By Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY – It
was all an answered prayer. This was a curt reply Christian Corpuz, 20, gave
this writer when asked about his secret of topping the November 26, 2014
Criminologist Licensure Examinations given by the Professional Regulation
Commission.
Garnering a rating of 90.15%,
Corpuz, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Criminology at the Pagadian Capitol
College, Inc. (formerly Pagadian College of Criminology) landed first place and
bested others who took the said examination nationwide.
Prayer power
"Gibati ko ug
dakong kakulba pagkuha sa maong pasulit tungod kay medyo lisod kini apan akong
gi-ampo sa Ginoo nga mo-excel sa exam (I felt very nervous in taking the exam because it’s quite
hard but I prayed to God to help me excel in the exam),” Corpuz narrated.
When the Philippine Regulation
Commission (PRC) and Board of Criminology announced the results, his friend
called and informed him that he passed and topped the exam. At first, he was
incredulous until he received a phone call from the school president, Tagumpay
Santiago, informing him that he was no. 1 in the board exam.
“Dako kaayo ang akong
kalipay tungod kay wala lang ko mipasar kung dili numero uno pa gyud sa board
exam? Ingon sa dili ko katuo sa migula nga resulta apan sa hilom akong
nahunahunaan nga mibunga diay ang akong pagsakrapisyo ug pagpangandam nga
gihimo sa maong board exam. Ang akong imposible nga damgo nahimo nga posible,” he said.
(I am very much happy because I didn’t
only pass the test but I also emerged as no. 1. At first, I could hardly
believe the result but then I realized that my sacrifices and preparations had paid
off. The impossible dream was possible after all.)
“I became a topnotcher
because I once dreamed to be one. I believed that I would pass the board exam
because I once dreamed of becoming a criminologist,” Corpuz said in Cebuano.
Corpuz was one of the 12,245 passers
out of 28,187 who took the licensure examination for criminologists given on
Oct. 19-21, 2014 in Manila and regional centers nationwide.
Shares success with late mom, grandma
Christian’s father, Bartolome, a
retired military man, recalled that his son was not on top of his class but his
topping the board exam made everybody in the family happy.
For Christian, he was pretty sure that
his departed loved ones especially his mother and grandmother were also happy
that he topped the board exam.
His mother, Severiana, died when he was
5 years old in a robbery incident. He lived with his grandmother, Silvestra,
but the latter died when he was still a second year high school student.
Hard work, sacrifices
Christian recalled that when he was in
college, he took his studies very seriously. He kept reading books in the
library and, at home, he reviewed his lessons.
When he took his review, he saw to it
that he prepared himself holistically by managing his time well. “It was not
all studies, I had still time to relax and go out with family and friends,” he
shared.
“Panahon sa exam, wala
nako mabati ang stress or pressure tungod kay sa first year pa lang ko, ako
nang gihatagan ug daghan nga mga oras
pagbasa ug mga libro ug pagtuon sa akong mga leksyon ug wala pud ko
nag-apil-apil sa barkada. Kung naa koy bakante nga oras magdula ko ug chess,” Corpuz disclosed.
(During examinations, I did not
experience stress or pressure because I used to spend more time in reading
books and studying my lessons since I was a first year student. Besides, I did
not join groups. If I have vacant time, I will also play chess.)
“In the course of my
preparation, I did a lot of things and went through a lot of struggles,
sacrifices, and challenges.”
Role model
A certain Jayson Laroche, who placed 6th
in the 2010 Criminologist Licensure Examinations and who was a graduate of
PCCI, served as his role model. Laroche also dreamed of becoming one of the
topnotchers.
“Akong gidamgo na mapareha
ni Laroche nga topnotcher pero para sa akoa imposible nga mahimo nako tungod
kay wala ko kabalo kung unsa ang kapalaran sa akong pagkuha sa exam,” he recounted.
(I dreamed of becoming a topnotcher like Laroche
but I doubt I would make it because I had to take the exam yet.)
But it became a dream-come-true for him because in
the list released by the PRC on Nov. 26, 2014, he topped the board exam.
He also recalled that during his
review, he was always sitting at the back because the front row chairs were
occupied by bright students. “When my fellow reviewees could not give the right
answer, I only acted as their backup.”
Take a teaching job
When asked if he would join the police
service, Corpuz said no. “I will teach
first in my alma mater for couple of years because I want to impart my fresh
knowledge to criminology students and help produce a number of board passers.
Perhaps, I will join the police service when my physique is fully developed.”
Corpuz said he wants to work in his
Alma mater to help his younger sister, a 3rd year college student
and a stepbrother, an elementary pupil. He wants them to finish college, too.
“We were all shocked upon learning the
board exam result,” said Jomeil Abilla, the school registrar, as almost all schools
across the country are aiming to top in the exam.
Brings pride and honor
“Indeed, Corpuz brought pride, honor, and served as inspiration
especially to the youth sector and the students of the college. We are very proud that PCCI has produced
top one in the 2014 Criminology Board Exam,” Abilla beamed with pride.
Abilla said Corpuz helped boost the
morale of criminology
students. “Christian is an inspiration
and role model to our students.”
In recognition of Corpuz’s feat, PCCI President
Tagumpay Santiago and the faculty tendered a thanksgiving celebration last Dec.
8 at the college gymnasium with Regional Director Juanito Demetrio of the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED)-9 and city
officials gracing the occasion.
During this event the school management also
reimbursed Corpuz’s tuition fee and offered him a teaching position.
Abilla said the school administration understands the hardships and
efforts exerted by Corpuz, thus, to reimburse his tuition fee is just proper
and reasonable.