By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Maria Inez S. Benedicto of La Carlota City, Negros Occidental has topped the September 2021 Physician Licensure Exam (PLE).
Dr. Benedicto, a valedictorian of West Visayas State University College of Medicine in La Paz, Iloilo City, posted a rating of 87.83 percent.
She shared the top spot with Jude Philip Pozon Cebrecus from Cebu Institute of Medicine, according to the Professional Regulation Commission.
Benedicto also finished her Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos and graduated magna cum laude in 2015. She placed seventh in the licensure examination for medical technologists that same year.
Benedicto is the daughter of Richard Benedicto and Marisol Sellado Benedicto. She is also the younger sister of La Carlota City councilor Baste Benedicto.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB yesterday, Benedicto shared the struggles of taking the exam amid the pandemic.
The new doctor said she only had 40 days to prepare for the September 2021 exam because she came straight from their postgraduate internship.
She also said they had to quarantine for 14 days before taking the exam.
She also said that they can’t interact with other examinees and during breaks they can only go to the bathroom or eat.
Despite the struggles, Benedicto said she is grateful that she was able to overcome them.
She also said that she didn’t expect to be the topnotcher as she felt she wasn’t prepared enough.
“Isa na po ito sa pinaka-challenging na nangyari sa buhay ko, sobrang hirap po ng exam namin. Ganon siya kahirap,” she said.
Benedicto also gave a piece of advice to those who will also be taking the PLE.
“Advice ko lang is to work hard talaga, hindi talaga ‘to binibigay sa inyo, pinaghihirapan to,” she said.
“You have to have passion to do this, the right support network,” she added. “You need the right people to lift you up and remind you why you’re in this journey.” (With a report from GMA News)/DGB, WDJ