.
“Talagang every Saturday and Sunday ang mga bakanteng oras even sa duty naka-focus sila even sa mga estudyante naming medyo mahihina. Let us accept the fact na wala namang magaling lahat. Talagang nakaalalay ang faculty members. Hindi matatawaran yan kasi lahat iyan kumandrona po. Meron kaming mga nurse, midwife din na ang dugo at puso ay para din sa mga kumadrona,” she continued.
Hipolito said faculty members guide the takers in the entire process from review class to preparations, processing of application for examination to final coaching.
“Lahat ng ginagawa namin ay bokal sa loob namin kasi lahat ng mga batang pumpasok dito, lahat ‘yan itinuturing na naming mga anak, mga kapatid at gusto rin naman namin silang maging kagaya namin pagdating ng araw wherein we are preparing them na dapat ganito din sila pagdating ng panahon kasi kami tumatanda na at dapat ang papalit sa amin ay hindi man kagaya namin ay mas higit pa sa amin,” she said.
“Total nandiyan na at natulungan na natin isagad na natin, ibabalik naman ni Lord ng siksik -liglig which is iyon din lagi ang sinasabi ni BPSU President Ruby Santos Matibag mula noong nag-umpisa kami at dala-dala namin iyon until now hanggang sa susunod which is very true naman.” she said.
“Lagi kasing nililinaw namin sa mga estudyante na we have no room for errors here. Buhay ang hawak natin, bawat segundo mahalaga. Wala tayong karapatang magkamali,”Hipolito said.
Earl Meggan Suaberon, a member of the School of Midwifery faculty, said they monitored what was going on in the review center. “Sinasabi namin kung ano mga challenges ng mga bata na hwag ganito kadami lessons kasi kahit madami ang ibigay mo diyan kung hindi naiintindihan ‘yan walang use.”
“Ibigay niyo kahit na dahan – dahan pero make sure na maa-absorb nila and at the same time take home exam pwede naman and then we are requesting two days bago mag-exam wala ng review. Irelax na ang mga bata,” Suaberon said.
Other BPSU and School of Midwifery officials are Dr. Lara Velasco dela Cruz, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Janette Mendoza, SOM cluster head; Eden Limcangco, SOM senior faculty; Ruth Banzon, SOM, RLE coordinator; and Dr. Christian Orte, SOM program head. (30)
