By Mae Singuay
Bacolodnon Sidrey Mel Aldeguer Flores ranked no. 1 in the 2023 Medical Technology Licensure Exam (MTLE) with a 92.10 percent rating.
Flores earlier made history by finishing as the first summa cum laude of his degree program after 50 years at the Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod.
The 23-year-old Flores said he wanted to become a medical doctor after this.
“I plan to rest gid to save up my strength and to sleep enough. After a while, I will proceed to medical school to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor,” he said.
Flores said he was hoping for a spot in the top 10, knowing that the competition was stiff and there were many of them.
“The chances were slim. But knowing that God had planned this for me, I was so happy nga ginhatag nya gid ang no. 1 para sa akon,” Flores said.
He graduated senior high school at the University of Saint La Salle (USLS) Bacolod as a valedictorian with a general weighted average of 99.32. He also completed elementary education as a salutatorian at USLS-Bacolod.
The topnotcher shared how the pandemic had challenged his education and those on medical courses.
“We were lacking in clinical exposure, and that was one thing nga gina-worry namon. Thankfully, na-solve man namon by maximizing our time bisan short lang amon exposure kag practical internship.
He added that the licensure was a holistic test, saying, “It is not only the mental side, you also have to consider health, the spiritual aspect, as well as your relationships with other people… aside from having a disciplined routine, I also give time for leisure and rest.”
Flores is the only son and the youngest of three children of Punong Barangay Romel of the city’s Barangay Villamonte.
“Just believe in yourself… have the mental fortitude to surpass your struggles and emerge victorious,” Flores said.
There were 4,714 passers, or 76.46 percent, of the 6,165 total examinees, according to the Professional Regulation Commission.
The examination was conducted on March 8 and 9 in key cities across the country.
The MTLE results were released on March 14./MS, WDJ